Syria's absence addressed

Residents of the district that elected Israel G. Syria to represent them for another four years last November are growing concerned that their voices are not being heard, according to Superintendent John E. Bourque.
Due to illness, Syria has missed four consecutive meetings and the district, comprised mostly of the West Crowley area, has not had a seated voice at those four meetings, prompting Bourque to address the issue in his comments at the close of Monday’s meeting.
“I’ve been visiting with some people in the community,” the superintendent said. “We hope that (Syria) gets better and can return to his seat on the board.
“It is our responsibility, if we’re one person short ... to make ourselves available to the community; get more community members to call, come visit.
“We accept that responsibility.”
For someone to hold the seat Syria was re-elected to, he would have to resign or a recall election must be called by his constituents, as explained by Bourque and reiterated by Crowley City Councilwoman Dr. Ezora Proctor, who was in attendance at the meeting.
Proctor, along with City Councilman Vernon “Step” Martin, represent many of the same constituents Syria was elected to represent.
“I just want you to know that I appreciate you and the great jobs you are doing,” Proctor said as she spoke to the board. “We value you.
“As we go forth, we are on this team together, working with the community.
“Mr. Bourque has gone to the extreme to try to do what he could and what he can to make it work, along with the board members.”
Proctor also shared that, upon recently visiting with Syria, that he has returned home to continue his recuperation.
“I would like for you, on behalf of myself and I’m sure the rest of the board, when you go back to your community, tell them that they may have lost Mr. Syria’s voice, but they have representation on this board,” said David Lalande, District 5 board member, in response to Proctor’s address. “We represent everybody.
“I’m not trying to belittle your concern. I understand the concern, I think it’s real, but let those people know that, even though they did not elect any of us sitting here on the board, we do represent them and their children and education in this parish.
“We do not see things on a black-white, west-east, north-south community-type basis. If you would let them know tha,t emphatically, they can call us, we’d be glad to respond.
“It is our job. Let them know we are willing to do that.”