William Hetzer, Sr.
June 1, 2007
Gerald Hite, Sr.
June 8, 2007
After struggling to increase enrollment for the past two years, Little Caillou Elementary has closed its doors for good.
Faculty and staff from Boudreaux Canal Elementary School have been moving equipment, records and supplies from the other school. The consolidation was completed May 24 when Little Caillou closed its doors, according to Mac Sevin, principal at Boudreaux Canal.
According to Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Ed Richard, only 33 students remained at Little Caillou Elementary during the 2006-07 school year. The school board seriously considered closing the school the year before because numbers were continuing to drop.
At its peak, the elementary school only served 180 to 200 students.
“The school was never a big school, but we wanted to see if the numbers would increase as the parish population increased,” he said. Instead, the student body trickled.
“The hurricane played some part in the decrease of the student population, but mainly it was due to families moving out of the area going to better areas in the parish,” Richard said.
According to the Supervisor of Personnel Louise Whipple, the projected enrollment for Boudreaux Canal is 120 students for the next school year.
Several of the Little Caillou teachers and staff n including a mild- and moderate-disorder teacher; a special education teacher, a gifted and talented teacher and a master teacher n will make the move along with the 120 third through fifth graders.
Boudreaux Canal is one of the oldest schools in the parish. Built in 1938 on land donated by Dr. Hugh St. Martin, the school has operated for more than 65 years, Richard said.
Little Caillou became a parish public school in 1956.
Beginning in the fall, Boudreaux Canal will educate kindergarteners through fourth graders.
Lache Middle School, the other feeder school from Little Caillou, will teach grades five through eight, Richard said.
Because the schools are only a couple of miles from each other, the changes won’t be drastic for students or faculty, he noted. “The two school were already participating in educational enrichment programs together before the consolidation,” he said.
Although the school board hasn’t determined Little Caillou’s future use, Richard said a security system will remain on and maintenance workers will still monitor the facility until the board decides what to do with it.
“We have thought about an adult education center or after-school program. But a final decision is still in the air,” Richard said.
Contributed photos * May 24 marked the end of Little Caillou Elementary School as it closed its doors for the last time, merging with the Boudreaux Canal School (above).
