Feb
21
Written by:
host
2/21/2010 8:41 PM
By Patricia Morris
|
The NAACP is fighting to see that all children receive a fundamentally fair and equitable education under the Fourteenth Amendment, the orders of the court is complied with, and the hiring of employees is done in an equitable and fair manner.
Whether it is admitted or not, we have a failing school system. The numbers on the Department of Education's Website do not lie, but establishes a true picture of where our schools are academically and financially, to include the Magnet Programs. What we have known since the inclusion of the Magnet Programs is finally in plain view for all to see. Plaintiff's have known for some time now where the inequities are, and the NAACP complained to the Compliance Officer, Chief Desegregation Officer and Plaintiff's Attorneys for nearly two years. The truth of what has been happening has finally been realized, and Judge Lemelle has finally ruled on it.
What is interesting is that Judge Lemelle agreed to allow the Magnet Tax Vote to proceed and be collected for one year only, however, in actuality, the vote for this 9-Mil Tax is for a three year period, because the proposition language for this vote in March did not change, and is done with the understanding this tax will be collected for one year only. Given the history of this school system, who will believe this.
If we look at the Crystal Street dedicated 3-Mil tax that was voted on and passed in 2006 and is yet being collected until 2015 on a closed school this tax was meant for, with questions being asked as to why this tax was not rescinded when the school closed, it is believed the 9-Mil Tax will be collected the entire three-year period as well, thus a total of 12-Mils will be collected for at least three years in the Hammond area, with some areas paying for a tax they cannot vote for, and some voting for a tax they do not have to pay.
Although a new map was redrawn by the Registrar of Voters less than a month ago when this inequity was discovered to correct the inequities, it is not realized now if those property owners who pay for a tax they paid and did not vote for will be reimbursed by the school system, or will have their properties reassessed, and those property owners who voted for the Crystal Street Millage in 2006 and do not have to pay this tax will be reassessed as well.
While it is true, Crystal Street has been reopened, the purpose for doing so is not the same as was for the original school when the tax was passed, and while Mr. Kolwe has promised some in Hammond he will rescind the 3-Mil Crystal Street Tax, we must look at history in wondering if what Kolwe is saying is rhetoric to get the 9-Mil Tax passed. History is known to repeat itself, and we all know this to be true.
There is an anti-tax sentiment across this country, and our own Governor of Louisiana is touting no new taxes. Simply stated, if the citizens of Tangipahoa Parish must tighten its belts in spending, the TPSS should do the same thing(s). Afterall, as we look at the borrowing capacity now available in this school system on the millages already in place, now well over $190 million, which is up from just over $181 million last year as testimony was given from the TPSS's own former Chief Financial Officer in court last summer, and with a surplus amount of over $64,000,000, why is there a need for any new taxes?
We continue to say there is an urgent need for a federal forensic compliance audit that should be done on the TPSS's finances to give clear credence on how much money is available and how it has been spent, period. We would like to know where a $48 million LAMP (Louisiana Association of Municipal Pools Investment) account owned by this school system in money invested somewhere disappeared in the last two years that was discovered by our auditor, and when posted on the EyesNowWideOpen Website, was removed overnight from the public's view. In short, show us where all of the money is located that is already and now available for use in this school system.
Camouflaging a failing school system only hurts the ones whose shoulders this parish will propel itself into the future - our children. Continuing to fail as schools in this school system, while it is clear the schools in this school system are failing, will the voters continue to see this happen, or will we stand tall and say no more will these types of shenanigans be allowed to happen. Change is emminent, and it can be no other way if we are to come from behind this mask of failure in the TPSS.
As Tangiphaoa Parish stands in the Hub of Progress, why will we continue to let a few on the school board continue to cause lucrative businesses to look in another direction before their businesses will locate to Tangipahoa Parish because our schools fail so atrociously? March 27th and the October school board election will give this answer.
|
| |
| |
| |
Tags: