Mayor Waites Urges Community Involvement Related to BESE Board Decision Approving Additional Charter School in Baker
On January 18th the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved the application for Geo Academies to create another school in the city of Baker.
The Baker City Council had previously taken a stand against on January 11th when the resolution recommending the BESE Board reject this application was unanimously approved by the body.
Mayor Waites attended the meeting with Baker Schools Superintendent Dr, De'Ette Perry, Police Chief Carl Dunn Councilpersons Rochelle Dunn and Robert Young and community leaders where they, along with the overwhelming majority of those in attendance, voiced strong opinions in opposition to this application. Senator Regina Barrow sent a letter of opposition.
Mayor Waites stated "I'm 61 years old and I have seen when they [such as Geo Academies] come into places and makes promises that they don't keep. In the meantime [public school] funding is taken away." He continued "We know we have problems and we are working together to fix them. We are asking you to let us be able to do that."
There are a few key facts we ask everyone to be aware of and questions we have ask.
Charter schools are defunding public education and privatizing it.
- There are currently a dozen charter schools in and around Baker that have drawn 30% of the Baker area student population away from the public school system.
- The State of Louisiana funding structure in place for education currently serves as a vehicle to defunding, dismantling, and privatizing public schools because it funds charter schools with the same funds that public schools receive.
- Lack of adequate resources makes public schools inadequate and inequitably equipped to prepare our children for the future.
What is the Cost of “School Choice”
- It is not in the interest of a democratic system of government supporting self-determination: BESE is not engaged with local government, community leaders, the local school district or the public regarding how their taxes will be utilized & their school system is designed or maintained.
- The City of Baker School District is threatened by the addition of new schools in a system with low enrollment
- The School District is a Top 10 primary employer in the city of Baker and the possible closing of public schools represents a challenge to the economic stability of our residents
Who is Supporting This?
The citizens of the City of Baker have overwhelmingly made their voices heard, by contacting City Hall, their Council Members, the School District, and also by attending the BESE Board meeting stating their opposition to another charter school.
I urge you to contact the BESE Board members that voted to approve this in order to voice your opposition as well as ask for answers.
Following are the board members that voted to approve the application along with their contact information:
Mr. James D. Garvey, Jr.
Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann, & Papale, LLP (Office)
One Galleria Blvd., Suite 1400
Metairie, LA 70001
504.836.6500 (Office)
504.836.6565 (Fax)
James.Garvey@la.gov
Sandy Holloway
3rd BESE District
Ms. Sandy Holloway
P. O. Box 94064, Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
225.342.5840 (Office)
225.342.5843 (Fax)
Sandy.Holloway@la.gov
Michael Melerine
4th BESE District
P. O. Box 94064, Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
225.342.5840 (Office)
225.342.5843 (Fax)
Michael.Melerine@la.gov
Ashley Ellis
5th BESE District
P. O. Box 94064, Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
225.342.5840 (Office)
225.342.5843 (Fax)
Ashley.Ellis@la.gov
Ronnie Morris
6th BESE District
P. O. Box 94064, Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
225.342.5840 (Office)
225.342.5843 (Fax)
Ronnie.Morris@la.gov
Holly Boffy
7th BESE District
P.O. Box 94064, Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
337.354.5572 (Cell)
225.342.5843 (Fax)
Holly.Boffy@la.gov
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