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Southern University names Dennis Shields new president-chancellor
The Southern University System board selected Dennis Shields, former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, as its next president-chancellor at a board meeting Friday afternoon. “I am humbled and honored by your confidence in me …” Shields said to the Southern board over Zoom during the meeting. “I had a remarkable and inspiring visit (to […]
Louisiana lawmaker blasts colleagues after they scuttle his redistricting bill
Republicans in the Louisiana Legislature have dominated the ongoing redistricting session, almost exclusively advancing maps that favor their party retaining its healthy majority in Congress and state bodies. But one GOP member had choice words for his colleagues Wednesday after he bucked the partisan trend and sought to add a minority district to the Louisiana […]
Louisiana health officials revise school quarantine policy for COVID-19
A drop in Louisiana’s COVID-19 case numbers, including those on public school campuses, has led to a revision in quarantine policy Louisiana health officials detailed Tuesday. They still believe it’s best for students who come into close contact with a COVID-positive individual to isolate themselves for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status. Other options […]
Disability advocate warns hand-marked ballots ‘worst possible system’ for Louisiana elections
Hand-written ballots – the most popular option among those pushing false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged – would be the “worst possible system” for voters with disabilities, an access advocate stressed to a committee that’s evaluating options for Louisiana election technology. Tory Rocca, public policy and community engagement director for Disability Rights […]
Ineligible Louisiana state employees received over $6 million in unemployment assistance
Louisiana paid out about $6.1 million in unemployment assistance to more than 1,000 state employees “who did not appear to be eligible” from Feb. 20, 2020, to July 24, 2021, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found. “While some of these employees may have been victims of identity theft, others appear to have received benefit payments for […]
Louisiana Senate advances BESE map without additional majority-minority district
The Louisiana Senate has approved revised state school board districts with two out of eight elected seats favoring minority voters. Black lawmakers and voting rights advocates wanted an additional district to account for changes in the state’s population, which is now 33% Black and 40% minority. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education map, sponsored […]
Louisiana Supreme Court map advances from Senate committee with one majority Black district
A Louisiana Senate committee advanced a map of revised state Supreme Court districts Wednesday that maintains just one majority-minority district. The bill advanced on a 5-3 vote, with Black committee members opposed to the proposal. Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, chairperson of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee and author of the map, said her bill […]
Critical race theory ‘not a component’ of updated Louisiana social studies standards
In the latest draft of Louisiana K-12 schools’ social studies standards, state education Superintendent Cade Brumley said critical race theory “was not a component of these standards, nor would any of these standards open the door for any form of indoctrination.” The social studies standards are guidelines for the content and timeline of what history […]
Senators review 4 BESE maps; 3 add another minority district
Three of the four proposed state school board maps a Louisiana Senate committee reviewed Monday add an additional majority-minority district. Proponents say the additional district is needed to make sure the state complies with federal law – and to avoid a likely lawsuit. About 57% of Louisiana public school students are people of color, according […]
House panel advances bill that keeps BESE at 2 majority-minority districts
A version of the state school board map with only two majority-minority districts out of eight advanced from a Louisiana House committee Friday afternoon. Lawmakers voted 12-5 to approve the proposal, one of several under consideration during a special redistricting session. Rep. Polly Thomas, R-Metairie, who authored the draft of the Board of Elementary and […]
Louisiana school board task force rejects $80 million budget increase for public schools
A state school board task force Thursday rejected a recommendation for an $80 million boost for Louisiana’s public school but backed Gov. John Bel Edwards’ proposal to increase pay for teachers and support staff. The task force guides the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) on the Minimum Foundation Program, the complex algorithm used […]
Louisiana Legislature starts working on new political maps
The Louisiana Legislature opened its special session on political redistricting Tuesday with 22 proposals for reworking boundaries for the state’s seats in Congress, the state Senate, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Public Service Commission and on the state Supreme Court. More proposals are in the works for the Louisiana House of Representatives. Dozens of […]