St. Bernard Parish School Board unanimously opposes proposed Louisiana International Terminal, asks USACE for extended comment period and hearing

The Saint Bernard Parish School Board voted 10-0 to adopt a resolution opposing permit application MVN2021-00270-ESG for the proposed Louisiana International Terminal and asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend the public comment period and hold a public hearing, board members said during a special meeting.

The resolution says the terminal as proposed would place the terminal footprint over Willie Smith Junior Elementary School, which the board described as an active school staffed by about 22 full-time teachers serving roughly 324 students. The board also cited a lawsuit it filed July 8, 2024, seeking a preliminary injunction to block construction of the terminal as currently proposed.

Board members pushed for an expanded public comment opportunity and a hearing because the board said the Corps' public notice — issued Dec. 16, 2024, with a comment deadline of Jan. 14, 2025 — spanned multiple holiday periods and limited community response. The resolution asks the Corps to hold a hearing and to accept additional written comments so families, faculty and nearby residents can fully express concerns.

Public commenters at the meeting urged the board to adopt the resolution. Janet Perez of Violet told the board, “I’m here tonight to ask you to please pass your resolution to continue that fight.” Suzanne Neal of Chalmette said she supported the resolution and thanked the board for efforts to protect students. Fred Everhart thanked the board and said he supported the resolution. Henry Carroll, a Violet resident, told the board, “I just wanna thank y’all for being with us to try to help stop this thing.”

Board member remarks reflected support with some reservations about language in the resolution. Member Katrina Rodney said she did not agree with every line of the draft but said the core complaint about the timing of the permit notice was valid and that “Violet’s voice needs to be heard, so we do need a public hearing.” Several other board members said the resolution accurately described adverse effects on the parish and school and voted to adopt it.

Procedural votes at the meeting included a motion to go into executive session to discuss pending litigation—identified in the meeting as Saint Bernard Parish School Board v. Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, 34th JDC, No. 240892-D—which passed (recorded 9-0). The board reconvened in open session (recorded 10-0) and then approved the resolution by a 10-0 roll call. The board said the adopted resolution will be forwarded to its attorney, who will package and submit the board’s comments and the request for a hearing on the board’s behalf.

The resolution cites an independent report commissioned by the board from Vikraman and Associates, LLC (referred to in the resolution as an attached exhibit) and lists a number of specific concerns: that the terminal footprint would overlay the school; that state law prevents the school board from selling or conveying property in active use; that proposed terminal phases would place terminal operations near the school and could impair school operations; that relocation of Saint Bernard Highway as proposed could block public access to the school; and that the findings summarized in the contractor’s report support those views.

The board did not specify a timetable for additional actions beyond forwarding the resolution to its attorney. The resolution and supporting materials will be submitted to the Corps and other permitting authorities, the board said.