All Saints Pelican High will close
By: Stephanie Lepretre
Updated: March 18, 2013
A momentary outburst represents the build up of frustration among the dozens of people literally begging the DeSoto Parish school board to spare Pelican All Saints School.
"If you care about our kids like you say you do you will save our school."
At issue... A more than 12 million dollar deficit. It's the result of the bottoming out of production from the Haynesville Shale. An operation which was flooding the district with money. Closing All Saints would save just under two million.
"I have to provide a quality learning environment, but i have to do it and be fiscally responsible"
In a last ditch effort to save All Saints... The Pelican school board rep motions to remove language from the budget measure referencing the school. He's defeated... And considers tonight's action personal.
"You don't care about our kids when you ask them to do this and it's not necessary."
Ultimately, a 7-4 vote seals the schools fate... Sending its students 21 miles north to Mansfield beginning next year... And sending tonight's pelican supporters away heartbroken.
"It's two deaths... The death of Pelican High School and the death of our community"
"Why do you love the school so much? It's like home... It's like going home."
On average, Pelican will add 11 students per grade level to Mansfield. The superintendent says Mansfield will be able to accommodate that number.
