Kaplan students, parents protest transfer of their principal Laura LeBeouf

KAPLAN — Thursday morning, Kaplan High students and parents held a demonstration in front of Kaplan High School to protest the transfer of their principal Laura LeBeouf.
LeBeouf went on medical leave because she had surgery on her neck. At the same time she went into surgery, the school board opened up four principal positions in the parish - one being Kaplan High.
Positions opening up are at Kaplan High, Seventh Ward Elementary, Erath Middle School and Eaton Park Elementary.
According to School Board attorney Woody Woodruff, LeBeouf, through her attorney, was informed about the position opening up.
Today, Lynn Vincent, a former principal throughout the parish, is acting as the principal at Kaplan High. LeBeouf is still a principal in the Vermilion Parish School system and has not been fired.
For the last three weeks, parents, through social media, tried to rally in order to convince the school superintendent Jerome Puyau to keep LeBeouf at Kaplan High.
Thursday morning, close to 40 students, many of them seniors, demonstrated in front of the school holding signs and yelling they want LeBeouf back as principal.
Alberta Rudd, a former Kaplan High graduate and a good friend of LeBeouf, said the demonstration is being held because the students want LeBeouf to give her annual speech for graduation. Rudd said they were told LeBeouf cannot give the speech.
“I think it is unfair that she is not able to speak at the students’ graduation,” said Rudd. “These seniors deserve the right to have their principal attend their graduation. We, as parents, have the right to have Laura LeBeouf, continue to be principal at Kaplan High. She is Kaplan High. Things have improved at the school since Laura has been there. We want Laura back.”
Woodruff said LeBeouf is allowed to attend the graduation ceremony next month. He said he informed the Kaplan faculty last week. Woodruff said, if it is requested, she can speak to the seniors for graduation. Thus far, no one has requested for LeBeouf to speak, he said.
Kaplan High senior Davante Davis said, “I am here because of Laura LeBeouf. She cares about everyone in the school.”
Forty-five minutes into the demonstration, LeBeouf, pushing a walker and wearing a neck brace, showed up at the rally. She said she received a phone call saying the rally was taking place. She got a friend to bring her to the school grounds.
“I went there to tell the students to go back to class. They are at school to learn,” LeBeouf said.
The students ended the demonstration and went back to class like LeBeouf advised them.