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Community members concerned about proposed closure of Paul Breaux Middle
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The closure proposal may involve moving the gifted and immersion programs, plus, the disbursement of the students to two or three other schools.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)-- The President of 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette, Alton Trahan, told News 10 about a meeting with the superintendent of Lafayette Parish School. Trahan said that's where he learned the proposed closure of Paul Breaux Middle School is being considered as an option.
The closure proposal may involve moving the gifted and immersion programs, plus, the disbursement of the students to two or three other schools.
"We're absolutely against closing the school in particular not only what it represents," Trahan said. "It was the first and only historical Black high school in this district. The individual it was named after is Paul Breaux who started education back in 1896."
Trahan used the word "insulting" to describe the consideration to close Paul Breaux Middle School. A number of northside schools have been closed.
"Now we're looking at another one," Trahan said. "I don't think it's fair when their concern is capacity and a concern about the budget."
If there's a fiscal concern, then manage the budget. If its capacity, then there are other schools in the system under capacity. "We understand everyone has to balance their budget but we also take that position that you shouldn't balance your budget on the backs of people in this community," Trahan explained.
If closed, Trahan said initial talks included transforming the school into a warehouse.
"That's appalling," Trahan said. "Who would take a school within the black community and an historical school such as that and perhaps convert it into a warehouse space? We know the Lafayette Parish School System takes our tax dollars and has numerous properties that they want, they could build a warehouse."