LOCAL
Oakshire Elementary students allowed back into public gym
Colin CampoHouma Courier-Thibodaux Daily Comet
Aug. 12, 2026, 3:26 p.m. CT
- Officials from a Louisiana school district and a local recreation district met to resolve a dispute over gym access for elementary students.
- A verbal agreement was reached to allow students back into the gym, and the formal approval from both boards will be voted on later.
- The school superintendent declined to comment on when students would use it.
About 10 public school, recreation and parish officials gathered to end a dispute that barred elementary students from using a public gym
Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Cory Butler and members of the Rec District 1 met Aug. 12 at Houma’s Oakshire Gym to discuss an intergovernmental agreement that would unlock the gym’s doors to the neighboring elementary school. Children from the elementary school were not allowed entry to the gym because of a disagreement between the two entities over gym rules. When the meeting ended, the attendees were asked if the children would have access to the gym again
“The communication was positive, but we have to go back to our boards,” Rec District 1 Board Member Teri Chatagnier said. “But I feel like the children will be back in the gym as soon as possible,”
The gym would be unlocked, she said, but whether the children use it would be up to the school district
“We are not waiting until the agreements are signed,” she said
After the meeting, Butler was asked if the children would use it the following day
“No comment,” he said
Chatagnier said the agreement would have to go before both public bodies for a vote before it could be completed
Seven minutes into the meeting, Terrebonne Parish Council members Brien Pledger and Clayton Voisin entered the meeting. Pledger is the council chairman, and Voisin is the vice-chairman. Oakshire Elementary and the gym both fall in Voisin’s district
According to Voisin, he did not speak during the meeting and allowed the two parties to conduct business. When the meeting ended, he said he asked everyone in attendance a question
“So tomorrow everything is going back to usual right?” he said he asked. “Because if it wasn’t, there was about to be some furniture moving.”
Voisin said he was assured it would. Councilmembers have oversight over the Rec Districts, but Voisin said his practice is to leave them alone. When he heard the children didn’t have access to the gym, however, he said it was unacceptable
“I stay in my own lane with the rec districts,” he said. “When it starts affecting the kids in my council district, and the parents, I’ve got to get involved.”
The gym was closed due to a dispute over gym rules that led officials to search for a written agreement. The written agreement did not exist. According to former Rec District Chariman Mark Amedee, he sent a proposed agreement to the school district in June but never received a reply. When the school semester started, the Rec District locked the gym
The gym is owned by the Rec District, while the land it sits on is owned by the School Board
