City leaders stress importance of Shannon school

Morgan City leaders encouraged the St. Mary Parish School Board to consider all options before deciding to close a "gateway to the community,” M.D. Shannon Elementary School, they said during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Principal Shantell Toups spoke at the council meeting, saying news of the possible school closure was tough for students, parents and faculty to hear.
The St. Mary Parish School Board is set to hold a special meeting Thursday to discuss possibly closing Shannon and moving students to M.E. Norman and Wyandotte elementary schools.
Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi called Shannon “the gateway to the community,” which is exactly what it is, Toups said.
City officials don’t want to see any schools close, “especially with a building of that magnitude at the foot of the bridge,” Grizzaffi said.
Councilman Barry Dufrene hopes that the school board considers all possibilities and doesn’t just “take the easy route,” he said.
Councilman Louis Tamporello said he wants school board members “to look at the big picture” and what would be done with the school building if it closes.
“Obviously, the school board is facing the economic crisis like everyone else, so drastic measures are having to be taken,” Toups said.
School officials are also considering closing J.A. Hernandez Elementary in Franklin.
Shannon school officials held a meeting Monday, and well over 100 people attended that meeting.
Many members of Shannon’s faculty have taught at the school for most of their career, some up to 30 years there, Toups said.
“It’s not just a building where they go to work every day,” Toups said. “Their heart and soul is there.”
The historic value of the school building is something school supporters want to preserve, Toups said.
On Saturday and Sunday, Shannon’s teachers walked 10 to 15 miles through Morgan City to provide information to residents, Toups said.
All the people teachers met with shared the same sentiment and see Shannon as “a foundation for your city,” Toups said.
Referring to rumors that had been circulating, Grizzaffi said Morgan City has no need to make the Shannon Elementary School building into a different facility.
“We’ve been in contact with nobody at the school board. They’re not even communicating with us on that type of level,” Grizzaffi said. “This is strictly a school board decision that happens to impact the citizens of Morgan City.”
Many of Shannon’s students and parents walk to school and have no other means to get to school, Toups said.
Shannon is a Title 1 school that serves low-income students, and 92 percent of students get free or reduced cost lunches, she said.
“Our kids get a lot, a lot of services that really help them and help boost our scores and help them be successful in school,” she said. “We’re afraid that, by dividing our population, (there) may not be quite enough at Norman and Wyandotte for them to receive the same types of services.”
Toups knows teachers at both schools, so she knows the students would be “in great hands” if Shannon’s students have to go to those schools, though, she said.
Shannon Elementary’s building is also used for the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, Morgan City’s summer recreation program, Biddy Basketball, among other things, she said.
“If they disband our school, I don’t know what’s going to happen to that building,” Toups said.
Toups asked the city council to spread the word, talk to residents and let the school board know what the school means to Morgan City.
In other business, the council
—Approved a reduction of $11,660 from the contract to build three new cabins at Lake End Parkway and approved substantial completion of the cabins. The fire marshal is scheduled to inspect the cabins March 3.
—Approved the finance committee’s recommendations to allocate $16,845 from capital additions to purchase a new 6300 Odorant pump for the Bayou Ramos purchase point and to transfer $6,400 from the general fund to Lake End Park to purchase two stackable washer and dryer combo units.
—Rejected a bid tabulation for asphalt roadway improvements at Lake End Parkway due to the only bid being about $60,000 more than the engineering consultant’s estimate.