Beebe, Buquet seek District 3 seat

With 19 years experience on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, District 3 incumbent Glenny Lee Buquet is being challenged by Lottie Polozola Beebe for that seat.

Beebe is a human resource director within the public school system and has served on professional boards in St. Landry and St. Martin parishes.

Buquet identified herself professionally as an education policymaker based on her BESE activity.

Coming into the Oct. 22 election, Beebe said that public education is “under attack” and needs new leadership to prepare students for a new world of challenges and opportunity.

“We need to call attention to the fact that there has been a freeze placed on the minimum foundation program formula,” Beebe said. “I also believe we have to provide universal pre-K for all children to insure these students have a sound educational foundation. I would work with the legislature to see how we can fund this program for all the children.”

“The top issue [facing public education] is closing the achievement gap and we have many ways of addressing that,” Buquet said. “Our efforts are to improve working conditions for teachers. Professional development will help bring up student scores.”

Beebe said that Buquet has had her time in office and should step aside for new influences.

“She has spent 20 [sic] years as a BESE member and it is under her policy that we now receive much criticism in public education,” Beebe said. “I am a very passionate individual regarding children and education. I grew up in poverty [and] there are a number [of children] entrenched in poverty. I can speak to those issues. We have to provide resources they need to have to help them overcome that poverty. The success I have today I attribute to education. I can communicate with people and students to encourage them that education is the key to their success.”

“I have more of a statewide view and she has been accustomed to working in a small district,” Buquet said. “I have looked at education reforms across the nation to get knowledge on what works to improve student achievement.”

Beebe is a Republican from Breaux Bridge and Buquet is a Democrat from Houma.

Meet the Candidates

LOTTIE POLOSOLA BEEBE

AGE: 58

PARTY: Republican

OCCUPATION: Human resource director

EDUCATION: LSU

FAMILY: Married, five children

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Northern St. Landry Parish School Board

GLENNY BUQUET

AGE: 75

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: Education policy

EDUCATION: University of Louisiana Lafayette

FAMILY: Three children

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education