OPELOUSAS – A charter school staunchly opposed by the St. Landry Parish School Board plans to open Aug. 1.

Its CEO says J.S. Clark Leadership Academy will have an initial enrollment of 180 students and that it has a waiting list of 60 or more.

One of the School Board's concern is the funding it will lose to the school from its Minimum Foundation Program allotment, about $3,500 per student under the most recent distribution schedule.

Additionally, a board majority felt the academy did not offer any thing the public system does not.

Academy supports, and the Department of Education, disagree.

Tiffanie Lewis said she expects interest in the school to grow next year after parents learn more about its approach to learning, which incorporates technology and project-based lessons.

The school, operated by the nonprofit Outreach Community Development Corp., opens with grades 5-7 and plans tol expand each year through grade 12.

Lewis noted that each student will have their own iPad tablet and Apple televisions will enable teachers to download students’ work onto the television monitor.

She said the technology also enables teachers to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses instantaneously.