What Do Court Challenges To Act 1 Mean For Lafayette Schools?

A Baton Rouge judge has again declared Governor Bobby Jindal's revamp of teacher tenure and salary laws unconstitutional.

District Judge Michael Caldwell ruled the same way back in March saying it was unconstitutional because there were simply too many things in the bill dealing with the state's education laws.

The Louisiana Supreme Court then vacated Caldwell's decision and asked him to re-evaluate his ruling, but he came back with the same ruling.

The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law was filed by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.  So what does it mean for Lafayette's educational system?

Dr. Pat Cooper, Lafayette Parish School Superintendent, joined "Morning With Ken & Bernie" today to tell listeners that our system will continue functioning under the change brought about by Act 1.

Cooper says,

"We're just going down the same road, and we continue to neglect the needs of our children. We continue to look at the political part of this.  The Louisiana School Board Association and others associated with them are just fighting for control, and that's what it is.  It's fighting to keep this transition (from) occurring that's going to allow school systems to run like businesses which is the way it just absolutely has to be if we are ever going be off the bottom of the list in terms of educational achievement."

He says it's a control issue, and that's why so many people are fighting Act 1.  He says he doesn't even think all of the school board members disagree with the changes being made through Act 1.

He says before Act 1, some school board members were able to treat their districts like fiefdoms where they held control over certain issues including hiring, firing and policy.

He adds, "No offense, but school board members are amateurs in terms of running school systems, as they don't have backgrounds in education."

Hear what else Dr. Cooper has to say about Act 1, Lafayette schools and school board members by clicking

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