Publisher: Let the people vote on a new, needed school district

Public education is not about protecting any existing school system and the union jobs involved, says Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister in his latest column. “It’s about doing what is necessary to educate children effectively, especially if what has been tried for decades is not working,” he writes. “That’s what I expect for my tax dollars that are collected for education. Why should we let a failed ‘system’ in East Baton Rouge Parish control all the public money and force many parents to leave our parish or pay twice (first taxes, then private school tuition)?” McCollister urges the House of Representatives to approve a bill that would give voters the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want the proposed new school district in southeast Baton Rouge. The Senate has already OK’d it. “They should pass the bill and let us vote on it this November. This new area has residents and parents who want to be involved in their schools in the same way as residents in Central and Zachary, both top 10 districts in the state,” McCollister writes. “This new district could give Baton Rouge three of the top 10 districts in the state, and that is great for children and an asset for economic development as we recruit new companies and executives. We should not deny these parents or our community that chance.” Read the full column—in which McCollister also touches on the new BRAVE crime-fighting initiative in north Baton Rouge—here. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.