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Board adopts realignment guiding principles and timeline; Pam Whitley to facilitate community process
Summary
The board approved alignment guiding principles and a timeline Jan. 9, beginning a district realignment conversation that could include program moves or school closures; the superintendent said consultant Pam Whitley will help facilitate community engagement.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Jan. 9 approved guiding principles and a timeline for a realignment process intended to review how schools and programs are configured across the district.
Superintendent Cole and board members emphasized the process is a realignment conversation that may include program realignment, redeployment of staff and, in some cases, school closures, but that closures are not the predetermined outcome. The superintendent said the process will be intentionally community-engaged and that Pam Whitley, a consultant with prior experience in the district, will facilitate conversations.
Public commenters and board members raised concerns about the timeline and urged a methodical approach; one public commenter warned the timeline looked “unrealistically optimistic.” Board members noted the district’s history of realignment and said similar efforts (Howell Park with Claiborne, White Hills with Brownsfield, Northbanks with Glen Oaks High School) have left schools operating under new configurations.
After discussion, the board voted to approve the guiding principles and timeline and directed staff to begin community engagement under the announced framework.
