Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Louisiana public school teachers plan to rally at the state Capitol this week to protest education reforms proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Louisiana public school teachers plan to rally at the state Capitol this week to protest education reforms proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The Louisiana Association of Educators is calling on teachers to be at the Capitol both Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday the House Education Committee will take up House Bill 974 and on Thursday the Senate's counterpart committee will consider HB 974's companion legislation, Senate Bill 603. Both bills make sweeping changes to the way teachers are hired, fired and attain tenure and also give district superintendents broader authority to terminate teachers.
"We must preserve public education in the face of an unprecedented onslaught of attacks by our governor," the LAE says on its website urging teachers to rally.
The Abbeville Meridional is reporting that the Vermilion Parish School Board voted to cancel classes on Thursday so teachers and other school employees can make it to Baton Rouge. The Teche News in St. Martinville reports that the St. Martin Parish School Board has designated Thursday as a professional development day; students have the day off although board employees - teachers, too, presumably - are being told to report to work.
Lafayette Parish Schools spokeswoman Angie Simoneaux says the central office will conduct a poll today among educators to see how many plan to be at work on Thursday, although it's unclear if the Lafayette Parish School System will cancel classes if it finds itself facing widespread absenteeism.
The Political Desk, a Baton Rouge-based website, is also reporting that East Baton Rouge Parish is withholding bus service for many students on Wednesday so teachers can attend the rally.