News -> Walter Pierce RE:

The Real Story

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Exposing a cyber scum bag made for a compelling read, but the arithmetic of readin’ and writin’ really had readers abuzz.

I anticipated an avalanche of comments on our website following the posting of last week’s issue, and since we moderate comments posted to our site — we read and approve them as opposed to simply allowing readers to post as they please — I also anticipated a more frenetic week than normal. My expectation was met. The cover story, “Busted: Busted in Acadiana,” investigated, detailed and identified the sleaze ball behind a Facebook page that effectively operated as a legal extortion ring — an unsavory public-shame machine, as we characterized it in the story’s sub-headline, that posted mug shots from local law enforcement and then charged individuals to have their pictures removed — and intimidated and harassed others who tried to intervene on family members’ behalf.

Indeed, the story resonated with readers and was much commented upon, and there’s a follow-up in this week’s issue. But, to my pleasant surprise, it wasn’t “Busted: Busted in Acadiana” that generated the most chatter; it was another topic in last week’s issue, an analysis of the Lafayette Parish School System property tax proposition on the Oct. 22 ballot titled “Dearth & Taxes” and a blog posted online the day before about a pro-tax political action committee that had readers talking the most. “Dearth & Taxes” took no editorial position on the proposition, but while it explained what the tax would mean for the average household if the proposition passes, it also pointed out that even if the proposition passes, Lafayette Parish will still be the one of the least taxed parishes in the state and the least taxed of all metropolitan parishes.

There was plenty of sturm und drang in the online discourse arguing vehemently against the proposition, but for the first time in our reporting on the topic of the Master Facilities Plan and its rather enormous price tag, there was roughly an equal amount of comments in favor of the tax prop. If there is any take-away from the comments it is that decisions by past school boards — especially using maintenance funds for non-maintenance purposes, which has a lot to do with the crappy condition of our school facilities — have the current board and central office fighting a deficit in public trust.

I say I was pleasantly surprised by this development not because I wrote the analysis, which combined with the blog generated twice as many comments as the Busted in Acadiana cover story. I was pleasantly surprised because the tax proposition is an important issue — a dry, unattractive topic that is yet vitally important to our community. That it trumped in digital discourse a well-investigated take-down of a salacious website and its immoral administrator speaks well of our readers.

Don’t get me wrong: “Busted: Busted in Acadiana” is a compelling read — if you haven’t read it I urge you to find it at theind.com and give it a twirl — and Christopher Hebert, the purveyor of the now-defunct BIA phenomenon, deserves every bit of notoriety he has gotten. He deserves to be institutionalized, if you ask me, although that’s a matter for others to decide.

But public education in Lafayette is more important than Busted in Acadiana will ever be. It simply is.

Walter Pierce
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written by Morrow , September 28, 2011 - 09:15 am

I stand firm against the LPSB's property tax proposal. Its way too much @ one time & that much money just cries out for mismanagement. You point out the education system used maintenance money in other areas, so we KNOW the money for building & maintenance is present in the budget. THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS HUGE TAX INCREASE! I can't support it - financially I'm strapped, but also, I'm not voting to waste more money. I also suspect what will be done with "freed up" monies when all maintenance is done with the new BILLION dollars. I am suspect of the quietness of education personnel. Their property taxes would go up considerably too, so I wonder why they're so quiet. And why should Laf Parish pay a firm to manage this construction & money??? That in itself would be a waste of money. A lot of people feel as if this is a "scheme" for some developers & constrution industry who are having a little slow down this massive constuction project would eliminate. Financially, I must fight the waste of more money with all that I have. Morally, I cannot justify providing more money to mismanage.

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written by Hope , September 28, 2011 - 09:32 am

The Iberia Parish school board is NOT taking a tax increase from its citizens this year!!! How WILL they keep the schools open and maintained??? How do they manage to operate without BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars? How DOES IBERIA PARISH MANAGE TO DO MORE WITH LESS??? Maybe our leaders should take a fieldtrip to Ibeia parish to learn how to run schools with less money. OR MAYBE LAFAYETTE SHOULD LEARN HOW TO RUN SCHOOLS & BUILD THEM WITHOUT GREASING SO MANY PALMS. I still say some mama's son stands to make millions from prospective school construction projects.

