PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING
FEBRUARY 1, 2024
5:00 P.M.
FIFTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ~ RESERVE, 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 Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School, 240 Highway 54, Garyville, Louisiana, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The following Board members were present: Albert Burl, III, Patricia Triche, Raydel Morris, Jennifer Frizzell, Samuel Mamou, and Shawn Wallace. There was a quorum of members.
At 5:10 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. He provided an explanation of the process of redrawing the lines for school districts.
The floor was opened for public comment. The following members of the public made comments:
Victor Jones, NAACP Legal Defense Fund Atty.
Carolyn Batiste, resident of Laplace
Ms. Belvin, resident of West bank
Tina Galloway Edler, paraeducator
Latoya Mero, resident of LaPlace
Russe Wise, former Board member
Brittany Edwards
Kara Lawson, principal of GMMS
Tatum Stringer, parent of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Wendell James, parent of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Jalessa Balque
Keshawn Carter, parent of LES student
Sylvia Taylor, 1967 graduate of Fifth Ward Elementary
Lester Smith, teacher of Fifth Ward Elementary
Kizzy Major
Bryon Preston
Erica Lazo, parent of Fifth Ward Elementary student
Peaches Sanders, LaPlace resident
Lennis Madere, St. John Councilmember
Whitney Joseph, resident of Reserve, former teacher, former assessor
Alvin Scioneaux, resident
Derron Cook, resident and teacher in St. John
Rajean Butler, principal of Fifth Ward Elementary
There being no public comment, the hearing was closed at 7:55 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Cleo Perry, Secretary Shawn Wallace, President