[CharterSchools] The Cowen Institute Joins State Sen. Gray Evans and Rep. Peterson on 2nd Annual Statewide School Facilities Tour

[charterschools at LACharter.org]

The Cowen Institute Joins State Sen. Gray Evans and Rep. Peterson on 2nd Annual Statewide School Facilities Tour


As part of a statewide tour of school facilities on Thursday, November 12, State Sen. Cheryl Gray Evans (District 5-New Orleans) and Rep. Karen Carter Peterson (District 93-New Orleans), along with the Cowen Institute, visited four schools in East Baton Rouge and Lafayette Parishes. Since the 2007 legislative session, Gray Evans and Carter Peterson have worked to improve school facilities for all children in Louisiana. The tour highlighted the need for state funding for better school buildings.
 
In Baton Rouge, Superintendent John Dilworth, School Board Member W.T. Winfield, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana School Board Association joined the tour. They visited Istrouma High School and Bernard Terrace Elementary School.


In Lafayette, representatives from Lafayette Parish School System, Parish President Joey Durel, Mark Herbert from U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s office and the League of Women Voters of Lafayette joined the tour. They visited Green T. Lindon Elementary School and L. J. Alleman Middle School.
 
Among the problems witnessed by members of the tour were severe overcrowding, inside walls disintegrating from water damage, uncovered and unprotected walkways from portables housing half of the student population, classrooms that are not comfortable temperatures due to dilapidated windows, and asbestos tiles. These school facility issues result in loss of instructional time, bathroom lines 16 kids deep, students drenched every time it rains, and an inability to utilize 21st century technology.
 
“Louisiana is the fourth lowest in the country for state funding that is provided for school facilities. We must do better for the students of Louisiana. All students deserve the basic right to be in a safe learning environment that provides the tools that will allow our students to compete in an information driven society. I will continue to work to ensure that our students are allowed every opportunity to excel,” said Senator Cheryl Gray Evans.


“Our Superintendents, principals, teachers and students are doing the best they can to teach and learn in school facilities that are unbearable,” said Representative Karen Carter Peterson. “The state of Louisiana, like 41 other states, needs to provide funding for good buildings where students learn. Anything less than a top notch facility for our students is unacceptable.”
 
During the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, Senator Gray Evans and Representative Peterson introduced two bills to help local school districts secure funds from the state to partially match local funds dedicated solely to school facilities—Senate Bill 90 and House Bill 689. The legislature passed the School Facilities Fund and Governor Jindal signed the School Facilities Fund into law. It is now Act 226. However, no funding was appropriated, due in part to resistance by the Governor. Senator Gray Evans and Representative Peterson plan to introduce additional measures in the next legislative session that would provide support to local districts for school facilities.
 
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