TPSB moves meeting time

The Terrebonne Parish School Board unanimously passed a measure Aug. 19 which would move up the start times of regular meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Oct. 1.

The change is pending Board attorney review.

The Terrebonne Parish School Board meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at its office on Stadium Drive in Houma.

The Education and Policy committee recommended the change to a 6 p.m. start time. Board member L.P. Bordelon, who is not a member of committee but spoke at its Aug. 4 meeting on this matter, cited convenience for parents, students, the general public and the business community as the reason for the change.

“With the 6 o’clock start time, we could have this [meeting], and then people could go home just a little earlier and do other things and so forth,” Bordelon said at the regular meeting Aug. 19. “I think it’s a convenience.”

With many attendees of school board meetings working jobs that let off a 5 p.m., Bordelon feels moving the meetings to 6 p.m. makes better sense.

“That gives them the opportunity to finish their business day and come directly here and not have to wait until 7 o’clock to start this business. I think it’s efficient too. The hour between 6 o’clock and 7 o’clock is wasted as far as I’m concerned. I’m just waiting for 7 o’clock to roll around to attend the meeting instead of getting here at 6 o’clock and getting this meeting done,” Bordelon said.

He added, “The parish council starts at 6, and it works very well for them.”

School board and Education and Policy Committee member Dr. Brenda Leroux Babin posed concern that since the school board posts all meetings in January for the entire year, the school district should consult with an attorney before making this change official.

Terrebonne Parish School District Superintendent Philip Martin said the school district has not consulted an attorney yet, and the change is subject to that process.