With rapidly declining enrollment, aging schools and a teacher shortage; the Jefferson Parish School Board has approved a reorganization.
The approved plan will:
● Consolidate seven schools
● Relocate two schools
● Create one new PK-8 school
● Build two new campuses
Eight schools were slated for closure or consolidation, but an amendment passed to keep G.T. Woods Elementary open and not consolidate the school with Bissonet Plaza Elementary School and Tom Benson School.
Here is how the plan works:
● Grace King High School students will be absorbed into Bonnabel High School and Riverdale High School
● Gretna Middle School students will be absorbed into Marrero Middle School and Livaudais Middle School
● Helen Cox High School students will be absorbed into John Ehret High School, LW Higgins High School, and West Jefferson High School
● Joshua Butler Elementary students will be absorbed into Judge Lionel Collins Elementary, Isaac Joseph Elementary, and Truman School
● Mildred Harris Elementary students will be absorbed into Cherbonnier Elementary and Emmett Gilbert Elementary
● Washington Elementary students will be absorbed into Bunche Elementary
● St. Ville Elementary students will be absorbed into Woodmere Elementary while a new school is being built at the current St. Ville site. Once the new school construction at St. Ville’s current site is completed, a new St. Ville Elementary will open. At that time, school lines will be redrawn to include the St. Ville Elementary, Woodmere Elementary, Shirley Johnson Gretna Park Elementary, and George Cox Elementary campuses.
Two schools will relocate their campuses and students:
● Haynes Academy will relocate to the Grace King High School site
● Thomas Jefferson Academy will relocate to the Gretna Middle School site
One school will expand to a PK-8 school:
● C.T. Janet Elementary (currently PK-5)
The plan will go into effect in the coming 2023-2024 school year. Supporters say it will allow the school district to provide better education and save millions of dollars that can be used to improve facilities and programs. Opponents say it sends many students too far from their homes and doesn't allow enough time for adjustment.
