“Hear us out, hear our hearts, and vote to save our schools”– TPSB meeting met with strong opposition from local parents, teachers, and community members

At the recent Terrebonne Parish School Board meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, dozens of local teachers, parents, and community members came out to voice their strong opposition to Superintendent  Bubba Orgeron’s plan to close three local elementary schools. The outpouring of sentiment was not enough, however, as the board ultimately voted to consolidated Gibson Elementary, Bayou Black Elementary, and Honduras Elementary with other local schools. Here’s what happened at the controversial recent meeting.

“This restructuring plan was developed in response to two problems,” began Orgeron. “As superintendent, we need to look at these problems and respond operationally for our students.”

Orgeron continued with a presentation in front of the audience of attendees and the entire board, detailing the 20% decline in enrollment in Terrebonne Parish schools in the last 10 years, and the issue that presents with state-provided funding. Orgeron explained that the school district is down approximately $15 million in revenues since 2013, which causes major issues in the functioning of the school district.

Orgeron further detailed how the current nation-wide teacher shortage has made it difficult to fill these local schools with certified, quality teachers. The restructuring plan would allow the school district to make the area more attractive to potential new teachers, as well as placing more students in front of the certified educators the district already employs.

Further, Orgeron described that the consolidation of schools would help close opportunity and achievement gaps, promote students’ access to teachers, access to after school activities, remove students from aging buildings, increase schedule flexibility, and more.

Despite the presentation, 19 community members still spoke out against the new restructuring plans, ranging from heartfelt pleas, to personal stories of their time with the three schools, to outspoken questions about the plan, to signed petitions, and more. Alongside those present in person, more than 700 community members tuned into the district’s Facebook livestream of the meeting and included their thoughts in the comment section.

“All I want is our community to remain our community,” passionately stated Ryan Bourgeois, Bayou Black community member. “All we want is equality. Why do we have to become a ghost town when you close down our schools? Why do that to us? All we are asking for mercy from you all and a logical plan.”

“It’s Bayou Black Elementary or it’s homeschool for us. In the next half hour or so, our lives will change forever,” said Katelyn Bourgeois, Bayou Black Elementary parent. “We don’t ask for much. All I ask today is for you all to hear us out, hear our hearts, and vote to save our schools.”

Following the community comment section, several board members spoke out both for and against the proposed motion.

“We build communities around schools. We do not build schools around communities,” said board member Matthew Ford. “When you close schools, you let the darkness in. And when the darkness comes in, the light goes away. You can’t bring that light back.”

“This system will improve our parish as a whole,” countered board member Don Crowdus, in support of Superintendent Orgeron’s plan. “Our plan will put the best teachers in the classroom for our kids. You can love kids by providing kids with the best educators possible. Our education system in Terrebonne Parish has to improve– this is a plan that improves it.”

At the time of the vote, board members Gregory Harding (District 2), Matthew J. Ford (District 3) and Roger Dale DeHart (District 7) voted against the motion. Board members Michael LaGarde (District 1), Debi Benoit (District 4), Don Crowdus (District 5), Clyde F. Hamner (District 6), MayBelle N. Trahan, Ed.D (District 8, Board President), and Dane Voisin (District 9, Vice President) voted in favor of the motion. The final vote, 6-3 in favor, was met with strong emotional response from the gathered crowd. Attendees could be seen comforting one another, approaching the board with questions and comments, and more.

To watch the full Terrebonne Parish School Board meeting from Tuesday, December 5, 2023, please click here.