Lousiana Association of Educators Files Lawsuit Against State

Posted: Jun 9, 2012 8:59 PM by Steven Albritton

The Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) responds to education changes with a lawsuit of their own. After discussing options for the past two days they decided that bringing a suit against Act 2 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 99 was the best option. This comes after the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT) filed a suit of their own just days ago.

"The resolution that has been written tells our story. It lets folks know we're taking our time moving because they're certain things we expect and we are being counseled as we go," LAE President Joyce Haynes said.

The LAE believes that the way the most recent bill was done illegally. A bill must pass with a 53 person majority vote; the last session had members missing so the final vote was 51-49 in favor of passing the most recent bill. This opened the door for a challenge.

Not only that but the bill passed allows for taxpayer dollars to be used elsewhere in the state. A person paying taxes in one district could be paying for a child to go to school somewhere else.

"I don't think that people realize that in Lafayette Parish they may be spending tax dollars to send kids to school in St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Acadia Parish, St. Landry Parish or any other
surrounding parishes," Brian Blackwell said. Blackwell is the attorney representing LAE in this lawsuit.

LAE also voted today to unanimously support the effort to recall Governor Bobby Jindal.

According to the AP, Jindal says that these are nothing more than special interests groups trying to cover a bad education system.