BusinessReport.com

Folks always get real busy in December with the holidays and the rush to close out the year. But it is often said, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish that counts.” It is important to finish well.

Such is the case with two of our public boards: the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the State Bond Commission. Each has a final meeting in December with key issues before them.

BESE is considering the approval of a number of new charter school applications, including one for the Children’s Charter School’s new middle school in Baton Rouge. The 10-year-old school currently goes from pre-K to fifth grade.

Middle schools are one of the biggest concerns in East Baton Rouge. While it should have been approved by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board as a type-1, they turned it down. Now, it is before BESE as a type-2. Let’s hope BESE shows more concern for children than did our own school board.

I encourage BESE to take a close look at the applications. All the applications are examined by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers and given recommendations. I would certainly hope that at least all those “recommended” would get the approval from BESE. It would allow parents and children in our state more choices and increased competition. It will raise the bar.

(Editor's note: BESE approved all of these recommended charters last week at their meeting.)

As for the State Bond Commission, it appears there is a move afoot by Sen. Robert Adley to get almost $200 million in bonds approved for vo-tech campuses. This is happening outside the capital outlay process, which sets a bad precedent; if this measure is approved, it will have many others following suit. It will also use up part of the debt limit for the state.

I am one who believes there is a need for skilled workforce training in Louisiana, and vo-tech schools can certainly play a role. (There are more than 40 vo-tech campuses in the state.) But let’s be honest. Our history with vo-techs has been abysmal. They have a history of being run as fiefdoms by legislators. Some have been used more as “job machines” than as quality educational or training institutions. In my opinion—and that of many others who have been involved with the vo-tech schools—there is a need for a major overhaul and restructuring. The system is broken.

You can imagine my concern to hear that Adley wants to pump $200 million into a broken and archaic system rife with patronage—and evade the capital outlay process and eat up the state’s debt limit to boot. Not a good idea. I think it may fall close to that “sugar mill deal” that former Ag Commissioner Bob Odom tried to get through the State Bond Commission.

Until we address the mission, structure and results of the vo-tech system, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to spend $200 million. This type of action in the final meeting of the outgoing Bond Commission raises suspicions. If it is a good idea, it will still be a good idea in six months.

Keep your eyes on both these state boards—and their year-end actions.

Forecasting for 2008

What will the new year hold for Baton Rouge and Louisiana? I see good things ahead, but change will come with a price and it won’t be easy. The status quo is in the crosshairs, and there will be a battle. We have to hit it right between the eyes.

This could apply to challenges and opportunities facing our state and our city. Some of these issues are known to all and include:

• Ethics in government. This will be first for our new governor, and the fight could be fierce. But if Louisiana isn’t ready to win this battle, we’re done.

• Business taxes. While the rest of the country has an economy that is flat, ours continues to run strong, and we must capitalize on the windfall while it lasts. Ease the burden on local businesses and help them grow as well as make Louisiana more competitive to attract new companies. This action could serve us well by the time the windfall and budget surpluses end.

• Change public education. We are way behind and we keep doing things the same way (even with more money). Expecting different results is insane. We must change the model and allow more providers, creating more competition—and choices for parents. We must innovate.

• Set budget priorities. This will be tough for some. We must invest and not just spend. We need to provide support for some, but more opportunities for others. Spend our money on “teaching people how to fish” so there is hope for the future. That is why education in community colleges and universities is critical. But also important to economic development is infrastructure, including roads, ports and airports.

I am not sure why LSU President John Lombardi has gone on the attack over spending money on roads. As a former chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors and an LSU grad, I understand the value of LSU to our future, but Lombardi may not want to make the people choose between fixing roads and investing in higher ed. More travel the roads than go to college. But it doesn’t have to be a win-lose, and he shouldn’t be picking fights. Lombardi is known as a “bomb thrower” (so am I), but this one could blow up in his face. Careful, John.

If we get these right at the state level it will do wonders for our national image—and that would make us all happy when we travel. No more laughing at Louisiana.

For the city, we will be looking at:

• Entertainment district. Will it really happen? If not now, when? Let’s deal with it as we did with the blue law. Can someone on the council please lead?

• Riverfront. Expect to hear some big plans announced for our riverfront. Let’s step up to the big leagues. We’re ready, so let’s do it.

• Growth. Despite the NIMBYs of Southdowns, Baton Rouge makes progress and Rouzan begins construction, including a Southdowns library. There will be many other new developments in East Baton Rouge as well as all the surrounding parishes. While some complain, take a drive to New Orleans and consider the alternative. (In fact, if you don’t like Baton Rouge, move to New Orleans. Many of their streets are very quiet with no one around to bother you.)

• More arts. Count on Derek Gordon and the Arts Council, as well as the Manship Theatre and others, to continue to expand opportunities in the Capital City. Speaking of events, you will also see the return of the Corporate Cup 5K for its 20th anniversary this spring.

• Interstate 10/12 corridor. Expect to see this “new” region prosper and lead the economic growth in our state.