LIVINGSTON, La. — An hour-long debate over a community education meeting on carbon capture and sequestration dominated this week's Livingston Parish School Board meeting, ending in a unanimous vote to grant the use of a French Settlement High School gymnasium for the event.
Before the board took up the CCS discussion, members honored the French Settlement High School Girls' Basketball Team for an extraordinary season. The team earned its third consecutive district championship, secured its first win in a Livingston Parish tournament since 2001, competed against 18 5-A schools, won the French Settlement Classic Tournament, and brought home its first state championship since 1964.
Each member of the team received a celebratory certificate for her hard work and achievements.
It did not take long afterward for the biggest issue on the agenda to open the floodgates. The board's agreement to allow the use of an old gymnasium at French Settlement High School to host a community education event on the potential side effects and community impact of local CCS wells drew sustained public comment.
During the meeting, five people from the community spoke about the importance of holding the meeting, emphasizing that other meetings discussing and educating on the benefits of CCS had already been held around the parish. Two of the most notable speakers were Livingston Parish Councilmen Dean Coates and Joe Erdey, both of whom expressed their desire for a fair chance for each side of the CCS debate to host educational meetings in the community.
"You have certain rules that you have to stay within and not discriminate against one group or another group," Councilman Coates told the board, citing Louisiana state laws 17:81, 17:100.7, and 17:414.3 as evidence.
Board member Dr. Ronald McMorris was adamant that there was significant confusion surrounding the supposed "cancellation" of the CCS educational meeting. He noted that he was not aware the meeting was expected to include the "Save My Louisiana" group as part of the panel discussion, and therefore the nature of the meeting had to be changed and an application to host it needed to be filled out and submitted. Dr. McMorris stressed that no cancellation of the event ever occurred because it was never fully realized in the first place and simply needed an updated application to continue through the finalization process before it could be hosted.
Dr. McMorris then cited several instances in which he, President Stephen Link, Superintendent Jody Purvis, and others were slandered publicly on social media and declared to be "pro-CCS" as a result of the meeting's "cancellation," which did not actually occur.
"I'm tired of our names being dragged through the mud because people think we or they canceled an event that wasn't even approved in the first place. Here I am getting lumped into this crap because inaccurate statements were getting made," Dr. McMorris said.
The better part of an hour was spent with board members, the public, and council members all discussing issues surrounding the education meeting, including calls from concerned citizens about the Save My Louisiana group's presence and its impact on the school's reputation, the legality of not hosting equal-opportunity education meetings for both sides of a subject, and whether the board's policy language on these meetings needs to be revised.
Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to approve the use of the school facility if Councilman Coates, who plans to host the event, makes changes to the event fliers with special clarifications that the Livingston Parish School Board and French Settlement High School do not affiliate with the event. The board also noted that it will review the policy language for these types of educational meetings and revise it, if needed, during a future policy committee meeting.
Afterward, the board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution recognizing and proclaiming May 4 through 8, 2026, as Livingston Parish Public Schools Employee Appreciation Week.
Superintendent Purvis noted that the tragic loss of Mrs. Katy Wells, the crossing guard at Seventh Ward Elementary School, underscores the importance of employees across the district and creates a space for people to come together and support one another during this time. The sacrifice, perseverance, and selflessness of these employees will be memorialized through the declaration as a way to preserve the esteem felt for their presence and dedication throughout the parish.
"Livingston Parish employees mould future citizens through guidance and education, and our country's future depends on providing quality education to all students," Superintendent Purvis added.
The board also voted unanimously to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Town of Springfield to access and develop a road for carpooling purposes. The plan would extend a road near the back of Springfield Elementary School to provide extra lanes for cars and help ease carpooling congestion during school hours.
