re: What schools would ST. George affect?

So you agree with the politicians it's better to deceive the SG voters than it is to tell the truth? The ends justifies the means? Interesting....

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So.... still probably a bargain versus having to pay $12k/kid/yr for private school.

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What about those people who don't have kids in private schools? Or, don't have kids at all?

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So you agree with the politicians it's better to deceive the SG voters than it is to tell the truth? The ends justifies the means? Interesting....

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Nope. That was easy. Once again, "that doesn't mean that SG won't be a better situation for its residents than staying with the status quo."

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What about those people who don't have kids in private schools? Or, don't have kids at all?

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1. Better education for their kids?
2. Already paying taxes for services they don't use. What are we talking about here? Potentially a $200/yr increase? $300? Are we really going to cause mass poverty with the increases (if any)?
If it becomes too much of a burden, there's always BR city to move to.

Don't post much but this issue hits home for me. I have two young boys...2.5 and 11mths. I recently moved my family back to LA after 12 yrs in an ATL suburb that had great schools, low crime, excellent quality of life, etc. We bought a house in the unincorporated area of south BR so I'm generally for the movement as a way to create some immediacy with improving the school system but acknowledge there will be some snags in trying to operate a new city. Unfortunately, for all, the ppl supporting the SG movement were pushed into this spot by the politicians (local and state) and were told incorporating is the only way they'll be able to achieve their goal of having their very own school district. I can only assume they thought it wouldn't happen bc they would have come up with some other wild goose chase to send them on that was a little less doable. If only the leadership would really and truly acknowledge these toxic issues that are crime and poor education and take some real steps to making it better. There are just so many ppl in politics and big business that don't want things to change to protect what they've got. It keeps good change and positive growth from occurring on the kind of scale that is measurable by the entire community. On top of all of that you have a consolidated form of government that seems a little inadequate for the size, make-up and direction of this city.

Its really sad to see BR continue to have the same old issues. In my opinion, what's happening now with SG is a the first of many growing pains this area is about to experience. As we take advantage of a positive regional economy and add new ppl from other states with different backgrounds we'll start to see more and more of a unified voice in non-acceptance of the status quo. A great education is a primary requirement for successful community.

I'll stop the rant there.

My original intent was to let you know that I've been to a few SG mtgs and every time the tax question was brought up the response was "there's no guarantee that taxes won't increase". Maybe you've seen something different but its never been represented differently in my presence.

Also, to the guy/gal asking about what's needed for approval. Here's the answer as I understand it to be true: the new school district area was approved during the last session but the funding was shot down which requires a 2/3 vote at the Capital. Once they receive the required number of petition signatures the governor is required to call a special session for a 50% +1 vote of the ppl in the proposed new city. After this happens they'll have to go back to the city to get 2/3 vote for funding approval for the district. They could just use the city boundary for the school district border which would mean they may automatically get funding due to becoming its own entity but the law granting funding in this scenario is apparently a little fuzzy and not a guarantee. Due to this and the need for a few more schools that aren't located inside SG but are inside the school district boundary they're going to need the required 2/3 vote at the Capital.

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What would change to make them top notch? Same students, same teachers with a lower funding to run the schools.

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You won't have kids bussed in from all over the parish to attend Woodlawn High for one.

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every time the tax question was brought up the response was "there's no guarantee that taxes won't increase".

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That has never been quoted in any news report. All I've read is "We have enough money without any additional taxes."

It is true. Granted we will have to build the high schools EBRPSS should have decades ago, but once one or two more is/are built, you'll have local kids going to local schools. Right now Gardere goes to Woodlawn. It would be a shorter trip to Tara. Once the proper buildings are there for a population of our size, you would see drastic changes.

I've changed my stance from being against forming a new school district to not necessarily opposed. Unlike BR city-parish government, the EBR Parish School Board (a separate entity) hasn't been as accommodating to South BTR as they could have been. A good plan needs to be presented that would not drain my pocketbook before I supported it.

HOWEVER, I see no reason to incorporate a new city and Im still very much against that. Kip has done more for South BTR than any other mayor, IMO. It's success and major infrastructure improvements while maintaining lower taxes is proof of that. They could restructure the police departments which would result in a tweaking of funding mechanisms, but other than that the city has been pretty decently run, when compared to other Louisiana cities. CATS will suck either way and those costs are only borne by those in the city limits. No need to jack taxes up just to help some local politicians get more powerful.

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as well as cut the city-parish waste down

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There you go again with unsubstantiated claims based on how you *feel* and a general lack of understanding of governmental accounting.

Are you even aware that citizens who live in the city limits pay an extra property tax that goes into the city-parish general fund, that people in unincorporated areas do not pay?

How dare they get that money back.

100% agree about the quality of reporting on the issues by our local media. NOLA.com has done a much better job of covering the issues. JR Ball is the BR editor for them and although he has said he is not in favor of St George incorporation he also understands the issues and reports fairly on them.

I am firmly in favor of the incorporation as a means to a new school district. As the issues have come out and I've seen the reactionary "leadership" from council members and other establishment representatives it has only solidified my support of the effort. I am sure after incorporation and a new school district there will likely be new taxes proposed for school system support and I am prepared to vote yes for those.

To me it comes down to a philosophical preference. I believe that government works best at a local, smaller level. There is more accountability. EBRPSS is too large and too centralized to effectively manage the education of our children. The funny thing is, if the established leaders if EBRP had worked with St George proponents to address concerns or allowed them to create a new school district the two times that were tried, we would not be having this discussion today. At this point, whatever happen is on the school board, council, mayor, and their cronies.