Major Overhaul Recommended for Lafayette Parish Schools – Closures, Rezoning, and Program Changes

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - A private group hired by the Lafayette Parish School System has submitted its proposed reorganization plan for increasing efficiency in the district.

If the proposed changes were adopted, it could potentially affect hundreds, if not thousands, of students and fundamentally change the education across the parish.

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Civic Solutions Group (CSG) was the group hired by LPSS to look into various school campuses, analyze the resources spent on those schools, and come up with a plan to maximize efficiency and raise the quality of education for Lafayette Parish students.

CSG's proposal was submitted to the school board at its Wednesday night meeting. The proposal contains 14 key recommendations that include closing some campuses, rezoning students, and growing more academic programs within the schools that would stay open.

One of the recommendations, which would close Paul Breaux Middle School's campus, mirrors a rumored proposal that was floating around the parish late last school year.

READ MORE: 

Lafayette Parents Rally Over Paul Breaux Middle Closure Rumors

Lafayette Parish School Board Votes to Move Gifted, Immersion Programs from Paul Breaux Middle

Below is the list of proposed changes. CSG launched a community survey and announced upcoming feedback sessions to gather input from parents, teachers, and stakeholders, LPSS announced on Wednesday evening.

"The recommendations from CSG are essentially the first draft," LPSS Board President Britt Latiolais said in a statement. "The next step is gathering input from parents, teachers, and stakeholders so planners can use that information in crafting the final recommendations for Board consideration."

The survey is available on the district’s website, lpssonline.com, and is anonymous.

Community members, LPSS says, are encouraged to participate by completing the survey or attending one of the scheduled feedback sessions:

• October 28 at 6 PM at Northside High
• October 29 at 6 PM at Acadiana High
• October 29 at 6 PM at Southside High

The 14 recommendations submitted by CSG are posted below.

Recommendation #1: Build new and more efficient 6th-8th and 9-12th campuses on the site of Northside HS and decommission the current Paul Breaux MS and Northside HS facilities

Recommendation #2: Close Acadian MS and rezone students to Carencro MS and Paul Breaux MS

Recommendation #3: Close Lafayette MS and repurpose as Lafayette Elementary; rezone current students to Scott MS, L.J. Alleman MS, and Paul Breaux MS

Recommendation #4: Close S.J. Montgomery ES and move students to Lafayette MS and other nearby facilities

Recommendation #5: Close Duson Elementary and rezone to Charles Burke ES, Ossun ES, and Westside ES

Recommendation #6: Close Katharine Drexel ES and rezone K-5 students to surrounding elementary schools; create a PK-only facility at the existing Katharine Drexel site

Recommendation #7: Close Comeaux HS and rezone students to newer facilities

Recommendation #8: Reconfigure Gallet ES, Lindon ES, and Youngsville MS to create a K-8 STEM “Youngsville Academy"

Recommendation #9: Add a neighborhood preference in the lottery for all 100% magnet schools

Recommendation #10: Create an elementary fine arts magnet at Cpl. Middlebrook ES to be a feeder to L. J. Alleman MS

Recommendation #11: Expand popular Arts and STEM programming at additional schools

Recommendation #12: Consolidate Baranco ES, Boucher ES, and Faulk ES into two schools

Recommendation #13: Review and align magnet programming with parent demand and new HS accountability

Recommendation #14: Long-term recommendations to improve outcomes and be responsive to community feedback