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written by BoFred , September 28, 2011 - 11:16 am

Daily Rag: "Polite Push" to financially abuse property owners to a greater extent. Mr. Beasley will attempt to "educate" us with "the facts", like how LPSB has let schools deteriorate when it should have been adding wings & maintaiining them? Does Mr. Beasley have a plan for the "freed up" funds this rape of the taxpayers will provide? What ARE the plans for that financial windfall IF that huge catastophe occurs? What ARE the plans if it doesn't pass? THERE IS NO REASON TO COLLECT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS!!! Do what you can with what you collect, what you should have been doing for the past 20 yrs. AND GIVE ME NUMBERS, HOW MUCH DOES THE LPSB COLLECT NOW VIA PROP TAXES & SALES TAX & HOW MUCH HAS THAT INCREASED YR TO YR FOR THE PAST 15 YRS??? You want to give me "information", give me that information. Let me see, in print, or out of your mouth, exactly how much money the school board has had to do its job, but neglected to do. AND TELL ME IF YOU ARE WILLING TO LEGISLATE THAT THE EXTRA MONEY WILL NOT BE USED FOR SALARY INCREASES! Give me the "information" on what the school board is willing to cut in expenses as a good will gesture to prove to taxpayers LPSB will be financially responsible. Politely, of course.

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written by PTCParent , September 28, 2011 - 12:39 pm

The Advocate did a story a few days ago and quoted the spokesperson representing the "mama's" who are out there speaking out for the children in the schools. I actually know that "mama" (we had children at the same school) and I believe her two kids are still IN school in Lafayette Parish. I can't imagine she knows the future occupation of her children. I know my 13 year old isn't sure what he'll be 10 years from now and neither do I!

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written by ragin_cajun , September 28, 2011 - 01:01 pm

There is a "town hall" meeting at the new southside library tonight at 6:30 put on by CSRS and the LPSB. You should all attend, ask your questions, voice your opposition/support, and state your reasons. Write 3 facts on a note card that support your position, show up tonight, and let 'em have it.

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written by Geoff , September 28, 2011 - 04:59 pm

Ummm... do people really think that our schools don't need upgrades that will require massive investments? I was shocked to learn that at some schools with classes in temporary building, if one student has to go to the bathroom, the teacher must stop class and have all the students walk to the bathrooms together. Talk about disrupting the learning process!

I've also heard that many of these temporary buildings are so inadequate electricity wise that they can only support one computer per classroom and even then if you turn on the lights at the wrong time it can blow a circuit. Talk about not enabling our children to compete in the 21st century!

Now I understand everyone's frustrations with those who are responsible for putting us in this situation, but we need to be more focused on finding solutions for the future than on gnashing our teeth over the past, and we also need to own up to the fact that we share responsibility for the embarrassment that is our public school facilities, and we share responsibility for doing something about it.

I'm not necessarily saying that this referendum is the best way to move forward, but to suggest that we should continue investing less than the bare minimum in our schools is doing an incredible disservice to the future of our community.

I think we need to all acknowledge that the question isn't about whether radical change and significant investment is needed, it's about how do we make sure we get the most for our money.

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written by Morrow , September 28, 2011 - 05:40 pm

#1 PTCP, are there only 2 mamas in the group? How silly & ineffectualy a rebuttal.

#2 to insinuate Laf tax payers, property owners & those who provide millions in sales tax revenue, are providing "the bare minimum" for the education system is grossly wrong. Those schools didn't get in that condition in just 4 yrs. so maintenance should have been done all along. The LPSB has alread collected millions and millions and millions of dollars in the past 20 yrs, a whole hell of alot should have been used to keep up the buildings. AGAIN, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE MILLIONS THAT WILL BE FREED UP MONEY SHOULD THIS UNJUST PROPERTY TAX PASS??? I absolutely feel not one little iota of guilt since I have had my property taxes & sales tax for that matter go up and up for the past 20 yrs. SO AS A TAX PAYER, I HAVE BEEN DOING MY JOB. And I am disgusted by parents who only now are complaining about the condition of the schools, like this all happened yesterday.

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written by bored , September 28, 2011 - 07:51 pm

Walter- goes with my other comment: take this as proof that your readers pick up the Ind for good writing, intelligent analysis and for filling the local journalism void left by the Advertiser and Advocate. As enjoyable as it can seem at times, we're much less interested in gossip and pissing matches.

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written by Layne St.Julien , September 28, 2011 - 08:20 pm

If you haven't yet had the time to take a look and you are at all interested in this issue, as some of you seem fervently to be, take a moment and visit www.InvestInOurChildrensFuture.org, click on "See for Yourself," and watch the short video produced by the League of Women Voters of Lafayette. This footage was taken three years ago, so you'd be correct to assume that some of the problems are now worse than what you'll see. If you're against the tax, tell us what you think ought to be done about these problems, not only of deterioration, but also of over-crowding and buildings that just don't work for 21st century education.

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written by ragin_cajun , September 28, 2011 - 11:37 pm

Layne --

I've already explained this elsewhere under other articles, but I'll do it again here. It's just so sensible and reasonable, that it bears repeating.

I'm no expert at running school systems, but I know competence when I see it. I have seen it right up the road in Iberia Parish. So to answer your question, what I think ought to be done about LPSS' deteriorating, outdated, and over-crowded buildings is exactly what Iberia Parish School Board did about theirs.
1. A millage dedicated specifically for construction that is less than half of what LPSB is proposing. It is renewed every 4 years. It is enough to finance building one or two schools at a time, that's it.
2. They built the first school, beat the drum about how great the new school is, and then asked for a renewal of the millage.
3. Then they built another one or two schools, updated a third school. Then went to the public and told them how great it is, how much progress they'd made, how well the whole thing went....and then asked for another renewal.
4. They managed the projects themselves, or managed the architect/contractor that managed the projects.
5. They spread these different projects around to different architects and contractors in the community instead of to consultants from out of town--that's expensive and it looks bad.
6. They did not outsource Project Management to CSRS because THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THAT.

And another VERY important difference between the way that Iberia Parish did this and Lafayette Parish did this is that Iberia didn't make it into a BIG DEAL. They didn't let people plot and scheme and grow the project into a BILLION dollar boondoggle for 4 years. They didn't pay a consultant $1 MILLION tax dollars to come in and advise them on how to get a tax hike passed.

They started small, did a good job building the first new school, THEN went to the voters and asked for more.

Also, does anyone have a problem with LPSB outsourcing facilities management, caferteria, and HVAC maintenance to Aramark? That was one of CSRS' recommendations.

The more I read off LPSB's website, the more questions I come away with!!

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written by Resident , September 29, 2011 - 01:08 am

How much of the opposition is from people who have their kids in private schools and don't give a f#%k about the unwashed masses in public schools?

It's sad that such an affluent city has such a problem with basic infrastructure of public schools.

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written by Imaresident2 , September 29, 2011 - 02:32 am

You are correct when you assume I don't give a blank about the unwashed masses. I am curious about the "greased palms" that will get the $$$ from this management co. & the companies involved in the construction. I am concerned what will be done with freed up monies this BILLION DOLLAR theft will leave in the general fund. Where are the pareents who didn't give a blank for the past 15 - 20 yrs while property tax intake and sales tax revenues have come into the school board cash register. THE SCHOOL BOARD DOES NOT NEED MORE MONEY! LPSB has tons of money & can do it a little at a time. Its a farce that A BILLION DOLLARS IS NEEDED TO GET SCHOOLS UP TO PAR! I WISH SOMEONE WOULD REPORT THE TRUTH, THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY LPSB TAKES IN EACH YEAR!

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written by Aunt Ollie , September 29, 2011 - 05:17 am

MORROW-you are disgusted by these parents who are just now complaining? You should be disgusted by those who are just now listening. For years, these parents have been meeting about and discussing the condition of our schools, they have been attending school board meetings, meeting as PTC/PTA groups, meeting as other private groups, they have been asking questions, traveling to other districts and states to get ideas on how to fix the problem, they have been calling, writing and visiting with our city officials to try and find solutions. Just because YOU haven't been paying attention doesn't mean it hasn't been going on.
I'm disgusted by the likes of you who adamantly accuse the school board of years of mishandling yet stood by and did nothing to stop it! Now you cry because you don't want to pay your fair share. Tsk. Tsk.

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written by Imaresident2 , September 29, 2011 - 09:15 am

Resident might want to consider some private schools are getting old now, like Teurlings & STM and serve as EXCELLENT examples of how schools should be maintained. Even if schools are old, they don't have to be discarded! Look @ Fatima & Cathedral - OLD, but maintained thru the years.... The Catholic Church didn't have to come up with BILLIONS of dollars. The schools & the parents made sure its done as it was needed. Sometimes, you even see parents & kids doing maintenance work themselves... go figure. And lets not forget about those Iberia parish PUBLIC schools that will manage this year on the same budget as last year and have maintained & constructed schools along the way...

