Board opposes public funding of school vouchers

By Shantelle Breaux

CROWLEY – At the Monday evening meeting of the Acadia Parish School Board, the board took a stand against using tax credits and/ or public funding for school vouchers.

The resolution passed by the board stated opposition to using public funding for school vouchers, as the funding of public schools is potentially deleted by the use of public funds for the vouchers. It also stated that the freedom of operation of private and/or parochial schools is decreased by school vouchers funded with public money. The resolution stated as an example the U.S. Supreme Court case Grove City College v. Bell, where it was ruled that a school is subject to government regulation if it is receiving government money. The resolution urged the rejection of proposed bills to provide vouchers to schools in Louisiana by the Louisiana State House and Senate and Governor Bobby Jindal.

“As far as I know, we are breaking new ground,” said Acadia School Board President Roland Boudreaux. “We feel very strongly about this issue, and we need to start a grass-roots effort.”