Could the Calcasieu School District be closing another school? Talk surfaced last night at the school board meeting of possibly closing Reynaud Middle School. It was just two years ago Lake Charles Boston High School was closed. And now this. The talk comes amidst concerns of a looming budget deficit for next school year. Tuesday night, the budget committee presented a list of proposed cuts to make up for a more than two million dollar deficit. According to research from the chief financial officer, closing Reynaud Middle School would save the parish 2.3 million dollars. School Board member Bill Jongbloed says there're only 150 students at Reynaud, and therefore he doesn't think its financially prudent to keep a school open with such a small student body. If Reynaud is closed, the students would attend either Oak Park or Molo Middle Schools. The other cost cutting measures that are on the table include the salaries for 15.5 elementary school teachers, 24.5 middle school teachers, and 9 high school teachers. The full school board will take up the recommendations next week at the regular meeting. What do you think about the budget committee's proposals, especially the closure of Reynaud Middle School?
Cut the sports program and put the money in the classroom where it is needed. Cut the sports before any teachers are laid off. How much money is spent on the "Barbe Baseball Field"?
I bet it's more than what it takes to pay several good teachers.
Enough is enough! Academics is way more important than how you throw or catch or hit a ball. Classroom with teacher not ball fields.
Posted by: James | May 04, 2011 at 05:42 PM
I strongly agree with James, I'd like to see the sports programs cut before any teacher get cut.
Very good point was made.
Posted by: Herbert | May 04, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Its very simple the kids in Reyneud do not want to go that school. The School Board Members elected to represent that school do not belive in the school. If they did they would not fight to have all the kids bused across town to other schools. If the people in Reyneud district do not believe in the school why should anyone else?
Posted by: Parent | May 04, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Rev. Franklin spoke at a school board meeting last month in favor of busing students out of Reynaud to schools in south Lake Charles.He was well aware that if the busing continued schools would be closed. The school board agreed with him and will continue busing students out of Reynaud and they will close Reynaud. He was in favor of this action a month ago!
Posted by: Ryan | May 04, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Mack Dellafosse represents Reynaud and sends his kids to private school. Clara Duhon represents Reynaud and drives her grandkids to SJ Welsh everyday. Of course they dont care about our kids! Why should they? They may vote not to close Reynaud but actions clearly state they don't have any use for the school. Actions speak louder than words!
Posted by: Smith | May 04, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Closing Reynaud makes sense...if you close a few more sports programs and admin.positions, we can save all the teacher's....do it and stop talking!!!
Posted by: educating louisiana | May 04, 2011 at 09:07 PM
sports programs are a drain on education....for those who want to keep it alive , fund it through private donations...
Posted by: educating louisiana | May 04, 2011 at 09:10 PM
I am a former teacher at Reynaud Middle School and can honestly say that the board has always looked down on Reynaud Middle School. This school has battled for years to redeem themselves of the "Academically Unacceptable" rating that they have had for so long. The teachers work Saturdays, after school, and over the summer to assist the academic gaps that these students have developed over the years. Finally, this past summer, the district received word that the school was no longer labeled "Unacceptable". Yet, only 7 months later, the district wants to close the school. Why didnt the district abolish Reynaud as being a school of choice? Why not require the students in the Reynaud zone to report back to Reynaud?
The CPSB members set this school up for failure for day one. They knew that in the end, they would get their prize (seeing another minority school close its doors).
Shame on our board members!
Posted by: Former Educator | May 04, 2011 at 09:10 PM
also....I cannot believe Clara Duhon still represents this zone! She represented the Churches Fried Chicken on the corner more than she EVER supported Reynaud Middle.
Posted by: Former Educator | May 04, 2011 at 09:13 PM
Trump For President: Last time I drove across our border between Texas and Louisiana I did not see any gates or anything to stop you from leaving permamently. Of course you know that because you said you shop in Texas. You are a part of the problem and, by all means, not a part of the solution. If I worked at KPLC, I would remove all of your comments. Why are you still hear if Texas is so great. Oh, I know, you can get a job in Texas so you have to work hear. People like you, Texas don't want you in their state.
Posted by: LAMAN | May 04, 2011 at 10:38 PM
The school board wants to close Raynaud school. "The other cost cutting measures that are on the table include the salaries for 15.5 elementary school teachers, 24.5 middle school teachers, and 9 high school teachers teachers pay". Then they want to turn around and add clerks to the budget they are wanting to cut.
Ummmmm.....I am so confused in the logic of it all.
Posted by: LAMAN | May 04, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Like many other issues that are debated, people are commenting on topics that they no nothing about. The students at Reynaud want to be at their school and the teachers do as well. The teachers work long hard hours to help students meet and exceed goals. My main concern is the children that will be affected by this decision. Calcasieu Parish School Board is supposed to be focusing on students, but I do not see where this decision has taken the students' welfare in to consideration. The former teacher made a great point about the fact that Reynaud has made huge amounts of growth and are continuing to grow. How do you close a school down and take everything away from the community? By closing this school, the school board is doing nothing more than killing the community. The reason these other schools are overpopulated is because the parish is too busy busing students out of the Reynaud district to them. Reynaud needs there students back and some support from the parish. A lot of the information that was presented at the school board meeting about the Reynaud is not correct. There is not a 6 to 1 student teacher ratio and there are not 4 Assistant Principals.
Reynaud has always received negative publicity from the news media as well as the school board. Yes there are issues at the school but nothing that other schools in the parish are not facing. There are other ways for the parish to meet its deficit without closing this school. This is a wonderful school and should continue to be open!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | May 04, 2011 at 10:57 PM
Why is it that anytime the black community does not get things their way they start screaming racist even when there is no racism in the decision to close the school. Why do they also immediately start talking of suing the school board which will waste valuable money for lawyers rather than spending it on teachers? When will the white, latino, asian, and other americans stand up and say ENOUGH of the abuse of the system by blacks?
Posted by: claire | May 04, 2011 at 11:41 PM
They are a waste of time...its in their genes....given the option, they would rather chase their dinner with a stick, rather than order from KFC!!!!
Concentrate on those whom are civilized...those whom have genetically inherited abilities to be taught....they are our future....
Posted by: Moi | May 05, 2011 at 12:43 AM