Supt. Drake Hopes to Spend $10-15 Million to Save School

Istrouma High School moved into its new facility in 1950. Carl V. Dawson was school board president. T.H. Montgomery represented Central on the school board.

The principal was H.P. Overton, who became principal in 1929, just 12 years after its founding, and served until 1953. He was followed by Ellis “Little Fuzzy” Brown whose twin brother “Big Fuzzy” was the head football coach. The Brown brothers were largely responsible for Istrouma’s nine State High School Football Championships, along with coaches such as Clyde Lindsey, Coon Porta, Leon McGraw, Moose Stewart, and others.

Istrouma was the largest school in the state with 1,900 students in grades 10-12 and achieved success on many levels — not just sports.

But crosstown busing led to most people in North Baton Rouge leaving the area.  They moved to Central, Livingston Parish, and other nearby areas.

The school fell on hard times and was neglected by the school system’s administrators.  It was taken over by the State four years ago and then closed two years ago.

Now East Baton Rouge Parish schools Supt. Warren Drake, who took over the reins of the school system last year, is determined to make Istrouma into a showcase once again. Currently, there is no public high school between Scotlandville and Baton Rouge High.  So the need for a good school is great.

Drake is proposing to spend $10-15 million to completely renovate and modernize the school.  The renovation of Baton Rouge cost more than $50 million.

How the school would be used is still up in the air.  Some alumni are proposing two schools in one — an academic program for the neighborhood and a petro-chemical career academy to draw students from across the parish. Drake is also considering housing a middle school on the campus to provide a feeder school for the high school. Meanwhile, Supt. Drake is searching for the money. Just maybe, Istrouma is on its way back!