re: Mall of La / BR General petition for Annexation into City

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They could be, or they could be like the people in Zachary or Central who are making positive changes.

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They were actual communites, not a dispersed band of far flung suburban neighborhoods. Baton Rougeans are still Baton Rougeans, and as Mike da Tigah pointed out earlier in the thread, most had the white flight concept preached down upon them since birth

Which is what everyone is ignoring. And I am going to say it. White Flighters are going to white flight. Their kids don't go to Woodlawn because its "terrible". Their kids don't go to Woodlawn because too many black kids go there. That is what happened with Baker, the white flight just continued with them.

Zachary and Central had the desired demographics before hand. Bussing in Gardere kids to Woodlawn is not going to encourage parents to pull their kids from "safe" schools.

Accountability? Please. Good luck changing these kids home life. No one is going to volunteer to be that first person to pull their kids out of St. Michael and send them to Woodlawn. Not going to happen.

Another thing going against St. George is its aging neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Once your predicted influx of residents doesn't materialize, these shift to rentals and Section 8. Your demographics keep shifting the wrong way from what people want from public schools.

I don't want hear about test scores and what not. Poor minorities account for bad test scores everywhere. You can't expel them all.

This idea you are being sold that all of a sudden St. George is going to turn into The Woodlands, Sandy Springs, or Plano is flat out delusional. ZERO chance of happening.

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If that's a petulant child than so be it. Reading the article, it sounds more like a guy with a passion, a cause, who at 61 wants to make things right. But that's just my take. You read it and form your own opinion.

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Norman Browning has a passion for power, and has long been considering politics. Look at that picture on the front page of the Baton Rouge version of nola.com, holding a baby. Politics 101. He knows people's hot button issues, and is exploiting it. He is doing a good job too, letting other people say the stupid stuff and keeping his nose clean. I give him that, he is very skilled even as a novice politician.

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You think the current politicians are going to do anything about the school system? They just proved they won't have to change their thinking when it comes to EBR schools.

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This total BS - I moved into 70817 in 1990 - I paid for my daughter and son to attend SJA/CHS because at that time the public schools was shite. Don't put the collar on the current folks - city parish or school board - you have got 4 different administrations to lay blame for the current schools. I hope they come up with a plan to correct the problems with EBR schools.

Both of my kids were in gifted programs and bussed out of our neighborhood.

Neither applied for a magnet school because BRHS doesn't have a full athletic program.

I appreciate your concern about my health, and I know my memory isn't the best; but I can remember what matters the most and that is what counts

I do know that if I read somewhere that The Mall of La. paid 38 million dollars in PARISH taxes I could remember where I found the information. Some people remember what they want to remember if you know what I mean.

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Why is incorporated BR dependent upon the unincorporated part of the parish to evade total economic collapse?

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We have covered that further back in this thread. Just like Detroit, the primary driver is being left with all the legacy costs, while St. George skips out on obligations they used to be a part of.

Side note. Why do we still admit new members into all these state, municipal, and teacher retirement systems? We need to cut it off, and just bite the bullet until they are paid out. It just leaves risk and burden on future generations.

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We have covered that further back in this thread. Just like Detroit, the primary driver is being left with all the legacy costs, while St. George skips out on obligations they used to be a part of.

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So, if not for the legacy costs, this wouldn't be an issue?

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You are a poster boy for what I call the magnet elite.

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Class envy much?

As we've previously learned, there are over 5,000 "elite" magnet students from the St George area now attending EBR schools outside the SG area.

Those students would be forced to leave their current schools and attend SG schools if a new SG ISD was established.

The only problem is the current capacity of the existing SG schools is 5,000, which accommodates the current students easily but in now way could absorb overnight over 5,000 additional "elite" students from the EBR "elite" magnet program.

No worries, though, Lionel Rainey, III says no new school taxes would be needed for a new SG ISD.

Class envy ???

Lol

Legacy costs are a legitimate issue, but people confuse legacy costs when they discuss the city of SG and an independent SG school system.

From my readings, if SG became a city there wouldn't be much if any legacy costs. SG would continue to participate in the parish wide entities such as the Sheriff, BREC, the Library, DPW, and Sewer Program. They would also keep their fire departments (SG or East Side).

But if SG gets their independent school district, there would be legacy costs involved in regards to teachers, bus drivers, principals and other school employees.

I think a fair and reasonable discussion about these costs would be fair, and I would have no expectations that SG would not pay their share based on whatever the percentages are.