Demographer discusses Evangeline redistricting

Ville Platte — The Evangeline Parish School Board met Wednesday with demographer Mike Heffner, of Lafayette, to discuss redistricting.

Heffner gave a presentation with details about each of the 13 districts represented by board members.

Based on 2010 census figures, he said, the ideal population for each district is 2,539.

However, each district cannot deviate more or less than 5 percent of the mean population level, he said.

The districts with the highest deviations in population are District 5 in the Turkey Creek/Bayou Chicot area, which is 19 percent higher, and District 13 in the Ville Platte area, which is 14 percent low, he said.

Heffner said District 10, represented by board member Arthur Savoy, needs to be more compact in size. The district stretches from Pine Prairie in the west to Ville Platte in the south and St. Landry in the east.

Heffner reminded board members they must approve a redistricting plan that maintains current minority voting strength.

The School Board has three minority-majority districts, primarily in the Ville Platte area. They are Districts 8, 12 and 13.

Heffner said he plans to submit maps with suggested changes to each individual board member for their review within the next few weeks.

The board will need to adopt a plan by the end of the year and submit it to the U.S. Department of Justice for review. The new plan will be used for the next School Board elections in 2014.

In other action, the board was notified Assistant Principal Liz Chatelain has been named acting principal at Mamou High School while Principal Charles Hazard is on medical leave.

The board also approved the lone quote of Lemoine Insurance Agency for general liability, errors and omissions and automobile liability insurance coverage in the amount of $162,494.