re: New group enters fray on future of EBR school system. Seeks new legislation.

If this actually happens, you can thank the St George movement and the fear that it put into Baton Rouge for forcing people to take notice of the problems with the public schools and desires of at least some of the parents who have to deal with them. It's a shame that it took an incorporation drive to really out a spot light on the issue- after two years of trying without incorporation and many years of attempting to work with a terrible school board.

Just because other urban areas have a craptastic school system doesn't mean you have to.

The ideal solution is for a good school district to exist without incorporation for all of EBR. If it can't happen without incorporation, then I urge people to do what is best for themselves and either incorporate or vote with your feet and move to the suburban parishes. Middle class neighborhoods without good schools have a very short shelf life. This can't wait much longer.

Good public schools are at least as critical to the long term viability of East Baton Rouge as a solid downtown core or public transit. It should be a priority for everyone in parish government - especially those in a position of leadership.

It's time to stop relentlessly attacking people for looking after their own communities and at least try to work with then to solve the problems they are concerned with....and that's public education.