LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – We now know when the 2019 to 2020 school year for Lafayette Parish students will start and end.

At Thursday night’s Lafayette Parish School Board meeting, the Board voted on Calendar Option 5A, where students start classes on August 15, 2019, and end on May 28, 2020.

“It seems to be a very popular calendar. It actually starts about a week later than the current approved calendar, so i think we’ve accomplished some of the goals that was identified by parents and citizens,” said  Dr. Donald Aguillard, Superintendent of Lafayette Parish Schools.

“And now that we’re starting a little bit later. It’s a good compromise, so we’re feeling good moving forward, that we’ll be able to take care of what we need to take care of during the year, and that we’ll still get out at a good time and the holidays will be preserved,” said Jonathan Cole, Principal of Lafayette High.

The Board also approved adding 6 portable buildings, which is 12 total classrooms to Southside High School in Youngsville.

“Those 6 buildings will be there in August. We’re going to make sure the area is safe and secure and we’re going to make that work at Southside High School and Comeaux High School. We’re not going to do anything with high school rezoning for at least a year,” Aguillard stated.

The School Board approved some spot rezoning for some elementary and middle schools in South Lafayette, because they had to create a new zone for the nw Billeaud Elementary School in Broussard, that’s currently under construction and set to be completed by the start of next school year.

“We had the opportunity to take a look at Middlebrook, Drexel and G.T. Lindon, so there are 4 elementary schools with them and Billeaud.

So we’re going to balance the enrollment at those 4 schools, and take advantage of the seat space that Billeaud creates,” said Aguillard.

The Board is also moving the 5th graders off of Broussard Middle and Youngsville Middle, back to their elementary schools.

So the two schools will be only 6th through 8th graders.

The full Board also approved Dr. Aguillard’s retirement, set for midnight on May 17.

They also thanked him for his 43.5 years of service to education, especially for what he has done in Lafayette Parish.

Justin Centanni was elected this year’s School Board President, and the Vice President is Britt Latiolaid.

LPSS says they will be posting the new elementary school rezoning maps on their website for parents.