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February 21, 2018
Supporters of a smaller Lafourche Parish school board are still punning their hopes on the potential of legislation making that so. But so far no bills have emerged in legislative pre-files. And now one state legislator, who could get the ball rolling with a bill, has made clear that he will not support a downsizing unless the body itself requests it.
The 15-member board is larger than most in the state, which number nine members. The question of a smaller board has re-emerged since voters rejected a 1-cent sales tax proposal by 19 votes, amid suggestions that critics of a bloated board has extra ammunition. The school district faces serious deficits.
State Rep. Dee Richard (No party-Thibodaux) said in an interview this week that he is not likely to file any legislation, barring board support.
“I have told one member on each side that I would not file any legislation without a request from the board with the majority favor,” said Dee Richard, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. “Those board members were elected by their respective districts’ constituents to make decisions for the people of this parish.”
Standing firm behind the idea of representation, Richard, who is a former school board member, was opposed to the idea of legislators forcing change against other elected positions.
“I do not believe it’s my job as a legislator to tell one parish school board to reduce its size, although it is within the Legislature’s power,” he said.
“They mentioned ‘The will of the people,’ right?” asked Richard. “How does less members serve the will of the people?“
Richard stated that if the board votes in favor of the reduction of size he would file legislation towards that end; however, he pointed out that each board member faces re-election soon, and board reduction should be a campaign issue. Once the board is elected, they could decide accordingly.
“The people will have their say versus legislators from around the state to decide for one parish,” he said. “That’s how it should be done.”
Reduction of six members from the board would save roughly $58,000 a year. Richard proposed a solution, “ask them to reduce their salaries and any benefits they get (laptops, etc),” he said. “The fiscal problems that the Lafourche Parish school (and other school boards) is facing is not by their faults.”
While the debate over the size of the Lafourche Parish School Board has been an ongoing struggle for years, members in favor of shrinking began seeking legislative action since at least January.
Those in favor cited public opinion, overstaffing, and teacher’s avoiding speaking up for fear of retribution as reasons to reduce size.
One member against the reduction, Calvin Duet, of District 15, blames the echo-chamber effect of Facebook, unused boats, the slumping oil sector, and that the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce urged people to vote no.
He fears that a reduction in size would make representation of the southern portion of Lafourche more difficult.
Duet also said that with the Lafourche Parish School District currently in a $6 million deficit, all members spoken with agree that its budget must be balanced. Some librarians and guidance counselors have been cut to reduce costs. The librarians were being replaced by paraprofessional educators, but counselors who are still employed have had to cover more than one school.
This deficit stems from a larger problem, said Richard, citing Louisiana’s current overall budget problem, “The real problem is the Louisiana Legislature not funding K-12 education in this state,” Richard said. “We shouldn’t have to debate over whether we fund education or not. That is our duty as a legislature in this state and that is to properly fund public education, but instead we minimally fund it.”
