LPSS Announces Plan For Former Prairie Elementary Campus

This year, a new state-of-the-art, Prairie Elementary opened up in Lafayette. Parents, students, teachers, and faculty have adjusted quickly to the new campus on Rue de Belier. But the move left an empty building on prime real estate at the corner of West Congress and Ambassador Caffrey.

Anyone who drives in that area on a regular basis knows the flurry of activity that used to be seen from the front bus lane to the sprawling playground. But those days seemed to be long gone as only a couple of cars each day were parked at the facility. But this week LPSS announced plans for the campus, which will house a new program.

The SOAR program which stands for success, opportunities, achievement, and reengage will serve as a Lafayette alternative site for students up to fifth grade, who are in need of re-assignment due to behavior issues. There will be areas built out for students with sensory issues and special needs. On staff will be a full-time social worker who will help students to be successful upon their return to school.

Lafayette School Board Member Justin Centanni has high hopes for the new program. He told me, "Getting our youngest students who need special attention on a campus of their own will help them to return to their home school ready to learn more quickly.

In a release, Lafayette Parish Schools leaders said, “We want to provide stability and give students a new outlook on school,” says LaFleur. To achieve this goal, parents will work in collaboration with Ms. Tara Walker, SOAR’s newly appointed program administrator. “Tara is the perfect person to lead this new program. She has the ability to maintain high standards and hold students accountable for their actions because her compassion and love for students shines through in the work she does each day.”

Ms. Tara Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She began her teaching career in St. Bernard Parish in 2005. She then taught at Youngsville Middle School for seven years before becoming a lead teacher at N.P. Moss Preparatory School. In 2014, she became assistant principal of Prairie Elementary School and has held that position until this most recent appointment to program administrator of the SOAR program.