Voters, stakeholders, parents, taxpayers, we are the backbone of this parish. We need to “Stand Up” and demand more transparency and accountability.

The renewal of the millage is not due now. Things are good until 2019 on said millage. What is the rush?

First, we need to schedule and publish the needs of the school system.

Second, before we even look at spending more money, the public needs to be made aware of the exact distribution of these funds.

Administration in the last 24 months:

• Suggested a rezoning in one district to eliminate a school after the fire at East St. John Elementary.

• Fifth Ward Elementary was thrown under the bus to lead to the deal of the Charter School.

• Lake Pontchartrain remains closed for five years after the 2012 flood and many Change Orders.

• On the West Bank, the vote to consider a Charter School was rejected. Seven days later another meeting was convened and votes were changed. Other parishes are fighting the idea of Charters coming or expanding into their districts. The Supreme Court is supposed to be making a decision on funding for Type 2 Charters sometime this month. It is expected to have a change in how Type 2 schools are funded.

Our Tax Dollars will be moved to a school of Choice. Fix what is wrong in the schools we have. Taxation without representation causes revolutions.

Decisions are made without All Stakeholders input, mere notification of upcoming changes thought of for the system is lacking, there are “No Excuses.”

When it is time for renewals of millages, bonds and/or sales taxes, we are bombarded through the media with a specific time to be discussed before the election is called.

I mean no disrespect to the retirees, of which I am one, we need to make sure the time to renew is not rushed to satisfy administration — “say no to renewal.”

Insurance is not the best in Louisiana, the percentage the Board pays is not changing, again we have two years and much work to do in St. John the Baptist Parish.

The disrespect to the stakeholders, parents, voters and, most importantly, the violation of the funds pledged by this community to educate the children of this parish is far beyond accountability responsibilities of the governance of the School Administrators in the parish of St. John the Baptist.

Ask questions, document answers, hold Board and Administration accountable.

We also have to continue questioning why our children are left in a facility that is next to a production company that has unhealthy emissions — chloroprene. Dr. Jimmy Guidry said no one should have to breathe chloroprene.

We owe it to the children of this Parish to “stand up” and say “enough us enough.”

— Carolyn Jean Batiste, LaPlace