TERREBONNE PARISH, La. — During a meeting Tuesday night, the Terrebonne Parish School Board voted to approve a restructuring plan that will close three elementary schools.
Honduras, Bayou Black, and Gibson elementary schools will consolidate with a handful of other schools.
The board voted 6-3 to approve the plan.
Honduras, Bayou Black, and Gibson will close at the end of the school year, and students, teachers, and staff will move to other schools.
Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Bubba Orgeron says it's a plan they've looked at for a while now due to declining enrollment and a shortage of certified teachers.
In the last five years, enrollment has dropped by about 12 percent. And right now, the district is about 84 percent certified.
Orgeron says the plan would save the district up to $10 million a year, but he’s said some uncertified staff may lose their jobs.
Dozens of Terrebonne families spoke against the plan, including one teacher at one of the affected schools.
"I don't want my school to close. We are a community. We support each other. We have so many students that we build relationships with, and we don't want our school to close," Honduras Elementary teacher Janine Chauvin said. "We had improved. Two years of growth. We went from a D school to a B school in two years. It is a business and I understand that. As a union member, I also want to fight for my teachers. Our teachers want raises too, and I understand there are some things that need to be worked out. But overall, I would prefer to have my school than have a raise."
There were some teachers who spoke out in favor of the plan. The superintendent has said if the schools closed, it would allow for a 10 percent raise.
But to be clear, that’s not what the board voted on. That would take another vote of the school board.
It was solely a decision about the consolidation of the three schools.
Gibson will merge with Schriever Elementary and Caldwell Middle School.
Bayou black will merge with Schriever, Caldwell and Mulberry.
Honduras will merge with Village East and Acadian Elementary.
It will depend on where you live.
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