GIVE CADDO SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT A BREAK--EAST BATON ROUGE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS TO CLOSE FIVE SCHOOLS AND MERGE TWO

School closings are the result of population declines and population shifts. They are not closed on the basis of race or neighborhood incomes.

Caddo School Superintendent Keith Burton has been the subject of public criticism by many for this recommendation to close three Caddo schools. The School Board approved all three recommendations.

These recommendations have fueled the usual social critics who raise the "race flag" at every instance. The factual basis of each recommendation has not been refuted by any of these media seekers.

Now, if Caddo residents want to fuss, they may want to look at what's happening in Baton Rouge.

East Baton Rouge School Superintendent LaMont Cole is dealing with a school system built for 60,000 plus students that is now educating fewer than 40,000. Sounds familiar, right?

Cole has presented a plant to close four elementary schools and one middle school. The plan also includes the merger of a middle and high school. Under his plan, a total of 28 schools will see changes and 16 attendance zones will be redrawn. More than 10,000 children and 1400 plus staff will be impacted.

The vote is expected May 1. Any approved changes will go into effect in time for the start of the upcoming 2025-2026 school year in August.

These changes come on top of already announced closures of three charter schools in the Baton Rouge school district.

Burton and the school board members approving the school recommendations are to be commended for not delaying these "hard" decisions. More will most likely be needed in future years absent a large increase in school populations throughout the parish, which is very unlikely.