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written by Pedro , September 29, 2011 - 12:49 pm

What we all need to remember is we elected the yahoos on the LPSB now and for the past several decades. Their decisions (with our silent approval) landed the LPSS in our present situation. Case in point, Mike Hefner served 18 years. We vote.

Hiring/paying consultants millions will not solve the basic problem. We have no accountability within the LPSS or LPSB. The board's first mistake was retaining Lemoine. LPSS needed new leadership.

The LPSB diverted 4 million from the maintenance fund to start a new program. This vote will "free up" more money. How much time, money and effort were spent on the IB programs? Starting new programs has not "fixed" our falling/stagnant scores.

Where is the community committee for LPSS/LPSB fiscal responsibility/accountability? We need to expect more from the LPSB/LPSS instead of delegating their responsibility to consultants.

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written by Morrow , September 29, 2011 - 02:16 pm

Dear Aunt Ollie, YOU LIE! I have paid property taxes for the past 20 yrs that have gone up and up and up, never down. A large percentage of that goes to the school board. I also purchase in Laf parish, cars, appliances, food, drugs, clothing etc. you get the pic. to the tune of thousands upon thousands of dollars a year for the past 30 something years I have been working. So DON'T TELL ME I'M NOT PAYING MY FAIR SHARE. I think I've been MORE than fair. Tsk Tsk. AND MA'AM I have worked bake sales, barbeques, bought raffle tickets, and donated my time and $$$ to several schools - PUBLIC in Lafayette parish. SO UP YOUR NOSE WITH A RUBBER HOSE! I shouldn't have to pay more than what I'm paying now and I DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT WANT TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL $500 A YEAR, MAYBE EVEN MORE IF THE OTHER MILLAGES KEEP GOING UP. And dear Auntie: CAN YOU tell me what the school board plans to do with the millions upon millions of dollars this designated maintenance money will FREE up? How does the LPSB plan to spend that windfall they expect? So dear Auntie, you can tsk all you want to me, but its the LPSB you should be tsking.....

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written by Pedro , September 29, 2011 - 02:50 pm

Aunt Ollie,
Many of us have tried for years to get the community involved in the LPSS/public education problems of Lafayette Parish. It is my belief the community is not interested in the LPSS/LPSB unless their child (children) have a problem. Ex.....it took over 30 years to lift a federal desegregation order. If Lafayette Parish voters wanted better public education we would have it by now.
Watch or attend the LPSB meetings. It is embarrassing. Hiring consultants will not solve the problem.
If the LPSB had hired a new superintendent 2 years ago this discussion would not be happening.

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written by Aunt Ollie , September 29, 2011 - 07:35 pm

Oh MORROW, thanks for making my point for me. You've worked and paid taxes for 30 years and KNEW of the mishandling/mismanagement of funds yet did NOTHING to stop it. I didn't say you didn't bake cookies or hand out chicken dinners, etc. Proceeds from those type of fundraisers are not used for maintenance. State law does not allow it.

And as far as the millions this dedicated maintenance fund will "FREE" up- Stop and think for a moment-if you were forced to do an emergency extensive remodel/addition of your home could you do it with just your existing income? No, you would likely borrow from the bank. Does borrowing that money from the bank free up any of your budget? No. The dedicated maintenance fund is in ADDITION to the current maintenance budget to keep us from finding ourselves in this situation 20 years down the road.

Its time we stop looking back and pointing fingers. The majority of our currently seated school board members are there now BECAUSE just like you and me they were fed up and wanted a change. Our community voted them in and when their terms are up, if we are not satisfied with the job being done, then we can vote them out.

Bottom line-the current situation is unacceptable and our kids deserve better!

PEDRO-I'm one of the "many" who has been trying for years to get the community involved. But now that they ARE getting involved, they are being criticized for speaking up. We can't have it both ways. The voters DO want a better public eduction. Maybe you don't realize that the voting population changes every year with old ones dying off and new ones becoming of age. This new generation of voters wasn't raised to just take it lying down-they've been taught to have a voice, to speak out over an injustice and to take action. They don't just sit around with their buddies complaining and finger pointing. They don't come to the table with problems, they come to the table with SOLUTIONS!

And you really think a new superintendent 2 years ago would have fixed this problem? Seriously?? Was Harry Potter looking for a job back then because if the new superintendent didn't have magical powers, those buildings would still be crumbling.

