New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s name has surfaced in the race for control of Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Bloomberg signed a $5,000 check to help get Kira Orange Jones elected to the board over incumbent Louella Givens. Bloomberg also contributed $1,000 to the Alliance for Better Classrooms, a political action committee formed by Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby to strengthen support for charter schools, the state’s school accountability plan and other policies opposed by some teacher unions, school administrators and education groups. BESE runoffs on Nov. 19 for three spots on the board could determine whether Gov. Bobby Jindal wins BESE approval of his choice for state superintendent of education, John White. White heads the Louisiana agency that takes over low-performing local schools. He spent five years at the New York City education department under Bloomberg’s schools chancellor.
NYC mayor a contributor to BESE campaign
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