St. Landry Parish School Board opens discussion of closing schools
ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- Along with other school systems across Acadiana, St. Landry Parish schools have seen a decline in attendance and teacher shortages. As those challenges stack up, conversations about whether some schools should be shut down are beginning to emerge.
School board member Anthony Standberry said it is a consideration because "some schools have very small attendance."
"And it costs about the same to keep a school open with low enrollment than what it does to have a school that's filled," Standberry said.
Standberry and Superintendent Milton Batiste said conversations of consolidating schools have to begin because schools across the parish continue to decline in attendance because of other schooling options like homeschooling or private school.
Teacher shortages continue to be an issue as well.
"You can't buy a teacher. There's a teacher shortage all over. So, I guess by consolidating you could use your best resources in the in the schools that you do have," Standberry said.
Standberry and Batiste said there are still more conversations to be had and ask for the public and parents to also take part in the discussion before decisions or votes can be made.
"I think as superintendent, you know, my goal with this is to be as transparent as possible. I have different advisory groups as well as I'm working with those various community panels, you know, I want to be there to have discussions and kind of get their feedback and also even just encourage the public as the board's having retreats or, you know, school board meetings that they're there and part of that process," Batiste said.
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