ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 13
BY REPRESENTATIVE MAGEE
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Terrebonne Parish School Board not to close Pointe-Aux-Chenes
Elementary School but to take all necessary measures to support and strengthen the
school; to provide that the House of Representatives will consider withholding
COVID-19 relief funding from the school board if it continues to close schools
unnecessarily; to commend the administration, faculty, staff, students, families, and
community supporters for their dedication to the preservation of the school and its
traditions; and to recognize and record for posterity the singular place this beloved
school holds in the community and in the history of Terrebonne Parish.
WHEREAS, the Terrebonne Parish School Board is considering the closure of
Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, this school, which serves students in prekindergarten through fourth
grade, many of whom are of Native American heritage, is inextricably woven into the fabric
of the Pointe-Aux-Chenes community; and
WHEREAS, the mission statement of this school is "success begins when teachers,
parents, and community members work together to ensure student achievement and promote
positively awesome citizens"; and
WHEREAS, Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School is small but vibrant; there is a
long history of community involvement that still thrives; parents and community members
partner with the school as vital stakeholders, preparing students for their future as stewards
of this unique bayou community; and
WHEREAS, the school's teachers and parents, Native American Tribal leaders, and
local business owners all play a part in enriching the lives of the students; they provide
activities and presentations that not only prepare students for future careers but also develop
a knowledge and sense of belonging to the rich culture into which they were born; and
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WHEREAS, in 2015, Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School received one of the top
honors in the nation when it was named a 2015 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the
United States Department of Education in recognition of its substantial progress in closing
the achievement gap among students; it was one of only six schools in the state to earn this
prestigious honor that year; and
WHEREAS, the "Gulf Guardian Award" was awarded to the school in recognition
of the students' involvement in environmental issues, which is crucial in this part of the state
and develops their leadership in the fight to preserve their heritage and home; and
WHEREAS, the proposal to shutter Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School, if
approved, would not only disrupt the education of its students but would decimate a
longstanding community and school traditions in this extremely tight-knit community; and
WHEREAS, requiring the students of Pointe-Aux-Chenes to travel to Montegut
Elementary School, as is being proposed, could place them in harm's way, as travel between
the two locations, despite the relatively short distance, can be treacherous; and
WHEREAS, parents, many of whom are alumni of the school, report feeling
blindsided by this proposal; and
WHEREAS, closing this school would have a disproportionately negative impact on
a school that has one of the largest Native American and French-speaking populations in all
of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, there is both a strong need and passionate community support for
keeping Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School open in order to meet the needs of its
students; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana and Terrebonne Parish will be receiving substantial funding
for education, especially for underserved and vulnerable populations; Pointe-Aux-Chenes
Elementary School, a Title I school where approximately 75% of the students are
economically disadvantaged, serves the very populations targeted by the federal American
Rescue Plan; and
WHEREAS, this proposal to close Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary could place the
Terrebonne Parish School Board in jeopardy of losing federal funds; and
WHEREAS, the Pointe-Aux-Chenes community is unified in raising its voice to
protest this proposal and the Louisiana House of Representatives joins its protest.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Terrebonne Parish School Board
not to close Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School but to take all necessary measures to
support and strengthen this beloved school so that its legacy of excellence in education can
continue for future generations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives will consider
withholding COVID-19 relief funding from the Terrebonne Parish School Board if it
continues to unnecessarily close schools against the will of its constituents and to the
detriment of the community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives does hereby
commend the administration, faculty, staff, students, families, and community supporters of
Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School for their unwavering dedication to the preservation
of the school and all of its traditions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives does hereby
recognize and record for posterity the singular and special place this school holds in the
community and in the history of Terrebonne Parish and the tremendous pride and honor it
brings to its community and to the state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the Terrebonne Parish School Board, the superintendent of the Terrebonne
Parish School District, and the principal of Pointe-Aux-Chenes Elementary School.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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