The St. Bernard Parish School Board will hold a public hearing Monday April 10 at 5:30 p.m. on the redistricting of its eleven election districts and redistricting of parish’s three elementary schools. Citizens are encouraged to attend and voice opinions on how the new districts should be drawn. 

According to the public notice, the goal of redistricting the election lines is to create 11 districts which contain equal populations. Law requires redistricting occur every ten years after the release of the U.S. Decennial Census. As the population of St. Bernard has shifted and changed dramatically since Hurricane Katrina, the redistricting is especially important. 

Immediately following the election redistricting public hearing, there will be a separate public hearing at 6 p.m. on the redistricting of three parish elementary schools, to make way for the new LaCoste Elementary which is set to open Fall of 2012. 

The board held a public hearing March 27 on the new proposed elementary school district lines, but after hearing resident feedback, decided to revisit the population numbers and adjust the lines once again. 

During last week’s hearing, Superintendent of St. Bernard School, Doris Voitier told parents that the elementary school redistricting was “sorely needed” as there are almost 900 students at Chalmette Elementary and nearly 800 at Davies and Arabi Elementaries, and the new edition of LaCoste Elementary will balance out the numbers.