What Caddo schools will be closing at the end of the school year?

Two Caddo Parish schools will be closing at the end of the school year.

On Friday, April 26, the Caddo Parish School Board received a letter requesting action from the Louisiana Department of Education and the Recovery School District.

Dr. Lamar Goree, Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent released a letter to parents Friday that stated, "I received a letter from the Louisiana Department of Education and the Recovery School District with a request for action that will affect several of our campuses."

The letter also stated that the school board had to approve a plan that would satisfy the Recovery School District by May 15, or the state could have assumed control of the seven campuses currently rated as academically unacceptable. This letter resulted in the closure of two campuses and conversion of another into a charter school.

These schools included Werner Park Elementary School and Sunset Acres Elementary School for closure and the conversion of Fair Park Middle School to a charter school.

A week later the school board hosted a special meeting to discuss this request with Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana State Superintendent in attendance.

"It's regrettable that we have to be here today," said Brumley. "I don't think that there is anyone to blame for this particular issue."

He continued by stating that Caddo Parish has lost about 19% of its student population over the last 10 years. "That is more students than any other school system in the state of Louisiana," said Brumley. "You cannot continue to operate in the manner in which you are operating in now."

A plan was proposed during this meeting which would close Werner Park Elementary School and Sunset Acres Elementary School. 400 plus students that attend those schools would be moved to a higher performing school.

Here is a summary of the full plan proposal:

• Closure of Werner Park Elementary and Sunset Acres Elementary at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year.
• Conversion of Fair Park Middle School to a charter school operated by Third Future Schools to open in the 2024-2025 school year.
• Leadership at Atkins Elementary, Bethune-Oak Park Elementary, Broadmoor STEM Academy and Caddo Middle Career & Technology to reapply for their positions.
• Extension of school choice application period for affected schools.
• Differentiated compensation shall be offered at Atkins, Bethune-Oak Park, Broadmoor STEM Academy, Caddo Middle Career & Technology.
• Partnership with Star Academy to provide a school-within-a-school model at Caddo Middle Career & Technology and Broadmoor STEM Academy.
• Additional support of Atkins, Bethune-Oak Park, Caddo Middle Career & Technology and Broadmoor STEM Academy through a specialized track in School Support Institute receiving ongoing school improvement support from an LDOE specialist.

Community reaction

A community meeting on May 14 was sponsored by Barbara Norton and in attendance was Caddo School Board members Dr. Bonita Douzart and Dr. Terence Vinson. Caddo Parish School Superintendent Goree was invited to the community meeting but did not attend.

Douzart said, "the closing has already been voted on."

On Friday, May 3, the Caddo Parish School Board approved the proposed plan with nine in support and three in opposition.

During the community meeting citizens asked the school board members why this happened? Douzart said it was in response to dwindling population.

"One of the reasons that our numbers are going down is because there is no parent that I know that wants their child to identify with an F school," said Norton. "They move them to wherever they can move them."

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.