PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING
JANUARY 31, 2024
5:00 P.M.
LAPLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ~ LAPLACE, LOUISIANA
The Board President read the following:
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board will hold a public hearing to obtain public comment regarding the consideration of consolidation of St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools. The public hearing will be held Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at LaPlace Elementary School, 393 Greenwood Drive, LaPlace, Louisiana, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The following Board members were present: Raydel Morris, Jennifer Frizzell, Samuel Mamou, Debbie Schum, Shawn Wallace.
At 5:06 p.m., the President read the agenda items aloud:
Robert L. Hammonds/Mike Hefner – Presentation of draft plans for consolidation of public schools in St. John the Baptist Parish
Receive public comment/input regarding the draft plans for consolidation of public schools in St. John the Baptist Parish
Mr. Bob Hammonds addressed the audience and thanked everyone for attending. Mr. Hammonds explained that he is the lawyer that represents the School Board in the long-standing desegregation litigation. He stated the following: Many families have left St. John Parish following Hurricane Ida. Funding for public education comes from 2 sources: state and local funding. The portion that is state-funded is known as MFP (Minimum Foundation Program), and is derived at using a formula based on the number of students registered in the public school system and is a very complicated formula. Due to the loss of student population in our parish, there is a $8 million loss in funding. The School Board has a legal obligation to operate under a balanced budget, which means they cannot spend more than they receive. Due to the loss of funding, the School Board has to consider making cuts. One way to cut costs is to consider consolidation of schools. We have been provided information that shows St. John Parish Schools has the capacity to house 10,000 students. Because we have 5200 students, this is a viable option. Mr. Heffner and I attempted to come up with a plan to move the fewest amount of students and move them to the closest possible school from their home. After looking at all the schools, East St. John Prep is the only 4th-8th grade school and Fifth Ward Elementary is the only K-3rd grade school. Logically, the least amount of moving would be to revert East St. John Prep back to a K-8 school, moving FEW students there. ESJP does not have the capacity to absorb all the K-3 students, so other schools will absorb some of the students. We are here tonight to hear from the public regarding these changes.
Mike Heffner, demographer, is the person who has worked on the maps that are being proposed. There were large maps of both the current district lines and the map showing the proposed changes provided for the public to look over.
The floor was opened for public comment. The following members of the public made comments:
Annette Houston, retired educator
Leonard James, resident of Reserve
Shondrell Perrilloux, resident of LaPlace
Leroy Bell, resident of LaPlace
Dr. Celestine-Brumfield, mother of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Carolyn Batiste, resident
Ann Stringer, mother of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Peaches Sanders, teacher of Fifth Ward Elementary
Kizzy Major, mother of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Keshawn Carter Davenport, LES PTO
Continue Chestnut, resident
Jaleesia Balque, resident
Wendell James, Rebecca Lane, parents
Clarence Wilkens, resident
Victor Jones, Atty. NAACP Defense Fund
Joyce Pierre, grandmother of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Byron Preston, student of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Melody Matt, student of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Rajean Butler, principal of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Nikki Sool (sp.), teacher
Lennis Madere, retired teacher
Robert Roussell, Garyville Pastor
Mary Hampton, resident of Reserve
There being no public comment, the hearing was closed at 6:42 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Cleo Perry, Secretary Shawn Wallace, President