LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)-- A Lafayette organization hopes a federal lawsuit could stop the Lafayette Parish school board from removing key programs from Paul Breaux Middle School. This comes after the board voted five to four Thursday night to relocate both the gifted and language immersion programs.

The Lafayette Democratic Parish Executive Committee is now organizing with the 'Paul Breaux Alliance.' The alliance would consist of community organizations, parents and students trying to save the school.

LPSS heard over 50 testimonies, asking the school board to keep the Gifted and French and Spanish Immersion programs at Paul Breaux. While no one spoke in favor of relocating the programs, both items passed.

Some people even asked for school board members' resignations.

Mary Pritchard with the Lafayette Democratic Parish Executive Committee told the school board she believes LPSS violated federal desegregation orders, as the gifted and language immersion programs are now being relocated from a majority-black school to majority-white schools.

Superintendent Francis Touchet said his decision to relocate the programs stems from a 'middle school crisis.' He said students are either going to charter or private schools instead. He hopes moving the programs will help keep students in the Lafayette Parish School System.

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