(9/17/18) Students at Block High School say they want change now.

A week ago they protested asking for certified teachers, quality education and consolidation.

Monday night, students, teachers and parents decided to take a stand.

“We’re going to keep fighting, fighting against them no matter what until we see a change,” says Cadelrus White, Senior at Block High.

They say it’s time they are taken seriously.

“The conditions are horrible, we’re basically being put on the back burner,” says Shircold Bowman, Senior at Block High.

Leanna Dodge says students’ academics are suffering because they feel like they aren’t a priority.

“Everything that’s been said inside from the council is rehearsed. It makes me feel like they don’t really care about us,” says Leanna Dodge , Junior at Block High.

From broken desks, to overcrowded classrooms, to hours of class time going unused, students believe it’s time for the school board to make a change and they aren’t alone.

“These are my former students. I don’t feel like they’re getting the education that they deserve, Every child is guaranteed a free and fair public education and I do not feel that the children of Jonesville Louisiana are getting that,” Sarah Hudnal, Concordia Parish Teacher and Catahoula Parish Resident.

Hudnal says the students are right, the conditions aren’t good.

“The children don’t have, they don’t have toilet paper half the time and they don’t have paper towels half the time or hand soap and it’s not because the janitors aren’t putting it in there. It’s because it’s not there,” says Hudnal.

Students feel their message is falling on deaf ears.

Students say their only goal is to improve their school’s conditions so they can have a chance at a brighter future because right now, things are dim.

“I don’t feel like we have the materials we need here to go on to big universities and stuff. It’s going to be harder for us,” Zature Osteen, Junior at Block High.

Bowman says if nothing changes, she believes the results will be disastrous.

“More students will continue to leave and the school will continue to deteriorate,” says Shircold Bowman, Senior at Block High.

Catahoula Parish Superintendent Dr. Gwile Freeman says teacher retention is a statewide issue.

She says people just aren’t going into education, but herself and Principal of Block High School Jeffery Odom say, they have heard the students requests and are working to address them.

Block High School currently has 13 certified teachers and the superintendent says they have never denied a certified teacher.