Education Priorities for the Next Governor to be Subject of Forum

BATON ROUGE, LA – Education, state and community leaders will participate in an education forum on How Louisiana Can Lead the Nation in Educational Progress: Shaping the Agenda for Louisiana’s Leaders.

“The forum is designed for gubernatorial candidates to hear first-hand about the progress Louisiana has made in the past eight years and how we can accelerate the gains throughout the next decade,” University of Louisiana System President Sally Clausen said.

After an introduction by Southern University System President Leon Tarver and Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Walter Bumphus, there will be a presentation by Mark Musick and Lynne Cornett, of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), on Louisiana’s progress compared to that of the region and nation. A panel discussion on Louisiana’s challenges and opportunities will follow.

When: Noon to 2 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003
Where: Claiborne Building – Room 136; 1201 North Third Street, Baton Rouge

Louisiana Public Broadcasting President Beth Courtney and Council for A Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin will serve as moderators for the discussion. The 15-member panel includes:
* Senate Finance Committee Chair Jay Dardenne
* Senate Education Committee Chair Gerald Theunissen
* House Education Committee Chair Carl Crane
* Appropriations Committee Chair Jerry Luke LeBlanc
* Glenny Lee Buquet, Blue Ribbon Comm. for Educational Excellence
* Andy Kopplin, Chief of Staff for Governor Mike Foster
* Commissioner of Higher Education E. Joseph Savoie
* State Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard
* Frances Henry, Blue Ribbon Comm. for Educational Excellence
* Louisiana State University System President William Jenkins
* Louisiana Parent Teacher Assn. Past President Michael Johnson
* Louisiana Assn. of Business and Industry President Dan Juneau
* Grace Sibley, National Board Certified Teacher (St. Landry)
* John Freeman, School to Work Council (CLECO)
* McNeese State University SGA President Mark Steward

Space is limited. To sign up, call 225-219-0263 by Jan. 3, 2003.

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