The Advocate‘s online headline said it all: “Incoming schools chief Warren Drake to eliminate 34 Central Office positions, create 9, saving $1 million from East Baton Rouge payroll.” New EBR Schools Superintendent Warren Drake is wasting no time to bring changes and begin his new era of leadership. Kudos to him.
His reorganization reflects some dramatic changes to what he inherited from Superintendent Bernard Taylor. Drake has named 19 school principals (five replaced); reappointed 25 assistant principals and named four new ones; hired a top new administrator from the Zachary school system; and merged four positions into one for chief of communications and public relations.
Those within the system, parents and the public watching need to see that Drake is not just going to “talk the talk” but will also “walk the walk.” He is off to a good start—and the school board needs to back him up all the way.
Had the system had bold and strong leadership in years past, then maybe we wouldn’t have four school districts in East Baton Rouge Parish—and another group petitioning for a fifth (St. George). You can’t blame them wanting quality schools for their children. All parents and taxpayers deserve that.
Look at the record. In 20 years we have had six superintendents: Dr. Gary Mathews, Dr. Clayton Wilcox, Charlotte Placide, John Dilworth, Dr. Bernard Taylor and now Warren Drake. Is that stability? And during that time we have had dozens of school board members, and they have been a big part of the problem. (Many of them were horrible.)
In addition, we have had three mayor-presidents in those 20 years: Tom Ed McHugh, Bobby Simpson and Kip Holden. All have taken mostly a hands-off approach to schools, saying, “That is the school board’s responsibility.” Wrong. It is a quality-of-life, economic development, poverty and safety issue, and it should be a major issue in the upcoming mayor’s race.
We need Drake—backed by the school board—and our next mayor-president to make 2015-2016 a turning point. Our parish’s future growth and success depends on it—and 20 years is a long time to wait.
HIGHER ED FINISHES WELL
Well, we all know now “the sky didn’t fall” on higher education.
Back on March 4, long before the Legislature began debate on the budget, I observed, “Too many of the voices we have heard recently—especially from the news media—sound like Chicken Little. Let me predict here and now, the world will not end for Louisiana or higher education during the upcoming session of the Legislature. Solutions will be found.” We all know it was a tough session, but solutions were found and higher ed is basically where it began—and picked up some new autonomy it never had before that can bring benefits in the future.
I know this positive outcome for higher ed and health care, reached without the governor raising taxes, just infuriates all the liberal newspaper columnists and doomsayers, who were counting on a meltdown so they could say, “I told you so.”
Most of the media were pessimistic and cynical from the start, never expecting “where there is a will, there is a way” could work at the Capitol this year.
Fortunately, many in the Legislature did believe, and so did those in higher ed, especially LSU President F. King Alexander, and they didn’t give up.
As a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, I know many had concerns and there were many critics of the budget and way it was solved. But in the end, LSU basically came away with its same budget amount, plus the GRAD Act tuition increase, a new fee authority and purchasing autonomy on all campuses.
Thanks are due to all those who spoke up, including those in the public and private sector, students, alumni, the leadership in the Senate and House, and especially Alexander for leading the higher ed community. As they say, it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.
NO SPECIAL DISTRICTS
The Legislature passed a bill that changes the city court elections from two majority black districts and three majority white districts to two judges elected from majority black districts, two from majority white districts, and one at-large, elected citywide. The city of Baton Rouge is now majority black, so why should we have any special districts? I preferred all judges be elected at-large in city court.
When any judge puts on the black robe they shouldn’t be a “color” or see a “color.” I know many will argue that isn’t reality, but isn’t that the goal? Blacks will argue they don’t get a fair shake in front of white judges. So will the reverse be true? That is why I think we should get rid of the special minority districts for the district courts, too. That was a deal cut by former governor and ex-con Edwin Edwards, with former Attorney General Richard Ieyoub.
Are you surprised?
Rep. Alfred Williams was the author of the city court bill that passed, and he wasn’t pleased with the final version. He said about the at-large district, “If an African-American runs in October and loses, I will be back next year.”
So if he doesn’t approve of what all voters decide in our city, he will try to change the law? I say let’s change it, too: at-large districts for all the courts.
CONGRATULATIONS
I want to congratulate all the 2015 Influential Women in Business honored recently by Business Report. Each is making a difference and is among a large number of women in our community who are leading and making an impact every day.
American Express estimated that in 2014 there were nearly 9.1 million women-owned enterprises, employing nearly 7.9 million workers and generating over $1.4 trillion in revenues. And between 1997 and 2014, the number of women-owned firms grew at a pace 1.5 times the national average.
Today in this company, 77% of our team is women—and Julio Melara and I appreciate each of them and their contributions to our growth and success every day.
NATIONAL CHAMPS
What a year for LSU golf. The LSU men’s golf team brought home a national championship recently—the first since 1955—defeating USC. And LSU’s golf coach, Chuck Winstead, was named SEC Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by Golfweek. Congratulations to Coach Winstead, his team, assistants, staff and Athletic Director Joe Alleva on a great year and the title.
MADE HIS MARK
Buddy Boudreaux, a bandleader and musician for more than 75 years in Baton Rouge, passed away at 97 last week. Boudreaux and the Buddy Lee Orchestra became a Baton Rouge institution and were enjoyed by thousands over many decades. We got to work with Boudreaux and his jazz quartet at our events and always enjoyed every note. He always had a smile and loved entertaining. Richard Boudreaux, his oldest son, described his dad as “one of the happiest, most fun-loving people I ever knew.” Amen to that.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, family and friends.
