The Broussard City Council has joined the city of Youngsville in throwing its support behind Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper and his Turnaround Plan.
The Broussard City Council has joined the city of Youngsville in throwing its support behind Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper and his Turnaround Plan.
Photo by Robin May
Rae Trahan
In addition to supporting Cooper and the Turnaround plan, the resolution, which passed in a unanimous vote during the Broussard council's meeting Wednesday, also calls on the school board to seriously consider charter schools as a way to alleviate overcrowding of area schools.
"With our growing population, providing the highest quality education opportunities possible for our families is one of our top priorities," says Broussard Mayor Charles Langlinais in a prepared statement. "We've had several discussions with Dr. Cooper, believe in his Turnaround Plan and encourage the school board to get behind what is necessary to make our parish one of the top education programs in the state. We also feel strongly about the charter school issue and think this is a definite solution to the current overcrowding problem in Broussard and Youngsville. We need a referendum to build schools and hand them over to charter operators."
Rae Trahan is the school board member who represents the Broussard and Youngsville areas. As one of the most vehement anti-Cooper board members, it'll be interesting to see if she heeds the calls of the Broussard and Youngsville councils, or if she'll just continue to resist for the sake of resisting the superintendent and the initiatives he supports, like charter schools. Based on her record, it's an unfortunate likelihood that she'll choose the latter, and in doing so, seal her fate come election time next year.
"Youngsville fully endorses Broussard's resolution," says Youngsville Mayor Wilson Viator. "Two weeks ago the Youngsville City Council voted unanimously on a resolution to endorse Cooper's Turnaround Plan and implementation of charter schools in the Youngsville-Broussard area. We urge the LPSB to take immediate action on the charter school issue."