At its upcoming meeting on March 13, 2024, the Lafayette Parish School Board will consider a $4.1 million dollar philanthropic donation to implement the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) Program at J.W. Faulk Elementary and Baranco Elementary Schools beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The ACE model has achieved astonishing results in more than 50 schools nationwide, and similar models are in place in many leading public school districts.
The board will also address a projected budget shortfall due its state-mandated obligation to divert funding to charter schools, a decline in student enrollment, as well as changes to its academic programming.
Since 2015, the district has seen a 224% increase in funding diverted to charter schools. The district has already expended $30,551,841 from its 2023-2024 general fund budget on charter schools and is expected to exceed that amount in its upcoming fiscal year budget.
The meeting agenda is expected to include the following items for consideration in regard to its facilities and programs for the 2024-2025 academic year:
● Gifted Programming
○ Edgar Martin Middle School is proposed to become the parishwide site of the full-time gifted and enrichment programs for middle school students. Trend data over a three year period shows that a significant number of eligible students have chosen not to attend the full-time academic gifted program at the middle school level. It is hoped that centralization of this program may result in an increased percentage of student participation.
○ Woodvale Elementary School is proposed to become the parishwide site for the full-time gifted and enrichment programs for elementary school students. By consolidating the programs to one location, educational programming for students can be provided in a more efficient manner with an anticipated annual cost savings of $255,152.00.
● Immersion Magnet Academies
○ Scott Middle School will become the parishwide site for middle school French and Spanish Immersion Magnet Academies. Trend data over a three year period shows that a significant number of eligible students have chosen not to continue with the immersion program at the middle school level. This is in addition to action taken during the February board meeting that yielded a $600,226.00 cost savings by moving the French Immersion Magnet Academy from Westside Elementary School.
○ The Chinese Immersion Magnet Academy Program at Corporal Michael Middlebrook Elementary School is proposed to be discontinued, which would result in an annual cost savings of $510,304.00. Currently, less than 70 students participate in the program.
Additional items on the agenda include changing Acadiana High Air Force ROTC Magnet Academy to Acadiana High Army ROTC Magnet Academy, District Office Summer Operating Hours and Work Schedule, and other routine items of business.
The board meeting agenda will be published by 4:30 p.m. on Friday and will include detailed information for the public. Wednesday’s board meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be held in the boardroom of the Lafayette Parish School Board’s district office located at 202 Rue Iberville.
Public participation in meetings of the Lafayette Parish School Board, including committee meetings, is permitted and encouraged as provided in Louisiana Open Meetings Law and LPSB policy.