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written by 3rd Resident , September 29, 2011 - 08:18 pm

Imaresident2-

The amount of money the LPSB takes in as well as where that money is spent is public record. SHOUTING IS NOT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO FIND OUT WHERE IT ALL GOES!! If you really want to know, all you have to do is go to the School Board office and request a copy. And if you don't trust what they give you, then go get it from the state offices.

And yes, they do take in MILLIONS! But those millions don't go very far when you consider the large number of students, facilities and employees those millions must provide for! You have to look at the whole picture, not just the dollar amounts.

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written by ragin_cajun , September 29, 2011 - 08:26 pm

Aunt Ollie --

I think it is very presumptuous of you to say what the new generation of voters wants. I have a very different take on this new generation of voters. I think this new generation of voters deeply resents being told that they must always give more, pay more, no matter how bad the results, and being told that they don't take AND LIKE IT, that they are selfish or "don't get it" or somehow part of the problem.

I guess this election will tell us whether you, or I, have a better estimation of this "new generation of voters".

I can't wait for the election, and "may your chains rest lightly"

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written by Pedro , September 29, 2011 - 08:41 pm

Ollie,
Simmer....I think it odd a committee of citizens had to be formed and consultants hired to develop a plan to "fix" our facilities. Dr. Z built new schools quickly. We failed to maintain them. Now we want to spend more money hiring/paying consultants to do Kyle Bordelon's job. Let's at least be honest/realistic about the problem. No change there. Read the emails published by TDA between Bordelon and the architects/contractors of the new schools.

What we need to 'fix" is the dirty, filthy politics within the LPSS/LPSB. Your "new generation" has failed to change that. Have not seen much "action" there. I still believe if the citizens of Lafayette wanted great public education, we would have it. This community is filled with many bright, successful people.

I have done much more than "complain" or "sit around with my buddies". I have painted, scrubbed, dusted, cleaned, installed equipment, fundraised and more. I have written many checks for supplies and equipment the LPSS should fund. I spent countless hours at PTC and LPSB meetings. I volunteered in many of the schools my children have not/don't attend. This is not just about my children. I do not take this lightly.

I am not criticizing you for voicing your opinion. What I am telling you is we need to work together. The LPSB has been given many chances to change. It has not happened.

I have solutions. Let's fire most of central office, elect educated/financial minded LPSB members, and demand some sort of accountability from our administrators. Let's take a real vested interest in public education, teachers and our students. Building new facilities/hiring consultants won't do this.

Yes, I do believe a new superintendent would have reassured the voting public the LPSB/LPSS is headed in a NEW direction. It was wrong to retain Lemoine, give him raises and contract extensions. This board had plenty of time to correct the mistakes. Show me, then ask me for money.

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written by Readsalot , September 29, 2011 - 10:21 pm

As an older educator with 20 years teaching and 14 years in the parish I hesitate to vote for the new property tax. I am very disappointed on what is going on with LPSB. 5-6 years ago a tax was passed that would either give teachers a raise, lower class sizes, or for professional development. Well we have received 2 (lump payments) since and one this October. But did our salary increase? NO Did they lower class sizes?NO classes are at max capacity and let me tell you where I teach there are many major behavioral and academic issues. And as far as maintenance. We teach with very poor or very little AC and mildew on ceiling tiles and the walls that have been there for years. Also try getting a transfer. They have been non-existent for the last 4 years, unless you know Mr. Lilly very personally. As far as for Burnell Lemoine, I am very disappointed. I thought when he replaced Mr. Easton we would see a big change. Well, big mistake all it is like over there is Olde Time Louisiana Politics. I feel for the new board members as they inherited a huge financial legacy by former members that made the decision and then jumpFor a city that touts itself as one of the top elite and forward moving cities in Louisiana, they sure have dropped the ball on eduction. If you don't believe me just try to navigate that $13,000 website they paid for. What a waste.

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written by BoFred , September 30, 2011 - 09:43 am

My real sympathies are with "readsalot" & I am sorry a lot fo good employees (& students) have to deal with conditions like this. I read today a board member is using the "we inherited it" defense, and my answer to him is he's had 4 or 5 yrs to deal with it & they haven't.

I rode by Laf High last night. The grass is overgrown. Its only Sept & the building had not even been washed for school to start. There is NO EXCUSE for that. I can only imagine what the inside looks like. THAT SCHL COULD HAVE BEEN CLEANED. Now the athletic areas look well maintained.... That's a situation - a maintenance - the school board should make sure happens AND IT DOESN'T CALL FOR A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.

