News-Star: Jindal plan is "passing the buck"

The Monroe News-Star has weighed in on the dispute over reserve funds held by local school boards.

Just a few weeks ago, school boards belatedly responded to the Jindal administration's allegation that the billion-plus dollars in school board kitties could go a long way toward solving public education's funding problems. That was when the governor suggested that locals pay for items, including teacher stipends and private school busing, that have traditionally been the state's responsibility.

The News-Star has it right when it says, "As a short-term fix it only shifts an imminent burden from one level of government to the next. That's passing the buck, not a well-conceived solution."

Problem is, the administration steadfastly refuses to consider revenue solutions for the state's overwhelming budget problems. As long as that's the order of the day, buck passing is the only arrow in the governor's quiver.

School districts defend reserve funds

Better late than never. School boards are finally responding to the Jindal administration's claim that they have enough money in reserve to take on some expenses that the state can no longer afford.

The administration says that school boards have accumulated a total balance of some $1.1 billion. If that's true, they reason, the boards are in better shape than the state. Earlier this month, EdLog explained that school boards have brought some of this on themselves: "boards have not been transparent in explaining why (the surplus funds) were accumulated in the first place."

But Advocate reporter Charles Lussiere writes here that school boards have now come up with a number of reasons why their reserve funds might not be ripe for picking by the state.

Last year, the big fight in the legislature was over school board authority. This year, it will be over money. It remains to be seen which is more vicious.

Pastorek apologizes, and school boards have some 'splainin to do

State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek has apologized for his intemperate language regarding national board certification for teachers. In this article by Times-Picayune capitol bureau chief Robert Travis Scott, Pastorek says, "I regret that recent comments I made may have failed to communicate the high regard I hold for our nationally board certified teachers. I fully recognize and appreciate that these teachers are experienced and valued educators who go through a difficult and costly process to earn the NBCT designation."

Pastorek's original statement - that national certification may not make teachers more effective in the classroom - was a clumsy effort to give Governor Bobby Jindal cover for his plan to shift state budget obligations to local school boards. With the Pastorek sideshow out of the way, it's time to concentrate on that very real issue.

The stipends for national certification are unquestionably a state obligation. So is the other main budget shift proposed by the governor, the cost of transporting private and religious school students.

The governor's argument is that in a time of budget crisis, everyone needs to do what they can to help. His point is made in this article by Advocate reporter Will Sentell. Five school systems in the state have a combined total of $278 million in financial reserves, which the governor says should be tapped for costs the state can't afford.

According to the State Department of Education, the state's 70 school systems have a combined $1.1 billion in fund balances.

If that looks bad for the school boards, it's their own fault. The reserve funds exist, and boards have not been transparent in explaining why they were accumulated in the first place. But that does not mean all the money in those reserves is available to help shoulder state obligations.

Years ago, financial experts at the Department of Education were critical of local school boards because they did not have adequate reserve funds. They recommended that districts keep as much as 10% of their operating budget in reserve.

There are several potential uses for those funds that may explain why they shouldn't be used to offset state obligations. They may be saved for capital projects like new buildings. They may be held in anticipation of rising costs for insurance, retirement and other employee benefits. In systems which have a large number of schools that have been chartered or taken over by the state, there will be legacy costs for providing retiree benefits out of a shrunken pool of employees.

Those are legitimate reasons for telling the governor "no." But school boards have been reluctant to explain their reserve funds to the public. Unless they do, they can expect to be targeted. That has already begun. In a Baton Rouge Business Report online survey, 58% of respondents say that local school boards should "pick up the tab" for nationally certified teacher stipends. Only 24% say the state should continue to pay, and 10% say certified teachers shouldn't be paid a a stipend at all.

Bobby Jindal's big school flip-fop

Just a year ago, Gov. Bobby Jindal and his minions seemed to believe that school boards were the root of all evil. So incompetent and intrusive were school boards that the governor and Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek prevailed upon freshman legislator Steve Carter to introduce a package of bills that would have stripped local school boards of most of their authority. Joining Jindal and Pastorek in their crusade against local school boards were the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Council for a Better Louisiana.

This year, Jindal and his cohorts are flipping like flapjacks. At a press conference attended by Pastorek, Carter LABI and CABL, the governor announced that there are too many restrictions on local school boards. His new legislative package seeks to empower school boards by allowing them to opt out of state laws and policies deemed "burdensome regulations ... that may hinder academic growth."

Judging from the governor's press release, it looks like one big target of the legislation is teacher tenure. That is another big flip-flop. The state's Jindal-approved application for federal Race to the Top funds aims to ensure that tenure “is a meaningful and active process” with “respect and value.”

The administration is no stranger to hypocritical flip-flops, though. This is the same bunch that touts education as the key to economic development while simultaneously stripping higher education budgets, eliminating programs and whole departments.

BESE flip-flops, endorses school board attacks

Little over a month ago, the EdLog headline read "BESE asserts independence, rejects legislative agenda."

It was a story that caused ripples in the political world, because the state's top school board - including all three members appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal - voted against a package of bills largely seen as an attack on the authority of local school boards. The bills are heavily supported by Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek and the governor.

