Harlan Kirgan
There is a plan in place for St. Landry Parish public schools if two tax propositions pass on March 24.
The plan was approved by high school areas with unanimous consent on all but Opelousas and Beau Chene at the meet- ing Thursday.
If the propositions pass, Eunice is to get a new pre-kindergarten to fifth- grade elementary school on the Highland Elementary campus at an estimated cost of $17.8 million. The school would be designed for an enrollment of 657 stu- dents.
The School Board has called a March 24 election on two tax proposals. One pro- posal is an 11.3 mill, 10-year tax to pay for salary increases. The other is a 12.1 mill, 20-year tax to fund a $99 million bond for capital improvements.
Both proposals have to pass to take effect.
The Board has decided certified employees would get $3,000 raises and other employees would get a $2,000 raise if the proposal pass.
The projects total $121.6 million, but additional revenue may come from state when the district approves the tax, Superintendent Patrick Jenkins said.
“These are hard decisions that we have to make for St. Landry Parish schools, but we want to be able to make these decisions for our children,” he said.
“It is a beginning, not an end,” he said.
Employees will continue to have jobs with the changes and if they face a change the job would be near the present job, he said.
Port Barre Board member Donnie Perron won approval for a new high school that would house grades pre-kin- dergarten to 12th grade if money is available. It was the only conditional plan approved.
Two portions of the plan ran into opposition from Opelousas Board member Randy Wagley and Arnaudville Board member Huey Wyble.
Wagley argued that Park Vista Elementary should be left alone.
“I’m not convinced the different grade configurations are the solution to what ails our schools in the city Opelousas or anywhere in the parish, for that matter,” Wagley said.
Opelousas schools would eventually be broken into a pre-kindergarten, kinder- garten to third grade, fourth to fifth grade, sixth to eighth grade and ninth to 12th grade schools.
The school plan would be a hardship to parents, he said. “How can we get them engaged in three different schools?”
Milton Ambres, an Opelousas Board member, said he understands Wagley’s argument, but “...those people are having to buck up and take some hits because their schools are moving. They are losing their schools.”
Board President Candace Gerace said, “We have spent many, many hours going through this and at the end of the day it is not what happens tomorrow, it not what happens the next two years, it is educat- ing our kids and what it looks like in the next 20 years.”
Hazel Sias, an Opelouas Board mem- ber, said, “What you do to one school should be done to five, six schools in Opelousas. It’s not right to make the dif- ference.”
St. Landry Parish School Board member Mary Ellen Donatto, of Eunice, looks over the plan for the parish’s schools. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
Wagley contended Park Vista is unique as the highest-performing elementary school in Opelousas and offers a French immersion program.
“I’m having a hard time understanding why the one that works we want to break it apart. Because that is supposed to fix the other ones?” he said.
Wagley lost a vote to keep Park Vista a kindergarten to sixth grade school. Voting to keep the school as K-6th grade
were Wagley, Perron, Wyble, Kyle Boss and Roger Young.
Voting against that motion were Ambres, Raymond Cassimere, Sias, Mary Ellen Donatto and Gerace.
Hayes, Charles Ross and Anthony Standberry abstained, which defeated the motion.
Wagley next asked for a kindergarten to fifth grade
configuration, which was defeated. Ross, Perron, Wyble, Boss, Wagley and Young voted for the motion. Voting against were Standberry, Ambres, Cassimere, Sias, Donatto and Gerace.
Hayes abstained, which acted like a “no” note.
Wyble made a similar plea for Arnaudville and Leonville elementary schools in that he wanted to separate their seventh and eighth graders from attending a new junior high planned on the Beau Chene High School cam-pus.
Wyble drew support only from Ross and Hayes. “We just defeated the tax,” Wyble said after the
vote.
Donatto replied that
“This isn’t the kind of game we want to play right now.”
Not everyone is walking away happy about the pro- posed changes, she said.
The school system is looking for ways to raise money so it can grow its academic programs, she said.
“We can’t divide our- selves like this,” she said.
St. Landry Parish School Board Capital Improvement Plan Options
Volkert, Inc.
