ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. — Thursday night in a 7-4 vote, the St. John the Baptist School Board voted to consolidate the first of three schools.
Fifth Ward Elementary will close at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and its more than 300 students will be redistricted to either East. St. John Preparatory or LaPlace Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year.
School Board President, Shawn Wallace, said the move is intended to save money as they face a $5 million deficit due to damages from Hurricane Ida and low enrollment numbers.
"We needed to look at what St. John needs to do financially," Wallace said. "And that's why we decided to make that part of our decision on tonight."
Wallace would not comment on whether the decision to close Fifth Ward first had to do with pending litigation. However, another board member said during the meeting that it put 'pressure' on the board to act.
Meanwhile, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Senior Counsel, Victor Jones, said he believes the NAACP's legal action sped up the process.
"I'm happy that they are closing this school, Jones said. "However, every day that that school remains open, those children remain in danger."
The Legal Defense Fund sued the district for allegedly moving more minority students to Fifth Ward regardless of where they live. Fifth Ward sits in close proximity to the Denka plant, which the NAACP believes puts students in danger of the 'mutagenic, carcinogenic effects of chloroprene.'
WWL Louisiana contacted Denka via email Thursday evening for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
Another motion passed Thursday night to change the name of East St. John Preparatory to Fifth Ward Preparatory to honor the history and alumni of the school.
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