Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson Embark on 2nd Annual Facilities Tour
As part of a statewide tour of school facilities, State Sen. Cheryl Gray Evans (D-District 5-New Orleans) and Rep. Karen Carter Peterson (D-District 93-New Orleans) along with the Cowen Institute visited four schools in East Baton Rouge and Lafayette Parishes on Thursday, November 12.
Sen. Gray Evans and Larry Munson, Facilities Director at Istrouma High School
Since the 2007 legislative session, Gray Evans and Carter Peterson have worked to improve school facilities for all children in Louisiana. This tour was designed to highlight the need for state funding for better school buildings.
During the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, Senator Gray Evans and Representative Peterson introduced two bills to help local school districts secure funds from the state to partially match local funds dedicated solely to school facilities—Senate Bill 90 and House Bill 689. The legislature passed the School Facilities Fund and Governor Jindal signed the School Facilities Fund into law. It is now Act 226. Senator Gray Evans and Representative Peterson plan to introduce additional measures in the next legislative session that would provide support to local districts for school facilities. Louisiana is ranked fourth lowest among all states when it comes to providing state and district funding for school facilities. Forty-one states provide funding for school facilities – Louisiana does not.
The tour stopped in East Baton Rouge Parish where they visited Istrouma High School and Bernard Terrace Elementary School. Speakers and Participants included: Superintendent John Dilworth, Principal Linda Lewis, Principal Demetric Dunbar, School Board Member W.T. Winfield, Rep. Bodi White, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
The tour also stopped in Lafayette Parish where they visited Green T. Lindon Elementary and L.J. Alleman Middle School. Speakers and Participants include: Superintendent Burnell Lemoine, Principal Gina Cahee, Rep. Rickey Hardy, Sen. Nick Gautreaux, Mark Herbert from U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s office and The League of Women Voters of Lafayette, Principal Kathy Aloisio and Parish President Joey Durel.
“Louisiana is the fourth lowest in the country for state funding that is provided for school facilities. We must do better for the students of Louisiana. All students deserve the basic right to be in safe learning environment that provides the tools that will allow our students to compete in an information driven society. I will continue to work to ensure that our students are allowed every opportunity to excel” said Senator Cheryl Gray Evans.
“Our Superintendents, principals, teachers and students are doing the best they can to teach and learn in school facilities that are unbearable,” said Representative Karen Carter Peterson. “The state of Louisiana, like 41 other states, needs to provide funding for good buildings where students learn. Anything less than a top notch facility for our students is unacceptable.”
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Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson Embark on 2nd Annual Facilities Tour
As part of a statewide tour of school facilities, State Sen. Cheryl Gray Evans (D-District 5-New Orleans) and Rep. Karen Carter Peterson (D-District 93-New Orleans) along with the Cowen Institute visited four schools in East Baton Rouge and Lafayette Parishes on Thursday, November 12.
Sen. Gray Evans and Larry Munson, Facilities Director at Istrouma High School
Since the 2007 legislative session, Gray Evans and Carter Peterson have worked to improve school facilities for all children in Louisiana. This tour was designed to highlight the need for state funding for better school buildings.
During the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, Senator Gray Evans and Representative Peterson introduced two bills to help local school districts secure funds from the state to partially match local funds dedicated solely to school facilities—Senate Bill 90 and House Bill 689. The legislature passed the School Facilities Fund and Governor Jindal signed the School Facilities Fund into law. It is now Act 226. Senator Gray Evans and Representative Peterson plan to introduce additional measures in the next legislative session that would provide support to local districts for school facilities. Louisiana is ranked fourth lowest among all states when it comes to providing state and district funding for school facilities. Forty-one states provide funding for school facilities – Louisiana does not.
The tour stopped in East Baton Rouge Parish where they visited Istrouma High School and Bernard Terrace Elementary School. Speakers and Participants included: Superintendent John Dilworth, Principal Linda Lewis, Principal Demetric Dunbar, School Board Member W.T. Winfield, Rep. Bodi White, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
The tour also stopped in Lafayette Parish where they visited Green T. Lindon Elementary and L.J. Alleman Middle School. Speakers and Participants include: Superintendent Burnell Lemoine, Principal Gina Cahee, Rep. Rickey Hardy, Sen. Nick Gautreaux, Mark Herbert from U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s office and The League of Women Voters of Lafayette, Principal Kathy Aloisio and Parish President Joey Durel.
“Louisiana is the fourth lowest in the country for state funding that is provided for school facilities. We must do better for the students of Louisiana. All students deserve the basic right to be in safe learning environment that provides the tools that will allow our students to compete in an information driven society. I will continue to work to ensure that our students are allowed every opportunity to excel” said Senator Cheryl Gray Evans.
“Our Superintendents, principals, teachers and students are doing the best they can to teach and learn in school facilities that are unbearable,” said Representative Karen Carter Peterson. “The state of Louisiana, like 41 other states, needs to provide funding for good buildings where students learn. Anything less than a top notch facility for our students is unacceptable.”
For more information please click here.
For media information please see our press section on the main page of our site by clicking here.