Board delays action on dismissal times

• By ROBERT R. JONES III
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Oct 17, 2009 - Page: 3BA

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ABBEVILLE — The Vermilion Parish School Board voted Thursday to table a move to require all parish high schools to dismiss students at 12:30 p.m. before holding homecoming parades because of the liability to the school district.

The delayed action was taken at the urging of Board President Chris Mayard, who said the board needed more time to consult with principals.

But several members of the Erath community were present in an attempt to stop the change in their generations-old tradition of having their parade during school hours so all students could attend.

“As long as I could remember, we’ve had the parade during school hours in Erath,” said businessman Marshall Broussard, an avid Erath Bobcat supporter. “I wish you all could come and see the loyalty to the school on the part of the faculty, teachers, staff, kids, the Police Department and everyone in the community.”

He said there has never been a disruption or accident during the homecoming parades, adding the parade meant a lot to the town after suffering through hurricanes Rita and Ike.

“Why should this be taken from us,” Broussard asked. “I don’t understand.”

Also on hand to support the old Erath High School tradition was Erath businessman and Vermilion Parish Police Juror Nathan Granger.

He said if school was dismissed and students had to take a bus home and then return for the parade, there were many whose parents both work and could not return for the special community event.

He also agreed with Broussard, saying there was never an instance of a student getting into trouble and said the event served as a catalyst to bring people back to the community who left after their homes were flooded after recent hurricanes.

Speaking to his own concerns, board member Charles Campbell said the issue which brought up the possibility of change was liability to the School Board should an accident happen at the event on school time.

“I was told by people I talked to the School Board would be liable (if something happened),” he said. “I can’t leave the School Board liable for something we could correct.”

Mayard said that is why he wanted extra time “to work things through” and not destroy the town’s tradition while protecting the board, a move that left board member Ricky Broussard, of Erath, happy.

The only board member to vote against tabling the issue was Angela Faulk, who implied EHS alumni drank during the parade, making an unsafe environment for students.