Inside Report for Feb. 3, 2012

Gov. Bobby Jindal may have an unlikely ally in his push to revamp Louisiana public schools: U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

The veteran Democrat is making clear that, despite some differences, Jindal’s call for major school changes represents a historic chance to transform public schools in Louisiana.

“I cannot let politics get in the way of this opportunity,” Landrieu said.

Any such alliance on such a high-profile topic is unlikely, to put it mildly. Landrieu is a lifelong New Orleans Democrat. Her father was a Democratic mayor of New Orleans. Her brother Mitch holds the same job now, and is a Democrat too.

Jindal is a Republican fresh off easy re-election to a second term. He breezed to victory after Landrieu’s fellow Democrats were unable to offer any credible opposition.

She is outwardly passionate and demonstrative, and got choked up a few times during a recent education summit talking about the need for school improvements.

He rattles off school statistics to make his case for major changes, and makes clear this is the year he plans to spend lots of political capital to make a lasting impact on public school s.

The two have clashed recently, including Landrieu’s criticism of Jindal in November for what she called his mistaken decisions to reject an $80 million grant to provide high-speed Internet service to rural areas, and not to apply for $60 million in federal aid for early childhood education.

The governor’s allies disputed her comments.

Jindal is also a bigger booster of expanded state aid for students to attend private or parochial schools than Landrieu. “It should be a part, but not the centerpiece,” she said.

Yet, when an estimated 800 people gathered for a daylong session on public school issues, Landrieu was sitting at the head table from 9 a.m. until the meeting ended at 3 p.m. on a day when the U.S. Senate was in session.

Landrieu said she was struck by the turnout, especially knowing that, in the past, a push to revamp public schools might have attracted a few dozen officials. “I see a tipping point in our state,” she said. “That’s why almost 800 people have stayed all day.”

She also praised Jindal for tackling public school problems at the start of his second term.

“You don’t have to take on a big agenda,” Landrieu said, adding she has offered to help.

Jindal has gone out of his way to compliment Landrieu’s involvement.

Stephen Waguespack, the governor’s chief of staff, said the Democrat’s role is welcome.

Landrieu said the crux of the issue is this: This nation defeated fascism, communism and put a man on the moon. “And we can’t fix a broken school system?” she asked.

Landrieu said, aside from coastal restoration, improving public schools is her top priority.

She said she has talked to Jindal’s staff and plans to invite state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members to Washington.

The Democrat also said she will convey her thoughts to members of the Legislative Black Caucus, which is likely to be a source of criticism of Jindal’s plans.

The governor’s bid to change teacher job protection rules, launch a form of merit pay for teachers, and offer new ways out of troubled schools will cause controversy.

Teacher unions — long allied to the Democratic Party — will help lead the opposition, mostly because officials say the changes could destroy traditional public schools.

Landrieu said one issue that needs to be addressed are the disparities between students in different parishes. She said DeSoto Parish, which has gained from a huge natural gas discovery, spends $23,000 per student compared with $9,000 per student in Avoyelles Parish.

School building conditions are another priority. Landrieu said Louisiana’s backlog of public school capital needs totals $3.5 billion.

However, legislative efforts to require state spending on an issue now left to local taxpayers have failed in recent years.

Whether any Jindal-Landrieu public schools alliance can withstand the bickering once the debate begins on March 12 is unclear.

After all, some think Jindal would like to run for Landrieu’s post in 2014.

Yet for now the biggest issue on the governor’s 2012 agenda has united two of the state’s best-known politicians.

Will Sentell covers statewide public school policy for The Advocate’s Capitol news bureau. His email address is [e-mail].