Sacred Heart protesters to meet Monday night

People who have been protesting this month on Main Street in front of Sacred Heart School plan to meet at the Northside Civic Center Monday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss issues involved and possible solutions.
Protesters initially began picketing and demanding the replacement of the school’s principal, Diane Fontenot, citing the departure of a rather large number of teachers over the last several years as a sign of poor management.
The spokesman for the protesters, Jeffery Sylvester, said Friday, May 22, that the protesters are concerned the Diocese of Lafayette is in the process of closing the school. He said the loss of some 200 students threatens the viability of the school in a similar way that dwindling enrollment led the diocese to close Trinity Catholic School in St. Martinville earlier this year. That school, which opened in 1881, was the only Catholic school in St. Martinville.
Sylvester said the concerned parents, alumni and others in Ville Platte have secured the legal services of Abbeville attorney Anthony Fontana, who has experience in cases involving the Diocese of Lafayette. Sylvester said Fontana either has or will send letters to Sacred Heart Pastor Jason Vidrine and the school’s principal regarding the issues that concern the protesters.
After two people concerned about Sacred Heart School met with Diocese of Lafayette Bishop Michael Jerrell earlier this month, the diocese issued a statement that Sylvester said indicated the diocese does not understand the issues at stake.