HOUMA, La. — Blake and Christoper Duet, like other parents, weren’t happy when they found out the Terrebonne Parish elementary school their two young kids attend will most likely close at the end of the school year.
“Super shocked, very taken aback, scared,” said Blake Duet. “This is the best place in all of Houma and they want to take it away.”
Honduras Elementary is one of three elementary schools Superintendent Bubba Orgeron is proposing to close. If approved by the school board, Honduras, Bayou Black, and Gibson will consolidate with a handful of other schools.
“We’re faced with two significant problems in our school system,” said Orgeron.
Orgeron says declining enrollment and a shortage of certified teachers are those problems. According to Orgeron, the district has lost about 2,100 kids over the past five years which is about 12 percent.
“In 10 years, it’s actually down almost 3,800 kids. That’s about 20 percent decline in ten years,” said Orgeron. ‘We lost a lot from Hurricane Ida but they haven’t returned. It’s been two years and we’ve shown no signs of the return of our kids.”
Orgeron also wants 100 percent teacher certification. Right now, it’s about 84 percent.
“We firmly believe that a certified teacher, or having a larger percentage of certified teachers really will increase the quality of instruction,” said Orgeron. “We’ve got to do everything we can to maximize what we have and consolidation, believe it or not, helps with both of those problems.”
The Duets say consolidation also creates a problem for them. Their second grader has autism. Their first grader has ADHD. They worry about what happens when their kids leave the school they’re comfortable in. They even held a small protest at the school to save it.
“My fear is that all of the accommodations and the special education resources that are available here, they’re not going to be so readily available wherever they’re sending our kids,” said Blake Duet.
Orgeron says the district must better spend the $4,000 per student it gets from the state while maintaining an appropriate curriculum. He says the plan, which has been looked at for a while, would save the district up to $10 million a year. He hopes the savings will allow for a potential pay raise, up to ten percent, for all employees.
“Will there be job losses, only uncertified people will potentially lose their jobs,” said Orgeron.
Orgeron says certified teachers increase instruction quality and the district will help with tuition reimbursement for uncertified teachers who want to get certified.
The Duets worry about a decrease in classroom care. They’re considering leaving the district.
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