BRAC opposes bill for new southeast school district

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber on Thursday announced it is opposed to legislation that would create a new southeast Baton Rouge school district until there’s more information about its impact.

“BRAC shares in parents’ frustration with our current public education outcomes. However, BRAC’s board of directors felt it cannot support this legislation until proper planning and cost modeling has been done,” said Adam Knapp, president and chief executive officer of the business lobbying group.

Knapp said this proposed district as well as other possible breakaway districts have “too many unknowns” when it comes to finances, capacity, and student choice. He said those unknowns that have the potential to “create financial disarray or lower the quality of education overall.”

In a news release, a community group supporting the new district, Local Schools for Local Children, expressed disappointment in BRAC’s opposition, saying it would deny the public a chance to vote on the idea in a referendum in November.

“The right to vote is the bedrock upon which this democracy was built,” according to the release.

The legislation, proposed by Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, has been approved by the Senate and awaits action in the House.

Comments

1) Comment by cbelse1 - 04/05/2012

Rebel, I hope you don't think you'd actually be paying local taxes for both districts (unless you own property in both areas). And the new district intends to hire administrative personnel (those who don't work directly in the schools) that are worth a flip. EBR has 2000+ employees that don't work directly in schools, and if you think you're getting your money's worth, you're horribly mistaken. Just go to the district office and sit in the HR department for 15 minutes. As for taxes, NEW taxes or HIGHER taxes would have to be voted on by the citizens of the area. And to others who refer to this part of BR as a "vanilla pie," come sit in one of the schools over here and tell me they are majority white.

2) Comment by jdk944 - 04/05/2012

Terd Handler - what a post name, you need to go back and get your facts straight. You are WAY off base but then "racism" is the latest excuse for EVERYTHING anymore. BRAC has sold out years ago to an agenda that has NOTHING to do with the residence or small business owner of Baton Rouge. Not surprising in the "lip service" they are providing on this topic.

3) Comment by Terd Handler - 04/05/2012

This breakaway school district is further proof that racism is alive and well in Baton Rouge! If this goes through, maybe Woodlawn High could change its mascot to a klansman dressed in a hoosier and sheets!

4) Comment by Traveler - 03/05/2012

"Influential" people in the business community have been promoting the idea of a breakaway public school district for Southeast Baton Rouge for at least the past five years. For the Chamber to suddenly want to slow down the process is highly suspicious. Something's up.

5) Comment by Rebel with a cause - 03/05/2012

Yes, the chamber sometimes does support tax increases when they are necessary for stimulating economic activity – the CATS system is one prime example. However, I think you would agree that hiring more administrative bureaucrats, an entire bevy of support staff, and another school board is NOT going to stimulate economic activity anywhere. Yet that is exactly what the breakaway school district intends to do. A vote for this proposal is adding yet another layer of government and more government bureaucracy is bad. It will not improve ovreall school performance.

6) Comment by WhoCares - 03/05/2012

Rebel the chamber just passed a cats tax on property owners.

7) Comment by Rebel with a cause - 03/05/2012

Thank you Baton Rouge Chamber for standing up to those who want to break the parish school system apart. Studies consistently show that creating smaller school districts INCREASES bureaucracy and TAXES BILLS RISE. A vote in favor of this breakaway district is a vote to help bureaucrats. I think my taxes are high enough already, thank you!

8) Comment by janiea - 03/05/2012

How many BRAC board members actually have children or grandchildren in EBRP schools? I would guess none.

9) Comment by Marc - 03/05/2012

“BRAC shares in parents’ frustration with our current public education outcomes. However, BRAC’s board of directors felt it cannot support this legislation until proper planning and cost modeling has been done,” said Adam Knapp... Baloney! The Chamber and it's lackeys on the school board showed their true colors during the recent superintendent hiring fiasco. BRAC just hasn't had time to figure out how to make money off of the split-up. As soon as they do, they'll be circling like vultures over a carcass.

10) Comment by WhoCares - 03/05/2012

This has got to be a joke, right? The Chamber is a major reason the school system is in the shape it is today. I hate the Chamber.