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Story Archives: It's Jindal's BESE now
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It's Jindal's BESE now
 Though the GOP will enjoy solid majorities in the state House and Senate over the next four years, the changing of the guard we'll soon witness at the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education could have a far more profound impact on Louisiana.
That's the case because prior to this year's elections, BESE tried its best to slow down Gov. Bobby Jindal and his efforts to reshape K-12 public education. At the heart of the Jindal-backed reform movement is charter schools. Depending on who you talk to, charter schools are the best things since sliced bread or they represent public education's worst nightmare. Take your pick.
Thanks to the state Constitution, a governor has the authority to appoint three members to BESE. The other eight members of the 11-member board are elected from districts throughout the state.
Though Jindal enjoyed a core of support on BESE over the past four years, he didn't control it. That became crystal clear when BESE balked months ago at naming Jindal's pick, John White, who currently runs the Recovery School District in New Orleans, to succeed Paul Pastorek as state superintendent. A lightening rod who never saw eye to eye with a majority of the members of BESE, Pastorek stepped down earlier this year to return to his private law practice.
That begs the question.
What is a governor to do with a board that won't do what he says?
By all means, shake it up and install members who would be inclined to play along.
Jindal did exactly that through his highly active political action committee (PAC), GOP Victory Fund, as well as with support from Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby and his PAC, The Alliance for Better Classrooms. Through their PACS, Jindal and Grigsby spent some $2 million in support of BESE candidates who exhibited a willingness to embrace the reforms Jindal would like to bring about in public school systems state-wide.
Besides allowing charter schools to operate as alternatives to failing schools, Jindal advocates tying teacher evaluations to how well students perform in classrooms. Both proposals are toxic as far as the educational establishment is concerned.
Yet, Jindal and Grigsby got their way on the election front this fall, electing six BESE candidates in seven races that they were involved in. In our neck of the woods here in northeastern Louisiana, Dr Keith Guice was unseated by Jay Guillot of Ruston in the 5th District BESE race.For the full story, subscribe to the The Concordia Sentinel's NEW E-Edition! |
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