We are disappointed, to say the least, that the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce has chosen to side with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and oppose the citizen led initiative South East Baton Rouge Community School District. We believe that public education CAN succeed and that parents deserve to be, and must be involved. A passionate and active group of parents is precisely what our schools need. 

We understand the immense political pressure the Baton Rouge Area Chamber is under to oppose this initiative and we believe that inaccurate partisan information has been provided to them. We will continue to reach out to the Chamber to educate them with accurate, factual information. We all agree that great schools in Baton Rouge will lead to the foundational strength of our future leaders while insuring the Baton Rouge business community continues to become competitive and robust.

The problem isn't the Chamber or the teachers, and it isn't the kids. Its’ an organization, the East Baton Rouge School Board, committed to its own bureaucracy ahead of the children. East Baton Rouge Parish School System has been failing for decades and carelessly spending billions of taxpayer dollars to produce a perennial D rated system. That is beyond unacceptable.


We will continue to fight for the residents and students in the South East Baton Rouge Community District, as well as any other area of town who request our assistance in helping them to take responsibility for their community schools.  

In opposing the breakaway school district the Baton Rouge Area Chamber would deny the public the opportunity to make their own decision at the ballot box come November. The right to vote is the bedrock on which this democracy was built. Local Schools for Local Children simply asks that the people be allowed to exercise that right.

*For Press inquiries contact Lionel Rainey III, 3Lions Media, at (225)454-6536 or e-mail Lionel@3LionsLLC.com.*