School Board delays land swap vote
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ABBEVILLE — The Vermilion Parish School Board tabled a motion Thursday night to reject a property exchange between it and the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Any action relative to the matter will be delayed until the School Board is able to have its appraiser review the proposed land appraisals by the LDWF.
According to Kirk Soileau, supervisor of 16 Section lands, the state agency wants to trade 340 acres of its “marginal farm land” adjacent to existing school property near Gueydan for the board’s marshland in Rockefeller and White Lake accessible only by airboat.
The School Board marshlands bring in about $14,300 annually in hunting lease revenue.
A parish property committee earlier voted to not approve any deal until they could better assess the value of all land involved and make sure they are acting in the best interests of the school district.
Board attorney Calvin “Woody” Woodruff said he believes the LDWF wants the land because all of the surrounding areas are management areas in its control.
He said he had no idea when the process would be completed, but was sure there would be no board action until that time.
In other business, the School Board named Anita Dupuis principal of Jesse Owens Elementary School in Gueydan following Sunday’s death of Principal Jonathan Williams, who was battling cancer.
After a brief executive session, Randy Schexnayder announced the board decision and remembered the school’s leader.
He also thanked teachers and school employees in attendance for making the loss of the school leader as easy as possible on students.
“I appreciate all of you coming together for the children of Jesse Owens,” Schexnayder said.
Shortly after, the board unanimously voted to rename the middle school’s multipurpose building in Williams’ honor.
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