Lafayette court denies request to halt Ovey Comeaux High School closure

The school district plans to repurpose the campus despite a pending lawsuit over the decision.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:56am

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A 15th Judicial District Court judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order this week that sought to halt the closure of Ovey Comeaux High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. The lawsuit argues the closure will create a socioeconomic disadvantage for heavily Title I and economically disadvantaged districts, but the court's decision allows the Lafayette Parish School System to proceed with plans to repurpose the campus.

Why it matters

The closure of Ovey Comeaux High School has sparked a legal battle over the potential impact on vulnerable student populations in the Lafayette community. The school district's decision to repurpose the campus and relocate programs has raised concerns about the equitable distribution of educational resources.

The details

The lawsuit, filed by plaintiff Suzanne Lajaunie, argues that closing Ovey Comeaux High School will create a socioeconomic disadvantage for heavily Title I and economically disadvantaged districts. As part of the transition, the school system plans to move the W.D. and Mary Baker Smith Career Center to the Comeaux campus for the upcoming school year. Lajaunie expressed concern that the decision targets vulnerable populations and represents a withdrawal of resources from struggling areas.

  • On March 12, the school board voted 5-2 to close Ovey Comeaux High School.
  • This week, a 15th Judicial District Court judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order to halt the closure.
  • A hearing to determine if the decision to close and repurpose the school will stand is scheduled for April 13 at 1 p.m.

The players

Suzanne Lajaunie

The plaintiff who filed the lawsuit against the Lafayette Parish School System over the closure of Ovey Comeaux High School.

Lafayette Parish School System

The school district that voted to close Ovey Comeaux High School and plans to repurpose the campus, including relocating the W.D. and Mary Baker Smith Career Center.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to create such a large socioeconomic disadvantage for our districts that are already heavy on Title one and economically disadvantaged. Creating this kind of divide is not what we should be doing in this community.”

— Suzanne Lajaunie, Plaintiff

“We should be trying to further invest in a struggling district instead of divesting from a struggling district. And so, again, while we're focused on Comeaux is this is so much deeper. This is the future of our kids. This is the future of unity that's at stake here.”

— Suzanne Lajaunie, Plaintiff

“It's important to remember that the Mary Baker Smith Career Center is a program that draws students from all of the high schools across Lafayette Parish. Right now, if you look at the student make up more than 60% are students that live on the south side of the parish.”

— Tracy Wirtz, Spokesperson, Lafayette Parish School System

What’s next

A hearing to determine if the decision to close and repurpose Ovey Comeaux High School will stand is scheduled for April 13 at 1 p.m. The school system said it will wait for the final judicial outcome before proceeding.

The takeaway

The closure of Ovey Comeaux High School has sparked a legal battle over the potential impact on vulnerable student populations in Lafayette. The school district's decision to repurpose the campus and relocate programs has raised concerns about educational equity, with the plaintiff arguing it will create a socioeconomic disadvantage for already disadvantaged districts.