Helix School Represents A Community Victory

Helix School Represents A Community Victory

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

The first substantial St. Landry School District construction project for more than three decades was celebrated Tuesday night as a victory for the Opelousas-area community whose students will soon receive the opportunity to obtain 21st century technical and medical training.

School Superintendent Milton Batiste III told a large crowd that groundbreaking for a proposed Helix AI and Medical Academy scheduled to open in 2025, creates a unique partnership that developed among school officials, private industry and individual investors.

“I think you will see this is just the start of great things,” Batiste said.

Planning for the state-chartered Academy located adjacent to Our Savior’s Church off the Interstate 49 Service Road, began more than two years ago, said School Board president Mary Ellen Donatto.

“This is a special day. (The District) has not made a habit of approving charter schools except for Ecole St. Landry. The exception though is the Helix Academy,” Donatto said.

The concept for the Academy, which begins as a kindergarten through fifth-grade charter school campus, began shortly after voters overwhelmingly rejected a bond issue to build new schools in Opelousas, said Preston Castille, CEO and president of Helix school campuses.

Castille recalled his initial 2022 conversation with Opelousas businessman Pat Fontenot and state representative Dustin Miller that included assisting the District with new school construction that improved educational opportunities for city-area students.

“What we came up with was what you will see here, the first time that a new school is being built in St. Landry in decades,” said Castille.

Castille said Our Saviors Church officials provided some necessary acreage for the school building. That donation was complemented by private monetary donors and more financial assistance from business leaders.

Kurt Schumacher provided $250,000, while Opelousas businessman Reggie Dupre also gave sufficient funding for the school, Castille added.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said the 42,000 square-foot Helix Academy building will provide a science,computer and medical-oriented curriculum considered essential for success in an increasingly complex world.

“Students will be exposed to project-based and cutting edge learning that is relevant in our increasingly advanced society. It’s a ground breaking opportunity educationally as well as physically,” Brumley noted.

Miller said the creation of the Academy gives parents the chance to acknowledge the efficacy of St. Landry public schools.

“This is really an amazing day. Our kids deserve this chance to learn and receive a foundation and learn about AI,” Miller said.

It’s also been important, Miller said, to note that the school on 17 acres was being built using a combination of local philanthropy as well as corporate and assistance by Our Savior’s Church.

Founding principal Jennier Gordon said the school will eventually accept students in grade six through eight.

Applications for the Academy will begin in October, Gordon said.

Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor said completion of the Academy accents the recent proliferation of the I-49 corridor construction inside the city limits.

The school, said Alsandor, also gives students a chance to learn skills not previously available to Opelousas students decades ago.

It also provides the city with a measure of bragging rights, said Alsandor.

“Too many times we see projects like this taking place beyond the borders of St. Landry, but we can talk smack now,” added Alsandor.