VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Academy of Math, Science and Technology will now have a Pre-K program in its facilities.

The Concordia Parish School Board voted Thursday to approve a Pre-K program at the magnet school, which operates at the former Ridgecrest school site and offers specialized courses. The school does not rely on school district lines, but rather can draw students from the entire parish.

The magnet school opened in 2012 to kindergarten through fifth-grade students. During the 2015-16 school year, the magnet school will house Pre-K to eighth-grade students.

After applications have been received, placement will be determined through a lottery system.

However, several community members expressed concerns for the board’s decision to include a Pre-K program at the magnet school out of fear that it would take away from the Ferriday Lower Elementary Pre-K program.

The community has not had any say, the Rev. Johnnie Brown said in the audience.

“The board has not allowed us as parents, as citizens and most of all as taxpayers to have any input on what you all are doing,” said Brown, who once served on the school board for 14 years.

Superintendent Paul Nelson said parents apply to attend the magnet school — they are not forced.

“Parents have a choice and parents have made the decision to participate in the magnet program,” Nelson said.

Board President Raymond Riley said anyone within the parish, who is in Pre-K, is allowed to attend the magnet school.

“It’s not just Ferriday kids that are going to the Pre-K magnet program,” Riley said. “It’s any kid in the parish.”

The decision came down to a 4-3 vote with board members Warren Enterkin and Vice President Cheryl Probst absent.

Board members Ronnie Bradford, Mary Campbell and Ricky Raven voted against the Pre-K program at the magnet school.

Board member Mary Campbell expressed her concerns of the amount of space at the magnet school, which will expand in grade levels each year until it has students through the 12th grade.

Nelson said the campus has 10 to 11 classrooms, which will eventually require additional space regardless of adding the Pre-K program.

“The plan has always been that eventually, for the students who get to be 11th graders and 12th graders, would spend a majority of their day at the community college in Ferriday,” Nelson said. “But you are still going to have that housing effect back at the magnet program.”

Nelson said a number of parents have requested the Pre-K program at the school, which will now house a projected number of 22 eighth-graders this year and a projected number of 20 Pre-K students.

Nelson said the board has already sent out numerous letters, where at least 50 people are trying to get the 20 available spots for the Pre-K program at the school.