News alert: White pre-files bill to create four independent school districts in EBR

State Sen. Mack “Bodi” White, R-Central, says he is pre-filing legislation today that would create four independent school districts in East Baton Rouge Parish, one of which would be the southeast district already created by the 2013 Legislature. As envisioned, the districts would remain under the umbrella of EBR Schools but would have their own deputy superintendents empowered to make a broad range of financial, administrative and educational decisions. The measure is intended to help reform a troubled school system and could, potentially, appease supporters of the city of St. George incorporation movement, though White says the bill is not about derailing the effort. “This is not about St. George,” White says. “We have to fix education. We’re going to get one shot at this in history. This is the time.” Read more about this story in Daily Report PM today. —Stephanie Riegel