Proponents can talk till they're blue in the face. I'll not vote for this huge tax proposal. CUT, CUT, CUT THE FRILLS & THEN I'LL CONSIDER GIVING UP MORE OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY. I believe the schools are being MADE to look as bad as they can - part of the plan. GET RID OF DROP FOR BUS DRIVERS, CLOSE THE SPECIALTY SCHOOLS: each highschool has one, open one trade school, use some of the closed schools - assure the public no waste or consultant fees. Hire a project manager instead of an 18 million $ firm. I just can't support this, not financially, not morally. I too wonder what would be done with the general fund money freed up by this tax proposal.

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written by Morrow , September 30, 2011 - 12:09 pm

Dear Auntie, you're welcome, but you're a tad bit confused. I paid my taxes with the intent the school board was doing what it was supposed to do & maintain the schools. Instead, I find out they've deliberately let them run down, without much vocalization from the people who's children attend those schools or the employees of those schools. Now all of a sudden, they're all falling down, I guess as of last year, & the present school board didn't know about it... they've only been in 4 o 5 yrs.... and all of a sudden, it will take A BILLION dollars to correct the problem. Sorry, Auntie, the only point I'm making is I will not support this dog & pony show of a tax proposal. I will fight with all that I have not to give another $500 - $1000 to fatten up already FAT SCHOOL BOARD TAX COFFERS.

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written by Morrow , September 30, 2011 - 12:17 pm

I'm taking Auntie's advice. I'm not looking back. I'm looking forward. I am so looking forward to voting against the enormous tax proposal for a school system that has proven IT is not concerned with spending tax payer dollars wisely. I am looking forward to speaking to the SR citizens, on fixed incomes, who have not had a cost of living increase in 3 yrs, why they should not have to pay more in rent when their property owners raise their rent. I am SO looking forward to speaking to the college students registered voters why they should vote NO because they will never afford housing for themselves because of property taxes in Laf. parish. I am so looking forward to the people I have already spoken with who say they can't afford even $200 a yr more in property taxes voting NO. And Auntie, when I worked the fundraisers, I knew the money for was playground equipment, library books and computers and computer programs. Those fundraisers free up a lot of money that should be used to maintain the schools but haven't. This school board is as bad as the last. I have seen schools that could be cleaner, but no one makes them. Don't expect me to do more because I have done enough.

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written by Pedro , September 30, 2011 - 01:50 pm

Morrow,
As a Woodvale parent, we used fundraisers and our own sweat equity to subsidize what the LPSB did not provide in materials and maintenance...including replacing 30 year old carpet in the library. Katie Landry expected it and we delivered. At LJ Alleman, things changed drastically and we did complain, loudly. Ms. Brown came in amid plenty of turmoil. At the time, LJ Alleman scores and parental involvement were rising. That ended quickly.
There were many vocal parents. In fact, there was a large group of parents meeting with Dr. Easton every month with no results. It was political. Great teachers left the school and the school facilities were largely ignored. An AC leak ruined the entire gym floor during the summer. Maintenance was aware of the leak. The roof leaked and computers were ruined. The amount of dust and mold in the school was incredible. The bathrooms were filthy and sometimes locked.
We were vocal, believe me. Our LPSB members, Judy Cox, Beverly Wilson and others were not interested and neither was Dr. Easton.
There was lots of "vocalization".
BoFred, the inside of LHS looks pretty much just like the outside.

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written by Papadoh , October 01, 2011 - 02:46 am

Dear Little Johnny and classmates:

I am sorry that you are forced to spend your days in deplorable conditions but you see, I hate the school board and want to punish them.

Even though I have no real knowledge of what their jobs entail, I feel I am best qualified to tell them exactly what they are doing wrong. Don't ask me to get any current information or facts about where money has been spent in the past because I already know everything there is to know. I've actually baked cookies and once I even mopped a floor so that makes me more qualified than anyone.

So until the school board (which I helped elect) does and says everything I want, you can just sit in your overcrowded, unventilated, moldy and crumbling classroom. And while you are there, you better improve your scores and the scores of all your peers!

Sincerely,
Morrow and/or Pedro and/or Ragin Cajun and/or BoFred...

