LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Last week, we got to see what the brand-new chapter of Lafayette High School was going to look like when KLFY got a tour of the brand-new facility. This week, a chapter closes as demolition begins on the former high school.  

Lafayette Parish Superintendent, Francis Touchet, talked about this exciting new chapter for education in Lafayette Parish.

“We look forward to where when you’re going to pass down Congress, you’re going to see nothing but a beautiful school that is just going to bring a lot of life as far as that neighborhood is concerned,” said Touchet.

The demolition of the building is being done because where the building is will make room for an expanded parking lot to fit all 1,800 students, as well as all of the faculty members.

The left side of the campus, where the Lafayette High billboard is located, will make room for a brand-new practice field for the football team. A retention pond is also being built on the right side of the campus. 

Not all of the building is being torn down at once. There are multiple phases, tearing down just sections of the building at a time.

Even though there will be a lot of memories coming down with the school, there are also a couple of pieces that are going to be staying in place. The trees that are in front of the school will be kept and worked around in order to keep that historical feeling of the school. Taking up much of the space between the drop off areas and parking lots. 

Touchet shared more on the demolition beginning, and the thought of respecting the past while embracing the future. 

“This is the end of the era,” he said. “But we’re never going to forget what all of the people that went through Lafayette High School and what they did to make a difference as far as this community is concerned. And we will make sure that we never forget what they have done and move forward as far as this new school is concerned.”

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