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Last week, residents who live on Revelation Drive north of Erath were worried about a charter school being built in their backyard
They voiced their concerns to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury last week. They worried about flooding when the charter school elevated the property.
The Williams Scholar Academy Board listened to their worries and decided not to relocate their temporary school on Hwy. 338. The charter school will remain at its current location on the grounds of Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries near Abbeville.
The school’s new Executive Director is Kimberly Williams. She said the school would lease the buildings from Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries.
“It is important that we listen to the community we are a part of and take their feedback seriously,” said Williams. “We appreciate the continued partnership with Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries in allowing us to lease the property,” Williams said. The school still intends to relocate to a more prominent location in the near future while it awaits the final construction of the permanent facility on Martin Luther King Drive.”
The residents who attended the Police Jury Meeting were happy to hear the news that there would not be a school in their backyard.
“That is great news,” said Trieva Campbell. “I am excited.”
Resident Frankie White added, “You made my day.”
The school is also no longer called Williams Scholar Academy, Williams said. However, no reason was given as to why the name changed.
Williams did explain that with a new name comes a new direction the school wants to head. The school released a press release explaining the charter school’s new approach.
With a new name – Excelsior College Preparatory Academy – and a focus on college readiness and the post-secondary experience, Excelsior Prep will provide an unprecedented education to all scholars beginning in grade 6. The school’s new Executive Director, Kimberly Williams, Esq. said, “We will never forget the hard work that went into the vision and building of this school. As we move forward, we embrace the motto that College is not an option – it is a part of the journey.”
The school is currently enrolling students entering Grades 6-12. Visit excelsiorcollegeprep.com for details. You can also text the school at 337-465-1637.
In its first year, Williams Scholar Academy graduated 100% of the seniors originally enrolled, all of whom received thousands of dollars in scholarships for their college pursuits. Each graduate received a scholarship from Pastor Walter August and the Nehemiah Project of Acadiana, among the many awards and recognitions.
In addition, the graduates were memorialized in the 117th congressional record through a Federal Proclamation from Congressman Clay Higgins.

ABBEVILLE — Memorial Services for Ouida Mae Sanderlin, 90, were held at 11:00AM on Friday, May 20, 2022, at David Funeral Home of Abbeville with Deacon Tim Marcantel officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
Visitation was held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Friday, May 20,2022 from 9:00AM until the time of services.
A native and resident of Erath, Mrs. Ouida passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Mrs. Ouida was a devoted homemaker and loved her family. She was especially fond of her cats.
She is survived by one son; Jack Edward Sanderlin, and his wife Doris Campbell Sanderlin, of Franklin, TN; two daughters; Sandra Dale Mason, and her husband Laurence Mason, of Anchorage, AL and Debbie Ann Wieder of Yuca Valley, CA; five grandchildren; Sierra Mason of San Francisco, CA, Randy Mason of Seattle, WA, Frank Hoffman Jr. of Yuca Valley, CA, Brian Sanderlin, and his wife Claudia, of Franklin, TN, and Katherine Ann Silva, and her husband Andrew, of Franklin, TN; three great grandchildren; two brothers; Augustin Gaspard Jr. and James Gaspard; and three sisters; Yvonne Stelly, Marie Hebert, and Delores Major.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Edward Sanderlin, Sr. two grandchildren; Jessie Mason and Cody Wieder; one son in law; Rocky Wieder; four brothers; John Gaspard, Luke Gaspard, Eldridge Gaspard, and Nolan Gaspard; and four sisters; Joyce Gaspard, Naomie LaVergne, Ann Marie Gaspard, and Mary Nolia Gaspard.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations could be made to the charity of your choice.
David Funeral Home of Abbeville ay 2600 Charity Street (337) 893-3777 was in charge of the arrangements.

Dulah (Jerry) Marie Hebert Plaisance passed on to be with her Lord on Wednesday, June 1st at Harbor Hospice Care in Lake Charles. Dulah was born on January 16th, 1927 in Abbeville Louisiana to Mehault Hebert and Evie Myers Hebert.
She married her husband Paul Plaisance Sr. in 1945, having just graduated high school. They moved to New Orleans where they lived in the French Quarters and she was employed at a major department store on Canal Street where she worked at the makeup counter.
In 1952 they moved to Lake Charles along with several other members of her family from Abbeville so the men could work at the local plants and refineries that had been built during World War II. In 1953 they purchased their home on Mill Street where she lived for 68 years. Dulah and her husband built apartments in their large house on Mill Street, which Dulah managed.
Dulah was a housewife and mother, who in her own words “was born to cook”. At only five years old she would pull up a stool to the stove to help prepare the family meals. She had a deep Catholic faith and was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for 68 years. Dulah lived by her faith by always giving to family and strangers.
The last two years of her life Dulah lived and was cared for by her niece Jennifer Guillory (Jim). Dulah moved in for Hurricane Laura and never left. She was Maw Maw to Roger D. Corbello, Chris Corbello, Sarah Corbello Guillory, Roger Paul Corbello, Dylan Marshall, and Emma Guillory.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Paul Plasiance Sr.; her sisters, Laura Shearman, Clarice Hebert and Lillian Fredrick; her brothers, Henry Thibodeaux, Maurice Thibodeaux, Alpheus Hebert, Alphe Hebert, Forestire Hebert and Duah Hebert.
Dulah is survived by her son, Paul Plaisance, Jr. and his wife Rebekah. Also, by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family welcomed relatives and friends on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles beginning at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a rosary to be prayed at 6:00 p.m. and resumed on Monday, June 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. until the time of services. A Liturgy of the Word was held at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial immediately followed at Highland Memory Gardens.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com for the Plaisance family.

A group of residents who live on Revelation Drive, which is off of La. 338, are concerned about the possibility of Williams Scholar Academy temporarily moving portable buildings behind their homes.
On Wednesday, a handful of residents on Revelation Drive attended a police jury committee meeting to voice their worries to the police jury about the new school possibly rellocating behind their homes.
The residents told the police jurors that land on La. 338 is low and holds water.
Police Juror Mark Poché agrees with the residents.
“The property is a bowl,” Poché said. “If they elevate it, they could flood.”
The residents wanted to know if there was a way to stop the school from elevating the property, resulting in possible flooding to their homes.
The charter school is located south of Abbeville on the old Lighthouse Christian Academy campus. In addition, Williams Academy is in the early process of building a permanent school on Martin Luther King Drive in Abbeville.
Trieva Campbell is one of the homeowners who attended the police jury meeting. She has been living in her home for three years.
“Why don’t they move the temporary buildings where they will build the new school in Abbeville? That seems like a logical location,” said Campbell. “I do not want the land behind my house to build up because the water will flow on my property. My yard already holds water. It does not need more water.”
Campbell said if her house floods because of the school, she will not be happy.
“We do not want temporary buildings behind our homes,” she said. “I do not want to sound mean, but we moved to the country to avoid lots of traffic. A school is going to mean more traffic on La. 338. I do not want that.”
Police Jury attorney Paul Moresi III informed the homeowners that if the charter school completes all the permit paperwork to create a school, then there is nothing the police jury can do to stop them.
Frankie White owns the first house on the right on Revelation Drive. He poured a cement slab for a patio in the back of his house. The cement slab is about 15 feet from the property line, so he could be staring at a portable building when he walks outside to drink his coffee in the morning.
White also worries about flooding.
“If our house floods, then it will be the school’s fault,” said White. “Look what happened in Youngsville with the building of the school. Homes flooded. I do not want that to happen to our neighborhood.”
Ironically, Revelation Drive was developed north of Erath because of Hurricane Rita, which flooded all of Erath. As a result, many residents migrated north to escape flooding. Now, many of those residents fear the rise of water.
“Behind my house is a low area,” added White. “I have been building up my land over the years. I have invested a lot of money in dirt. Now, I am worried it won’t be enough.”
While flooding is largely why they do not want a school behind their house, the neighbors are also worried about the modular trailers being an “eyesore.”
“What happens if they leave the trailers?” White asked. “It is going to be an eyesore, but it will bring down the value of our property. The school will have to spend a lot of money to locate here on a temporary base.”
Williams Scholar Academy is scheduled to have a board meeting on Monday at the Vermilion Commerce Chamber Building on the La. 14 Bypass in Abbeville. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., and residents from the neighborhood plan to attend the meeting.