I am writing in rebuttal of editorials I have recently read in support of the Lincoln Parish School bond proposal for the Ruston School District. I am not a retired teacher nor am I a former coach, but I am a concerned citizen and the grandmother of students in the Ruston School District, I am also the president of Ruston Voters’ League and an advocate for the rights of all people. I am not in support of this bond proposal.
Lincoln Parish School Board tax renewal is on the ballot, and the question is “Will the renewal result in complete victory for all students, or will it continue the school district’s lack of transparency?” During the forum held at I A Lewis, I questioned the Superintendent about the “two-phase” plan for the $17.5 Million bond. He and others discussed Phase One but could not tell me what phase two of the plan entailed. Is this transparency? No, I think this is a roundabout way to return to the consolidation efforts that failed a year ago. Let us not be deceived by scare tactics and “half-truths”.
Several school district leaders have claimed that athletics have a direct correlation with student achievement. Are we really focused on student success when we are disproportionately preparing students for life beyond high school? Since 1990, Ruston High School has been chasing the state championship in football, however, when we analyze the student athletics then and compare them to today, do we actually provide a high-quality education to our students or are we simply trying to maintain an “A” rating at Ruston High School by playing the numbers game through Jump Start. Currently, Ruston High School informs parents, students, and members of the community that students who complete the Jump Start program will be eligible to attend one of the universities in our parish when they graduate. There is no truth to this statement, since both universities in Lincoln Parish are part of the University of Louisiana System.
(Editor’s note: When asked, multiple representatives from Ruston High denied that parents of TOPS Tech Jump Start Graduates have been told their students could immediately enroll in any four-year university. The school has provided two documents, shown below, that are given to parents and a video with information on the different pathways between TOPS University Graduates and TOPS Tech Jump Start Graduates. The specific information within the video begins at the 3:24 mark).
Students deserve to learn in an inclusive, supportive, and equitable environment. Every student should receive an education of the highest quality. Dollars must be at the start of every conversation around equity. A direct correlation exists between students’ success when they have access to early childhood programs, teachers are adequately compensated, and the expectations are high for each child, as well as rigorous curriculums accessible to all students regardless of race, color, or economic status.
When the dust settles on Saturday (April 27, 2024) and all votes have been counted, will this result in a new community-based initiative to improve the achievement of every student within this community, or will school district leaders continue to lack transparency?
Is the School Board committed to delivering a high-quality education to every student in our school system and ensuring that they have every opportunity to succeed after graduation? Please give some thought to the big picture before casting your vote. Remember YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!!!
Veda B. Emerson, President
Ruston Voters League
Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial and publishing staff of the Lincoln Parish Journal.
