The Jefferson Parish (La.) district has proposed a school facility plan that calls for consolidations, new grade configurations and renovations.
WDSU-TV reports that Superintendent Cade Brumley's plan would consolidate four existing schools, create five new K-8 schools, renovate more than a dozen aging schools, and increase capacity at early childhood centers and advanced study academies.
It would also expand mental health services for students and build 13 new playgrounds.
Among the proposed changes in the 2020 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan:
- Douglass Elementary School would close; students would be moved to Johnson Gretna Park Elementary and McDonogh 26 Elementary.
- The Douglass school building would house students from Westbank Community School and be renamed Frederick Douglass Community School.
- Jefferson Elementary would be consolidated with Riverdale Middle at the Riverdale Middle campus, converted into a K-8 school and renamed Jefferson Elementary.
- Thibodeaux Elementary would be moved to the Pitre Elementary campus, which would be renamed Thibodeaux Elementary.
- Washington Elementary would be absorbed into Bunche Elementary. The Washington school building would likely be sold or leased.
Four other schools that now serve grades K-5 would be expanded to accommodate K-8 students.
The consolidations and attendance zone changes would affect about 2,000 students—about 4% of the district's nearly 51,000 students.
Video from WDSU-TV:
