St. Landry Parish School Board approves multiple closures and reconfigurations; court limits immediate implementation for Cross Springs

The St. Landry Parish School Board voted July 1 to approve a series of school closures and reconfigurations the superintendent says are needed to reduce a projected budget deficit.

The board approved motions to close or reconfigure multiple campuses for the 2026–27 school year, including Growley Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Central Middle, Cross Springs Elementary (to be repurposed for virtual instruction), Granato Elementary and Grand Prairie Elementary, and also endorsed reconfigurations at Park Vista, East and Glendale elementaries and the former junior high site. The board took voice votes on many items and a roll-call vote on Grand Prairie; the superintendent and staff said the changes are intended to produce long-term savings and align staffing to enrollment.

The meeting opened with a brief recess after the board’s attorney reported that a petition had produced a temporary restraining order affecting Cross Springs Elementary. Counsel said the judge modified the TRO “for the limited purpose of permitting the St. L school board to consider, deliberate upon, and vote on the agenda items concerning Cross Springs Elementary School,” but expressly ordered that “no action shall be taken to implement” any closure, reassignment of students, transfer of staff or equipment, or other operational changes affecting Cross Springs pending a July 10 hearing. The attorney said he would deliver a signed copy to board leadership.

Why it matters: The board is pursuing consolidation after three failed school-bond referendums and repeated budget shortfalls; proponents argue the closures are necessary to stabilize district finances, while opponents say the proposals were rushed and data supporting projected staff reductions and savings are inconsistent.

Board debate and votes: Members repeatedly described the decisions as difficult. Several said they supported the superintendent’s plan despite reservations; others pressed for clearer, verifiable savings estimates before approving additional changes.

The board approved the superintendent’s plan for Growley, Northeast and several reconfigurations by voice vote. After extended debate about teacher counts, class sections and year‑one versus long‑term savings, the board took a roll-call vote to close Grand Prairie Elementary; the chair recorded individual yes and no votes and announced the motion carried.

Public reaction: Dozens of residents from affected communities — particularly Cross Springs — urged the board to delay closures, called for more transparent criteria, and raised the possibility of pursuing charter-school alternatives if local campuses close. Carol Snider, a local official who identified herself in public comment as mayor, asked the board to “please reconsider” and suggested community volunteers could help maintain a campus if the board could not fund it.

What the court order means: Although the judge allowed the board to vote on Cross Springs items, the TRO’s preservation-of‑status‑quo language prevents the board or administration from carrying out any transfers of students, staff or programs related to Cross Springs until the court’s July 10 hearing. The board’s attorney said the signed order will be circulated to members and that any implementation would be blocked until the court acts.

Next steps: The board directed the superintendent and staff to proceed with administrative planning for reassignments and to provide clarifying data where requested. Implementation of any changes tied to Cross Springs remains paused pending the July 10 hearing.

Votes at a glance: The board approved motions to close or reconfigure the following (motion language taken from the agenda and board action):

- Close Growley Elementary School and reassign students by grade (approved by voice vote).

- Close Northeast Elementary School and reassign students by grade (approved by voice vote).

- Reconfigure Park Vista Elementary as pre-K through second grade; reassign other grades (approved by voice vote).

- Reconfigure former junior high site as third through sixth grade (approved by voice vote).

- Close Central Middle School (approved by voice vote).

- Reconfigure East Elementary as first through third grade (approved by voice vote).

- Reconfigure Glendale Elementary as fourth through sixth grade (approved by voice vote).

- Close Cross Springs Elementary and repurpose as a virtual-instruction campus; assign pre-K–4 students to Fort Barry Elementary and grades 5–12 to Fort Barry Middle or Port Barry High (board voted to approve but implementation was restricted by court order).

- Close Granato Elementary and assign affected students to receiving schools (approved).

- Close the Center for Academic Programs (CAPS) and assign students to the St. Landry Transition School (approved).

- Close Grand Prairie Elementary as proposed by the superintendent; roll-call vote recorded and motion passed.

Quotes that capture the meeting tone:

- "We are in a dire situation…we have not passed the bond in the last 40 years," said a public commenter urging support for the superintendent’s plan.

- "This gives reference to spiritual humility… I ask you now that even though you have the freedom to vote how you choose, the children will be the most affected if you do not give the superintendent you all selected full autonomy," said Miss Wilo Chapman in public comment.

- Board attorney: read the court’s modification of the TRO and warned that while the board could vote, "no action shall be taken to implement" any Cross Springs-related closures until the July 10 hearing.

What we don’t know yet / outstanding details: Board members repeatedly requested clearer, line‑by‑line staff and savings calculations; several members said documents provided the day before contained numerical discrepancies and that some projected personnel savings appeared inconsistent with staffing counts. The district’s HR and finance offices were asked to provide reconciled teacher counts, section counts and year‑over‑year savings estimates.

The board will provide formal minutes and the attorney said the signed TRO will be emailed to members; implementation timelines for affected students and staff will be subject to the court’s forthcoming ruling for Cross Springs.