LAFAYETTE, La. — The Lafayette Parish School Board has rescinded its earlier decision to close Ovey Comeaux High School — a move that comes just days after a state district judge issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the closure.
During a tense special session Wednesday, board members voted to withdraw the March 12 vote, which would have shuttered Comeaux at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The reversal follows concerns that the original vote did not follow required procedures, including failing to hold a public hearing.
“You are voting tonight to rescind your decision. Obviously, this is what I would like to see happen for the good of the community. However, I know, along with many others, that this is just a ruse,” one speaker told the board as public skepticism mounted.
Many Comeaux supporters in attendance questioned whether the board’s action signals a true change of heart or simply restarts the closure process with the intention of voting again to close the school. The board’s attorney addressed these concerns, stating, “We felt that the best option for the board, and probably the quickest way to get to finality one way or the other, is to just go back and start the process over.”
Community members remain frustrated, emphasizing that key voices were left out of the original decision. “I would thank you all for your time, but the truth is, I have nothing to thank you for because I know none of you care,” said one attendee.
The question of closing Comeaux High is far from settled. At the board’s regular meeting Thursday, members are expected to determine whether to hold a formal public hearing on April 23, allowing community members to ask questions and comment directly on the proposed closure.
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