The Lafayette Parish School Board's lopsided decision to deny the opening of two Type 1 charter schools drew a stern rebuke Thursday from Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais.
The Lafayette Parish School Board's lopsided decision to deny the opening of two Type 1 charter schools drew a stern rebuke Thursday from Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais.
"To say I am disappointed with last night's vote would be an understatement," says Langlinais in a prepared statement issued Thursday afternoon. "The actions at that meeting by [Rae Trahan] the school board representative for Broussard was a prime example of putting politics before people and if that is her definition of leadership, then I hope she seriously considers resigning. My thanks to Mr. Cockerham and Mr. Bouillion for their willingness to stand for moving our parish and the school system forward."
Board members Mark Cockerham and Kermit Bouillion were the only two votes in favor of approving the two for-profit charter companies' applications for Type 1 charter status, which would have given the school board oversight of their operation. The charter companies, National Heritage Academies and Charter Schools USA, will now go before the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval as Type 2 charters.
"If they are granted this option, then the city of Broussard will work with them to identify land to build on and do everything we can to get their doors open," says Langlinais. "We need facilities in the southern part of the parish. Our population is expected to double in the next 10 years and if the [school board] doesn't have the foresight to act quickly and address where this parish is growing, then we will work with organizations that can and will help us."