EBR school board to assess community schools, early education, efficiency

East Baton Rouge Parish School Board President Barbara Freiberg says “now is the time for action” on three crucial issues that repeatedly come up in community meetings: attendance zones, early childhood education, and efficiency. “Any time we can put students closer to where they live, you’re going to get more family support and participation,” she says. Freiberg hopes the board can find ways to create more pre-K slots and collaborate with other resources in the community, including the mayor’s office and the federal Head Start program, to provide a better educational experience for young children in the parish. Freiberg says the board expects they’ll have to make budget cuts next year of similar size to the recent $38 million reduction [the general fund budget is $413 million], so now is a good time to review the district’s spending efficiency and effectiveness. School board members Evelyn Ware-Jackson and Jill Dyason will oversee a committee to address the current attendance zones and the creation of community schools. Board members Vereta Lee and Connie Bernard will co-chair the early childhood education committee, while board members Jerry Arbour and Craig Freeman will head the committee charged with ensuring educational program and district operation efficiency. The school board plans to schedule community workshops to gather public input on these issues. The EBR–Committee for Educational Excellence will continue working on an overall strategic plan for the system. —David Jacobs