On Monday, BESE flip-flopped and voted to endorse the four bills by Rep. Steve Carter (R-Baton Rouge). This time, the governor's appointees - John Bennett of Port Allen, Penny Dastugue of Mandeville and Tammie McDaniel of Oak Ridge fell into line behind the bills. They were joined by Glenny Lee Buquet of Houma, Jim Garvey of Mandeville and Chas Roemer of Baton Rouge (Roemer was the sole board member to endorse the package on the previous vote).

Opposing the bills were Dale Bayard of Lake Charles, Louella Givens of New Orleans, Keith Guice of Monroe, Linda Johnson of Plaquemines and Walter Lee of Shreveport.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers opposes the package of bills because they intrude on local authority, place too much power in the hands of the superintendent of education, and could damage employee rights.

Here is the LFT view in a nutshell:

HB 851 would forbid school board members from "micromanaging" day-to-day school issues. That could limit teachers and school employees' ability to appeal disciplinary actions by administrators.

HB 664 would impose term limits on school board members. LFT believes that term limits should be local issues decided by voters, not imposed by the legislature.

HB 808 would limit school board member pay to a maximum of $200 per month, a reduction from the current $800. LFT believes this would mean that only the well-to-do could afford to run for school board seats.

HB 371 would strengthen anti-nepotism laws. LFT believes there are already sufficient safeguards against nepotism.

Advocate reporter Will Sentell covered the BESE meeting for this article.

PAR commentary short on data, long on opinion

The Public Affairs Research Council has weighed in to support the package of school board reforms proposed by Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek.

As LFT President Steve Monaghan points out in this article by Times-Picayune reporter Ed Anderson, the PAR commentary is uncharacteristically short on data, but long on opinion. Says Steve, it "oversimplifies complex issues and dismisses honest debate as simply turf battles. Usually one can count on PAR to back their recommendations with research."

Northeast Louisiana weighs in on school board legislation

School boards in Northeast Louisiana seem to be lining up against State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek's plan to shake up school boards.

As Monroe News-Star reporter Stephen Largen writes here, school boards in the area aren't happy with losing their salaries, the imposition of term limits and a diminution of board authority.

Pastorek declares war on school boards

Speaking to an audience of businesspeople in St. Tammany Parish yesterday, State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek essentially declared war on school boards in Louisiana's 70 public school systems.

At a chamber of commerce breakfast, Pastorek fleshed out some proposals he floated before his own Board of Elementary and Secondary Education last month. He ratcheted up his rhetoric, saying that the school board system is "screwed up" and that he is "determined to see school board reform take place in Louisiana."

The prongs of his attack on school boards include taking away the salaries allowed by law for school board members, imposing term limits on elected members, distancing school boards from hiring practices, and strengthening the role of local superintendents.

As Times-Picayune reporter Kia Hall Hayes writes here, Pastorek is likely to face stiff opposition from local school boards and their lobbying group, the Louisiana School Boards Association.

LSBA business director Lloyd Dressel told the reporter that his organization is polling members about possible responses. But there is no doubt he believes school boards are being singled out:

"It appears to me that this is a concerted effort to place requirements and
restrictions on school boards that are disproportionate to any other local
body," Dressel said.

Pastorek fires shot over school boards' bow

If the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's meeting room was filled to capacity with angry citizens about this, just wait until hearings begin on Superintendent Paul Pastorek's plan to gut the authority of local school boards.

As Advocate reporter Will Sentell writes here, a scheme is afoot that would cede most school board members' power to local superintendents, take away the salaries for board members, put limits on their terms of office and establish educational requirements for elected board members.

Each of these issues could be debated on its merits. But taken as a whole, this push will be seen as nothing less than a declaration of war on local school boards by the state superintendent.

As the story develops, it will be interesting to see who takes sides in the fight. The only BESE member interviewed in Sentell's article is Tammie McDaniel of Oak Ridge, who supports Pastorek's initiative. She is one of three members who are appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal, and not elected from a district. That would tend to indicate that the plan has the governor's approval. And As Sentell reports, a powerful business lobby and public interest group have lined up in favor of changing the rules for school boards.

What about the elected BESE members? Some of them have strong ties to local school boards, and there is little to indicate that they will fall in line behind their superintendent. Thus far, Pastorek has been able to get a majority to support his agenda. Can he keep that edge, or will members see this move as an overreach?

Don't think that the state's 70 school boards will give up their power without a fight. In many parishes, the school board is the largest employer, with the biggest budget. Board members are closer to their constituencies than BESE members, and may be able to generate a grass-roots opposition that will bring considerable clout to the fight.

The statewide organization representing board members, the Louisiana School Boards Association, has been little heard from in recent legislative sessions. This is the kind of issue that could reawaken LSBA and make a player once again in capitol politics.

Then there is the legislature, which will have to vote on Pastorek's proposals. A good number of them are former school board members and are loyal to their political roots. Relations between lawmakers and BESE have often been strained in the past, and this is an issue that could easy inflame old wounds even as it opens new ones.

Factor in the fact that some legislators are laying in the gap for Governor Jindal because of his bungled handling of last year's pay raise, and the stage is set for a class-A donnybrook. Sad thing is, the fight will have much less to do with good education policy than with score settling and power grabbing among the political class.