Northwest High School Zone
NWHS Zone - Phase 1
1) One New Elementary School
A. Grade Configuration PK-8
B. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 LES Enrollment Projection (PK-8) 966
2. Additional Capacity (20%) 193
3. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 1,159
C. Probable Cost (180\sf ) $30,839,584
D. Plaisance Elementary School
1. Facility addressed in a later phase.
E. Grand Prairie Elementary School
1. Facility addressed in a later phase.
F. Northwest High School
1. Facility addressed in a later phase.
G. Lawtell Elementary
1. Will be occupied upon completion of construction.
2. Projected time frame to occupy new elementary school: 2020-2021
Eunice High School Zone
EHS Zone - Phase 1
1) One New Elementary School
A. Grade Configuration PK-5
B. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 HES Enrollment Projection (PK-5) 198
2. 2023 EES Enrollment Projection (PK-5) 253
3. Eunice Zone 5th Grade Projection (191\2 Sites) 96
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 110
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 657
C. Probable Cost (180\sf) $17,771,141.00
D. Eunice Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of new school. Projected time frame: 2020-2021 school year
E. Central Middle School
1. Close upon completion of new school. Projected time frame: 2020-2021 school year.
F. Glendale Elementary School
1. Becomes a PK-5 School
2. Projected time frame to occupy: 2020-2021 school year
G. East Elementary School
1. Becomes a PK-5 School
2. Projected time frame to occupy: 2020-2021 school year
H. Eunice Jr. High School
1. Becomes a 6-8 School
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
I. Eunice High School
1. Facility addressed in a later phase.
J. Highland Elementary
1. Will close for construction during the 2018-2019 school year
2. Students will attend Eunice, East or Glendale Elementary depending on residence location
Opelousas High School Zone (four phases)
OHS Zone - Phase 1
1) Elementary School Renovation: K-3, occupy during 2019-2020 school year
A. Grade Configuration K-3
B. Location at the existing Grolee Elementary School site.
1. Existing schools to remain during construction.
2. Combine with Southwest Elementary School.
3. Combine with North Elementary School.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 GES Enrollment Projection (K-3) 106
2. 2023 SWES Enrollment Projection (K-3) 131
3. 2023 NES Enrollment Projection (K-3) 141
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 75
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 453 (538 current)
D. Probable Cost $6,000,000
E. Southwest Elementary School
1. Will become a 4-5 school.
2. Projected occupy time frame: 2019-2020
F. Northeast Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of renovated school.
NOTE: In the school year 2018-2019, ALL Elementary schools will have a school configuration of K-5.
Opelousas High School Zone
OHS Zone - Phase 1
2) Elementary School Renovation: K-3, occupy during 2019-2020 school year.
A. Grade Configuration K-3
B. Location at the existing Park Vista Elementary School site.
1. Existing schools to remain during construction.
2. Combine with South Street Elementary School.
3. Combine with Northeast Elementary School.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 PVES Enrollment Projection (K-3) 419
2. 2023 SSES Enrollment Projection (K-3) 210
3. 2023 NEES Enrollment Projection (K-3) 152
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 156
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 937 (951 current)
D. Probable Cost $6,000,000
E. North Elementary School
1. Will become a 4-5 school during the 2019-2020 school year
F. South Street Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of renovated school.
2. Facility will be used during renovations from 2019-2022
NOTE: In the school year 2018-2019, All Elementary schools will have a school configuration of K-5.
St. Landry Parish School Board Capital Improvement Plan Options
Opelousas High School Zone
OHS Zone - Phase 1
3) Elementary School Renovation during 2019-2020 school year.
A. Grade Configuration 4-5
B. Location at the existing Southwest Elementary School site.
1. Existing schools to remain during construction.
2. Combine with Grolee Elementary School.
3. Combine with North Elementary School.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 GES Enrollment Projection (4-5) 65
2. 2023 SWES Enrollment Projection (4-5) 60
3. 2023 NES Enrollment Projection (4-5) 65
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 38
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 228
D. Probable Cost $6,000,000
E. Grolee Elementary School
1. Will become a K-3 school during the 2019-2020 school year.
F. Northeast Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of renovated school.
2. Facility will be used during renovations from 2019-2022
NOTE: In the school year 2018-2019, ALL Elementary schools will have a school configuration of K-5.
Opelousas High School Zone
OHS Zone - Phase 1
4) Elementary School Renovation during 2019-2020 school year.
