School closure trial slated for Iberville Courthouse
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PLAQUEMINE — A three-judge panel of the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal sided with the Iberville Parish School Board in ruling today that an upcoming trial challenging the legality of a school closure should be heard at the parish courthouse.
The trial, scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, pits Maringouin Mayor John Overton against the School Board.
Overton has alleged that Iberville School Superintendent Ed Cancienne lobbied for school closure votes in advance of the School Board’s 8-7 vote April 21 to close grades seven through 12 at North Iberville High and transfer those students to Plaquemine High.
Cancienne has denied any wrongdoing.
In late August, school closure opponents asked 18th Judicial District Judge Robin Free to move the trial from the parish courthouse in Plaquemine to a larger venue to accommodate a large crowd expected to attend.
On Aug. 26, Free granted the request, ordering that the trial be held at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center, also in Plaquemine.
On Sept. 8, School Board attorney Mike Fontham filed a request asking Free to reconsider that decision.
Fontham asserted that holding the trial at the civic center, in front of a large crowd of people, many of whom are hostile to the School Board, is a safety concern.
Free denied Fontham’s request Monday, prompting Fontham to ask the Appeal Court to weigh in.
In today’s decision, the 1st Circuit panel wrote, “holding the trial in a location other than the courthouse would adversely affect the requirement that judicial proceedings be conducted with dignity and in an orderly and expeditious manner.”
The decision was handed down by 1st Circuit Judges Randolph Parro, James Kuhn and Michael McDonald.
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