Next school year, there will be a new elementary school in the southeast part of the parish. The new school coming to Broussard will need students.

The Lafayette Parish School District says the elementary schools that stand to be affected are:  Katharine Drexel Elementary, Green T. Lindon, Ernest Gallet, and a small portion of Cpl. Michael Middlebrook Elementary.

The Director of Human Resources says the district will be staffing the school based on the board’s final decision.

“It’s all a projection of numbers. We usually get it pretty close to what we need; but first we’ll just transfer the teacher according to to what the students’ needs are,” adds HR Director Suzanne Thibodeaux.

LPSS Assistant Superintendent of Administration, Joe Craig says the district had a demographer look at student population in the southeast portion of the parish. Craig says the recommendation is to divide those students among the five elementary schools.

Craig says the district believes it will help lower enrollment which helps with future growth.

“We are loyal to our employees. We hire the best.  We want to keep who we have; they are trained.  It’s just a matter of finding the appropriate and best place for them,” says Thibodeaux.

Along with the rezoning recommendation for Martial F. Billeaud Elementary; the district intends to recommend Broussard and Youngsville Middle return to being 6th through 8th grade schools. 

Currently, both schools have fifth grade students. The district says fifth grade students tend to do better on an elementary school campus.

“We will be hiring teachers.  We’re not going to lose any teachers.  We will be hiring a lot of new teachers.  We’re excited,” adds Thibodeaux.