Group wants input on St. James site
ST. JAMES — A newly formed group of residents from St. James Parish’s 5th District is demanding transparency in efforts by the School Board to build a new football stadium at St. James High School or relocate the high school to North Vacherie.
The North Vacherie community comprises the parish’s 6th District, while the community of St. James comprises the parish’s 5th District, which includes the area known as Welcome.
Yvette Malancon, a member from Humanitarian Enterprises for Loving People of the 5th District addressed the School Board during its Jan. 24 meeting to air concerns over the district’s purchase of a $1 million, 54-acre tract near La. 20 and La. 3127.
Malancon said she felt the board had not held public meetings on the land-selection process nor had it made available information on the land appraisals.
The School Board denied both assertions
Through a mass email and word of mouth, HELP summoned area residents to attend Tuesday’s School Board meeting at St. James High School.
The organization’s email said the purpose of attending the meeting was “taking back home, namely St. James High School.”
Board member Patricia Schexnayder, who represents the 5th District, said about 70 HELP supporters attended Tuesday’s meeting, although many left with their children when a school science awards presentation prior to the School Board meeting began, she said.
HELP president Elaine Grant said after Tuesday’s board meeting she had hoped to address board members, but did not submit a public comment card before the meeting and therefore could not speak at the meeting.
Grant said there were no comment cards available prior to the session, but School Board President Charles Nailor said the comment cards were collected 30 minutes before the the meeting, as they always are, but no one had signed up to comment by that deadline.
While the School Board was in executive session on a disciplinary matter, Grant told news reporters that HELP wants transparency regarding any decisions by the School Board to build a new football stadium or relocate the current high school.
“They have never publicly told us anything,” Grant said.
Any land purchased for the stadium and high school was supposed to have been in a central location to serve residents in the 5th, 6th and 7th districts, Grant said. But the School Board purchased the Webre-Steib Plantation property in North Vacherie, nearly 9 miles away from the current St. James High School campus in St. James.
HELP members want to look out for the welfare of their children and are afraid their homes and neighborhoods will be lost to encroaching industrial development, Grant said.
The area has a rich history to preserve as well, Grant said, adding, “This side of the river was the official landing (site) of the Acadians.”