In many ways, BESE’s action concerning LAPC mirrors the earlier action of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, which voted to discontinue negotiations with LAPC for a 2019-20 opening at the board’s May meeting. Both decisions were based on unaddressed concerns about LAPC’s proposed school location, and both boards expressed optimism that those concerns could be adequately addressed in time for LAPC to open for the 2020-21 school year. The School Board will continue to work with LAPC to explore options that would allow LAPC to open as a Type 1 charter school – under the supervision of the local school board – for the 2020-21 school year.
As we continue to work with LAPC, we also plan to continue to honor our obligations to those parents who sought to enroll their children in LAPC. The School Board understands that educational decisions can weigh heavily on parents and guardians of school-aged children, and the School Board is disappointed that an agreement was unable to be reached with LAPC to expand the variety of quality public education options available to local parents for the upcoming school year.
However, the School Board remains confident that our system provides a number of choices for students who are seeking expanded educational opportunities, including opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Our new STEM Magnet Program has established partnerships with Louisiana State University (pre-engineering, digital design, emergent media and biomedical services) and Xavier University (pre-pharmacy) which grant students dual enrollment credits and pathway credentials at these two prestigious universities. We have also revamped Garyville-Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School, which has earned one of the highest growth rates in the state over the past three years, as evidenced by its "Top Gains" status earned this past year.
St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools remains committed to serving the children of our parish, and we are pleased that LAPC and St. John the Baptist Parish parents supporting LAPC have taken an active role in seeking to ensure that we uphold that commitment. Sustained community interest and dedication is needed to ensure that our school system continues to improve educational outcomes, and the School Board encourages parents affected by LAPC’s failure to open this school year to contact us to discuss how we can serve them and their children and how they can continue to be involved in our efforts to maintain and grow our local public school system.