Department of Education

LSU Ok to Lease Hospitals Without Lege Approval, DOE Seeks Restructuring

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:37:32 +0000

Legislative approval is not required for LSU to lease its hospitals, that’s according to an opinion issued Thursday by State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell. A law passed in 1997 gave governance of hospitals to LSU, and a 2003 amendment didn’t include leases on the list of things LSU has to go to the Capitol for – so Caldwell ruled leasing “intentionally omitted.”

The opinion hasn’t stopped the legislature from trying to intervene in privatization. The House moved a resolution to stop the process until the legislature has more information.

Appropriations Questions DOE Surplus

Kelly Connelly — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:39:43 +0000

While departments across the state are seeing steep cuts, the Department of Education has been getting more than it needs, according to accusations Wednesday in a House Appropriations Committee meeting.

Committee chairman Jim Fannin noted: year after year, the department has been allocated more money than it spent. In fiscal year 2012 the department's actual expenditures were $400 million dollars less than its $5.6 billion dollar operating budget.

School Turnaround Funds Repurposed

Frank Barnett — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:25:43 +0000

Federal funds dedicated to the turnaround of struggling Louisiana public schools have been repurposed.

The state Department of Education is using $5 million to issue grants to conceive new schools and allow high-performing schools to take on more students.

Almost 200,000 students are attending schools rated D or F. State Supt. John White said traditional public school systems that have been getting turnaround money are not drawing down that number.

“The pace of change has just not been fast enough for us not to consider a new path,” White said.

THURSDAY: Superintendent John White, Author Stephanie Powell Watts

Jim Engster — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:18:21 +0000

Jim talks with Stephanie Powell Watts, this year's recipient of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for literary excellence, for her book, "We Are Taking Only What We Need"

Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White discusses the many changes in Louisiana's public education system, and legal challenges some of those initiatives are facing.

Districts, State Clash Over Teacher Layoff Policy

Amy Jeffries — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:12:40 +0000

State Supt. John White is scolding four school districts for including seniority as a factor for consideration in teacher layoff decisions.

Education Department Slims Down

Amy Jeffries — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:28:57 +0000

Salaries have been trimmed and personnel shed as Superintendent John White has reorganized the state Department of Education.

Denied Request Could Help Clarify Public Records Exemption

Ashley Westerman — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:53:10 +0000

The state Department of Education is again denying a request from the Associated Press for information on how schools were chosen to participate in Governor Jindal's voucher program.