Evangeline Parish School Board President Wayne Dardeau informed a crowded room of parents and educators about the reasons why something must be done at Pine Prairie High School to alleviate their burden of having more students than the school has been constructed to hold. After a vote by the board, Pine Prairie will remain over capacity. (Gazette photo by Elizabeth West)
Rufus Searile spoke out against the school board’s plan to send the kids living in the sub-zone back to the Ville Platte schools at the board’s Wednesday meeting. (Gazette photo by Elizabeth West)
By: ELIZABETH WEST
Managing Editor
Discussion at Evangeline Parish School Board’s Wednesday night meeting centered around the wether or not Pine Prairie High School and Bayou Chicot Elementary’s students that live in the sub-zone, which is located in Ville Platte, would become once again zoned for Ville Platte schools like they were before re-organization took place in 2004.
When Arthur Sampson addressed the board he made it a point to inform them of the calls he has already made concerning this issue. Sampson said, “I have already called the justice department about this, and I am promise you we will be back in court.”
After parents reiterated the concerns that they had already voiced at Monday’s community meeting, Bayou Chicot’s board member Peggy Foreman said, “I don’t know if upsetting this whole parish for Bayou Chicot to only lose 17 kids is worth it, and for that reason I am against this. Especially since I believe in two years we will probably be right back in this same situation.”
Board member for the students living in the sub-zone Nancy Hamlin was also against this proposition.
Hamlin said, “After what I heard Monday night and tonight, I do not think that we should just all of a sudden up-root these children. I am completely against that.”
The board’s president Wayne Dardeau, who represents Pine Prairie’s school district, felt differently about the situation than Foreman and Hamlin.
Dardeau said, “District 4 and District 5 have been the only two districts that have grown over the last 20 years, and we are going to continue to grow. Those are the Pine Prairie and Bayou Chicot districts. There are over 100 kids signed up for pre-K between Pine Prairie and Bayou Chicot. When I graduated from Pine Prairie High School it was a B class school of about 100 and something students. Now that high school has over 300 students, and there are only two more classrooms now than when I went. There is no room to house these children.”
When the discussion ended, the board’s vice president Scott Limoges made a motion.
Limoges said, “I make a motion to offer limited freedom of choice and to move the sub-zone back to Ville Platte.”
When it came to the vote, the motion was shot down 10 to 3.
The three board members who voted to have the sub-zone sent back to Ville Platte were Dardeau, Limoges, and Mike Fontenot.
Other items approved were:
Approval of a resolution to authorize Superintendent Toni Hamlin on behalf of the EPSB to purchase property located at 921 7th Street, Mamou for the amount of $6,000.
Permission to advertise for purchase of a 2009 or newer handicapped bus with a rear mounted wheelchair lift using funds received from LDOE opportunity grant.
Permission to approve architect’s recommendation and seek quotes, as appropriate, regarding the replacement of the district’s education technology and training facility using general maintenance and technology funds.
Permission for approval of a five year VoIP contract with Detel for filing of E-rate 471 application for services beginning July 1, 2016.