Baton Rouge, La. – The Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD) and the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired (LSVI) have announced a series of regional Town Hall Meetings to be held across the state over the next several weeks. Strategic planning initiatives are underway at both schools, which are overseen by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) through the Louisiana Department of Education’s (LDOE) Special School District (SSD). Department leaders say they hope the Town Hall Meetings will attract the interest and participation of the public, including LSVI and LSD students, and families, alumni and hearing and visually impaired individuals and associations.
“Our hope is that by holding these meetings in communities across the state, citizens can more easily participate in drafting the plans for the future of these vital and cherished educational institutions,” State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said. “As we move forward in the 21 st century, we must ensure that all our children have access to a world-class education that allows them to thrive throughout their lives. Public participation is critical not only to this planning process but to the long term effectiveness of these schools.”
Pastorek’s call for public participation was echoed by BESE President, Keith Guice.
“As we seek to develop and implement a plan worthy of these very special schools and students, we recognize that we can gain tremendous value from the input and perspective of citizens across Louisiana,” Guice said. “Our intent is to support world-class education programs at LSD and LSVI, and I think this dialogue will put us on the right course.”
All meetings will be held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the dates listed below. Although the meetings will be held simultaneously and at a shared site, the planning discussions around LSVI and LSD will be held separately, at the locations listed below. For more information, including directions, please call the telephone number listed for each meeting location.
- Monday, July 20th – Lake Charles, Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, 809 Kirby Street, Room 108; Contact: Jill Guidry 337-515-5774
- Tuesday, July 21st – Alexandria, Huie-Dellmon House, 430 St. James; Contact: Jeanette Webb 318-613-4773
- Wednesday, July 22nd – Shreveport, Deaf Action Center-Shreveport, 601 Jordan; Contact: Margaret Berry 318-614-6086
- Thursday, July 23rd – Monroe, Families Helping Families, 5200 Northeast Road; Contact: Margaret Berry 318-614-6086
- Monday, July 27th – Lafayette, Deaf Action Center-Lafayette, 1408 Carmel; Contact: Nancy Schoeffler 337-257-1247
- Tuesday, July 28th – Mandeville/Covington, St. Timothy Northshore United Methodist Church, 335 Asbury Drive, Mandeville; Contact: Terri Mohren 504-554-5980
- Wednesday, July 29th – New Orleans, Ochsner Medical Building, 200 W. Esplanade, Kenner; Contact: Linda Frantz 504-256-9200
- Thursday, July 30th – Houma, Terrebonne Parish Library, 778 Grand Caillou Road; Contact: Linda Frantz 504-256-9200
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