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A meeting of the Lafayette Parish School Board is held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at board offices in Lafayette. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In a close vote, Comeaux High School will remain open, the Lafayette Parish School Board decided. The board room, filled with Comeaux High supporters, burst into cheers when they realized the school would not close.
The decision came the same day the state department of education released school performance scores, showing Comeaux had the greatest growth in the district and improved to an A-ranking . The proposal to close Comeaux failed 5-4 during a Wednesday meeting. Members Chad Desormeaux, Britt Latiolais, Roddy Bergeron and Hannah Smith Mason voted against keeping it open.
In a separate vote, the board voted 8-1 to move the E.J. Sam Accelerated School to the campus.
Board Member Amy Trahan voted against the measure. Read more: S.J.
Montgomery Elementary to close, Lafayette Middle to be repurposed after school board vote District staff originally recommended that the career center move to the campus if Comeaux closed. That won't happen now. The closure of Comeaux was recommended by Civic Solutions Group, a strategic planner hired to help the district create and implement an optimization plan.
The decision was one of seven items the board voted on relating to the district optimization plan. Dozens of community members spoke out against the proposal. A few students who spoke were choked up when talking about how devastating the closure would be for them.
"Comeaux High School is more than just a collection of classroom and hallways. It is a living, breathing community where dreams are nurtured and futures are forged," said student Leah Jackson. "The thought of shutting down our school is not only heartbreaking, but a disservice to the generations of students who will continue to thrive here.
" Community members argued Comeaux was neglected by the district, leaving the school's facilities to decline and causing a high turn over in administration. Board Member Jeremy Hidalgo said the decision was necessary for the financial health of the district because of budgetary constraints the district is facing. Without change, issues would appear in classrooms, he said.
"Pupil to teacher ratios are going to increase," he said. "That's what's going to happen if we don't start making more sound decisions on consolidating our resources and services at some of our facilities." Because the school did not close, the Navy JROTC program and performing and visual arts program will remain at Comeaux.
District staff also asked the campus be used as a middle school athletic facility and to house additional district personnel. But that part of the vote also failed..