A. Grade Configuration 4-5
B. Location at the existing North Elementary School site.
1. Existing schools to remain during construction.
2. Combine with South Street Elementary School.
3. Combine with Park Vista Elementary School.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 PVES Enrollment Projection (4-5) 187
2. 2023 SSES Enrollment Projection (4-5) 93
3. 2023 NEES Enrollment Projection (4-5) 78
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 72
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 430
D. Probable Cost $6,000,000
E. Park Vista Elementary School
1. Will become a K-3 school during the 2019-2020 school year.
F. South Street Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of renovated school.
2. Facility will be used during renovations from the 2019-2022 school year
5) CAPS
A. PK Center will move to current CAPS location during the 2018-2019 school year
B. Current CAPS will move to a site to be determined during the 2018-2019 school year.
NOTE: In the school year 2018-2019, ALL Elementary schools will have a school configuration of K-5.
North Central High School Zone
NCHS Zone - Phase 1
1) Additions and Alterations to North Central High School
A. Grade Configuration PK-12
B. Location at the existing North Central High School Site.
1. Existing school to remain during construction.
2. Renovate existing spaces as needed\required.
3. Addition of new elementary space as needed\required.
4. Combine with Palmetto Elementary School. Projected time frame: 2020-2021 school year
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 PES Enrollment Projection (PK-5) 337
2. 2023 NCHS Enrollment Projection (6-12) 366
3. 2023 WES Enrollment Projections (PK-5) 115
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 164
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 982
D. Probable Cost (180\sf) $10,753,495
E. Palmetto Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of new school\renovations.
2. Projected time frame: 2020-2021 school year.
F. Washington Elementary School
1. Operation pending enrollment increase and academic performance.
G. North Central High School
1. Remainder of facility addressed in a later phase.
Port Barre High School Zone
PBHS Zone - Phase 1, Option 1
1) One New High School. Projected time frame: will occupy new school during 2020-2021 school year
A. Grade Configuration 5-12
B. New site.
1. Site to be determined.
2. Existing schools to remain during construction.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 PBHS Enrollment Projection (5-12) 411
2. 2023 KSES Enrollment Projection (7-8) 56
3. Additional Capacity (+20%) 94
4. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 561 (721 current)
D. Probable Cost (180/sf) $28,267,873
E. Existing Port Barre High School
1. Close upon completion of new school.
F. Existing Port Barre Elementary School
1. Facility addressed in a later phase.
G. Krotz Springs Elementary School.
1. Conversion to PK-6.
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
3. Phase approach on conversion.
i. Phase I: 8th grade. School year 2019-2020
ii. Phase II: 7th grade. School year 2020-2021
Port Barre High School Zone
PBHS Zone - Phase 1, Option 2
1) One New High School.
A. Grade Configuration PK-12
B. New site.
1. Site to be determined.
2. Existing schools to remain during construction.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 PBHS Enrollment Projection (5-12) 411
2. 2023 PBES Enrollment Projection (PK-4) 293
3. 2023 KSES Enrollment Projection (7-8) 56
4. Additional Capacity (+20%) 152
5. Design Enrollment (attd zone relief possible) 912 (1,161 current)
D. Probable Cost (180/sf) $32,361,400
E. Existing Port Barre High School
1. Close upon completion of new school.
F. Existing Port Barre Elementary School
1. Close upon completion of new school.
G. Krotz Springs Elementary School.
1. Conversion to PK-6.
• Phase I: 8th grade. School year 2019-2020
• Phase II: 7th grade. School year 2020-2021
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
Beau Chene High School Zone
BCHS Zone - Phase 1, Option 1
1) One New Jr. High School Addition-Anticipated occupy date of 2020-2021
A. Grade Configuration 7-8
B. Location at existing Beau Chene High School.
1. Existing schools to remain during construction.
C. Design Enrollment
1. 2023 Cankton\Sunset Enrollment Projection (7-8) 167
2. 2023 Grand Coteau\Arnaudville Enrollment Projection (7-8)93
3. 2023 Leonville Enrollment Projection (7-8) 80
4. Additional Capacity (20%) 68
5. Design Enrollment (attendance zone relief possible) 408
D. Probable Cost (180\sf) $9,937,494
E. Sunset Elementary School- School year 2020-2021
1. 4-6
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
F. Grand Coteau Elementary School- School year 2020-2021
1. PK-3 (zone modification)
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
G. Cankton Elementary School- School year 2020-2021
1. PK-3
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
H. Arnaudville Elementary School- School year 2020-2021
1. PK-6
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
I. Leonville Elementary School- School year 2020-2021
1. PK-6
2. Facility addressed in a later phase.
NOTE: No changes to the current school configuration pending approval of the construction proposition.