House delays showdown on school bill

Advocate Staff Photo by Travis SpradlingState Sen. Bodi White, right, R-Central, talks to Rep. Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur, as he works the House Chamber searching Thursday for enough commitments to pass his legislation that would allow southeast Baton Rouge neighborhoods to form their own school district. Danahay was absent for Wednesday’s vote, and Rep. Harold Ritchie, lower right, D-Bogalusa, voted in favor of White’s bill.

Despite a flurry of activity Thursday, a showdown vote on a bid to set up a new public school district in southeast Baton Rouge was delayed until Friday.

The proposal, Senate Bill 299, fell four votes short of the needed two-thirds majority — 70 votes — on Wednesday.

The vote was 66-34 in favor of the measure, which is a proposed constitutional amendment.

State Sen. Bodi White, R-Central and chief sponsor of the plan, walked up and down the aisles of the House chamber in a bid to round up votes.

So did state Reps. Erich Ponti, R-Baton Rouge and House handler of the bill, and Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge and a backer of the new district.

Leaders of Local Schools for Local Children, a community group that is leading support for the measure, huddled outside the House chamber in anticipation of a possible vote.

Meanwhile, some leaders of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, which vehemently opposes the measure, and some mothers with children in East Baton Rouge Parish public schools critical of the plan huddled near the chamber.

But when the House got to the bill Ponti asked that it be returned to the calendar, a procedural move that delays action on the measure for another day.

Ponti said afterwards that some previous opponents of the measure want more information about state plans to make major changes in 20 to 25 low-performing public schools in East Baton Rouge Parish.

“So we are giving them that time,” he said.

But state Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge and a leading opponent of the legislation, said backers clearly lacked the 70 votes they need.

“I believe that we are going to be able to stand firm tomorrow as well,” Smith said.

The issue has broken mostly along party lines in the House.

On Wednesday the bill was backed by all 58 Republicans in the House, six Democrats and two representatives without party affiliation.

All the “no” votes were cast by Democrats. All five who missed the vote are Democrats.

The proposed amendment has already passed the Senate. A companion bill, which would spell out details of the change in state law, has passed both chambers.

However, the amendment has to win legislative approval, and be endorsed by voters statewide and in East Baton Rouge Parish on Nov. 6 to take effect.

The new, 10-school district would extend southeast from the Interstate 10/12 split, south of I-12 and east of I-10 to the parish lines.

Comments

1) Comment by nimby? - 01/06/2012

Warp7 , "white flight" included many responsible parents of color who cared for their childrens' education . continued failure cannot be accepted by any race ....

2) Comment by Warp7 - 01/06/2012

This bill should not be passed. Most know exactly what Bodi is trying to achieve, and that is to revert back to the days of segregation in our schools. Instead of trying to fix the system he wants to create a separate system which will only take needed funding away from the EBR school system. Interesting that the majority in the district he is pushing happen to be White. Pass a bill to fix the system instead of creating more white flight.

3) Comment by nimby? - 01/06/2012

allow the people to decide , just as was done with CATS .....

4) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 01/06/2012

LawyerDan65, by even asking that question, you already know the answer.

5) Comment by LawyerDan65 - 01/06/2012

Does this legislation make the EBR Parish School System better or does it just make things better for some of the Parish, at the expense of the rest?

6) Comment by 8point6 - 01/06/2012

Pass this bill already!