Baton Rouge, La. (November 11, 2019) — The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today released a public policy commentary addressing Frequently Asked Questions about the processes that would lead to a school district for St. George. The commentary can be found at brac.org/ppc.
“Amid the St. George vote and activity since then, the fact that this whole effort started in dissatisfaction with public schools has not been forgotten,” said Randy Cangelosi, Chair of BRAC’s Board of Directors and Partner at Kean Miller. “Although St. George leaders have said activity to address schools is several years off, questions are swirling in the community about how a school district might be created and how it might impact East Baton Rouge.”
Some key questions that are answered in the commentary include:
- Now that St. George has a vote to become a city, does it automatically have the authority to create a school system?
- Must a school district created to serve St. George have the same boundaries as the city?
- Which EBR School System campuses fall within St. George?
- Do the public schools in St. George transfer over to a St. George School District, if one is created?
- Will a St. George District have an obligation to contribute to legacy costs like pensions and healthcare for retirees?
“This issue will differ from the St. George incorporation in that all of EBR Parish will have an opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment to create a St. George school district,” said Liz Smith, BRAC’s Senior Vice President for Economic Competitiveness. “There are a lot of legal and other steps that need to be taken, and we hoped to help the community understand what might happen next.”
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, midsize firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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Morgan is the Marketing Manager for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In her role, she manages writing organizational publications and materials, oversees BRAC’s social media and blog, and coordinates timelines for all internal marketing projects.