District approves preliminary move; final vote set for July 23
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday gave preliminary approval for Northdale Academy, one of the city's longest-running alternative schools, to relocate from its long-time site on Cletus Drive to the former Belfair Elementary campus on Fairfields Avenue. The vote was 6-0, with three members absent; a final decision is scheduled for July 23.
Northdale, a school of choice serving grades six through 12, has operated at the Red Oaks campus at 10755 Cletus Drive for roughly 30 years. The district plans the move to a site about five miles east, into a building that was built in 1951 and that underwent roughly $3 million in renovations in 2022, according to school board discussion.
Why the change matters locally
The move responds to practical needs raised by Northdale staff and leadership, particularly the lack of space for programs the school runs — including care for on-campus farm animals — and general capacity issues. Board members and district leaders said the older Red Oaks facility, built in 1968, is less well suited to those needs despite being newer than the Belfair building.
- Student body: About 110 students were enrolled at Northdale last year.
- Scope: Northdale draws students from across East Baton Rouge Parish.
- Timing: If the board confirms the move July 23, the relocation would take effect immediately in advance of the 2026-27 school year.
“They want the space,” School Board President Shashonnie Steward said after the meeting.
Northdale was founded in 1986 as a joint effort between the district and the local Chamber of Commerce, and its status as a school of choice means families from across the parish can opt in for the smaller, alternative setting. Roughly half of the students live relatively close to the Fairfields Avenue campus, which may ease commutes for many families if the board approves the move.
Campus comparisons and district context
The relocation also adds to a growing inventory of vacant or underused district properties. The Cletus Drive campus would join several other buildings left empty or lightly occupied as the district has consolidated facilities in recent years.
| Campus | Year built | Recent work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Former Belfair Elementary (Fairfields Ave.) | 1951 | $3 million renovations (2022) | Vacant since Belfair moved to Winbourne; considered in better shape |
| Current Northdale site (Red Oaks, Cletus Drive) | 1968 | Not recently renovated | Home of Northdale for ~30 years; space constraints reported |
School Board President Steward noted that Northdale leadership is agreeable to the move and that the school has previously relocated, with students and programs adapting to new facilities before. In 2016 Northdale moved previously; the school’s mobility over the decades reflects shifting district needs and real estate decisions.
The possibility of moving an established alternative school raises questions for parents and staff about transportation, programming and the future use of the Cletus Drive property. The district closed nine schools in 2025 under Superintendent LaMont Cole, enlarging the portfolio of empty campuses; this pending move would add to that list if the board confirms the transfer July 23.
For families who rely on Northdale’s smaller classroom settings and specialized offerings, the move could bring immediate benefits in space and upgraded facilities. But it also underscores a broader trend in East Baton Rouge Parish: the district is reshaping how it uses buildings and allocating resources as enrollment patterns and facility conditions change.
The board’s final vote on July 23 will determine whether Northdale students start the 2026-27 school year at the Fairfields Avenue campus.