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written by Sarabeth , October 01, 2011 - 04:43 am

Pedro,
Who are these people you speak of? Are any of them still around?
I'm a parent at LJA, the scores and parental involvement are higher than they have ever been.
What are you trying to say?

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written by ragin_cajun , October 01, 2011 - 01:17 pm

Dear children--

Because your mother and I love you and care about your education and well-being, we work very hard and long hours to EARN the money we spend on your clothing, home, athletic activities, transportation, and education. Because we know that you will one day need money for college, we save a portion of our earnings every month and have for years.

Unfortunately, though, a HUGE majority of your neighbors and fellow citizens are not as diligent and responsible as your mother and I. They believe that your mother and I must also take on the responsibility of educating THEIR kids as well. They feel ENTITLED to a share of what WE have produced.

Now these looters have decided that schools all over Lafayette Parish need to be completely replaced and/or "modernized", so they want Mommy and Daddy to contribute an amount close to what we save monthly for YOUR college tuition.

Your greedy neighbors hope to obtain this money from us by law, through a "tax", and they will seize our home if we don't pay it.

So Mommy and Daddy will have to either quit saving for your future education, quit paying for your athletic activities, or perhaps not pay for those summer camps you love so much, so that THEIR kids can have the best facilities that money can buy.

But don't worry kids, because these shiny new school buildings will LOOK nicer, so bureaucrats can puff their chests and be PROUD when they bring business leaders in to tour Lafayette once or twice a year.

And don't worry when these leeching neighbors of yours call us "greedy rich" people because we want to spend the money WE earn on OUR kids. They don't really mean it. That's just what adults say when they're trying to take things that they didn't earn. When you grow up, you'll hear it, too....

Love, Daddy

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written by Pedro , October 01, 2011 - 02:06 pm

Sarabeth and Papadoh,
I don't hate the LPSB nor do I want to punish anyone. I readily acknowledge (read my posts) we (the voters of Lafayette Parish) are responsible for the conditions of our schools/facitlities. What I am "saying" is not much within the LPSB/LPSS has changed (we hire consultants to do the jobs of central office employees we also pay. We don't have accountability in LPSS central office. Please refer to readsalot's post.
LPSB is great at starting new projects/programs, it is the maintaining they are not so good with. My children attend LJ Alleman and LHS. I have current information/facts. Until we clean house at central office and expect some sort of accountability within the system, throwing more money in the system will not accomplish much.

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written by no more taxes , October 01, 2011 - 03:09 pm

not voting for more taxes. What would happen to LPS if all students currently enrolled in private schools were suddenly public school students?.....the system would fail!! LPS has the tax monies for each student w/o the responsibility or cost of educating them. Louisiana is number 3 in the nation for highest sales taxes. Why not add more? Yes Texas has high property taxes and great public schools...the difference, they do not have state taxes. A change is needed and the first needs to be with the school board. We need to expect no DEMAND more with less. It can be done. This problem did not happen overnight, it took generations of bad decisions to get to this point.

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written by Bushwacked , October 01, 2011 - 04:31 pm

The money from this tax will be in seperate account never to go the general fund. How can it be mismanaged if it dedicated?

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written by Pedro , October 02, 2011 - 04:14 pm

Bushwacked, simple answer. There should be no need to pay millions to consultants to "manage" LPSB funds. We pay central office staff and the LPSB members. Why do we need to pay consultants to protect our money from the same people we "trust" to run our schools?

We will still have the same "mismanagement" of the LPSB/LPSS funds. Typical LPSB/LPSS management style to divert attention to a new program/project and ignore the real problem.

We are not taking care of the facilities. This year we painted moldy walls instead of "fixing" the problem. This is not maintenance. As Morrow pointed out, we can't even mow the grass.

What makes you think that will change? I have been watching this "show" for over 30 years. HIring consultants, throwing more money, and retaining the present staff will not solve the problem.

What happened to the "teacher raise tax"? That is my point. Show me.

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written by ragin_cajun , October 02, 2011 - 09:13 pm

Perusing the presentation/powerpoints that CSRS put together for the LPSB, it seems that CSRS is advising LPSB to outsource physical plant management and cafeteria management to "Aramark". They do stadiums and colleges, manage the food/custodian/maintenance.

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written by the original northsidian , November 17, 2011 - 07:03 pm

Well the citizens have spoken! No more 2 1/2 crookeds for the taxpayers. We are taxed enough. Go to Iberia Parish and take a class on managing the school system!!

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