Should the Louisiana School be renamed?

Katie Gagliano | Manship School News Service

Show Caption Hide Caption Proposed budget 'stems bleeding' for higher ed University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson said the latest version of next year's budget, House Bill 1, "is about as good as we've been treated in a decade."

BATON ROUGE — A bill to rename the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, the session’s surprise fire starter, advanced favorably through the House Education Committee Wednesday in the face of determined opposition from the school’s alumni and students.

Senate Bill 1, by Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, would rename the public boarding school the Jimmy D. Long Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in honor of former state Rep. Jimmy Long of Natchitoches. Long, elder brother of Sen. Gerald Long, passed away last August following a car accident.

The bill, which initially was expected through the House without opposition, was intended as a way to honor the deceased lawmaker, who helped found the school in the 1980s. But debate devolved into a standoff between school alumni and Thompson and his colleagues determined to give honor where they believe honor is due.

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Stakeholders originally agreed to name the school’s new $23 million residential hall in honor of the late lawmaker, and LSMSA Alumni Association President Jamie Smith said stakeholders felt “bamboozled” when Thompson filed SB1 without notifying them.

He said the legislation was the “product of two men’s emotions” and all involved parties could come to a better solution if given the opportunity. Thompson said the school wouldn’t exist without Long and he deserved all the credit and recognition possible.

Stated Thompson: “They offered him a dormitory. He gave them a school.”

Alumni grumbled about legislators being “bought and paid for” in the hallways following the 5-2 vote that advanced the bill, expressing anger and discontent about their voices being ignored.

Their feelings about the disparity between their concerns and legislative action were echoed in the testimony of LSMSA sophomore, Emma Elsea, who questioned whether her voice and the voices of others’ testifying would matter to legislators.

“As I learn how our government works, as I learn to use my voice, what will you teach me?” Elsea asked. “Will you teach me that my voice matters? Will you teach me that our elected officials really do help bring about the will of the people? . . . Today is your day to give me a life lesson . . . show me that my voice actually matters.”

Rep. Polly Thomas, R-Metairie, said she has received more calls and emails on this issue than any other in her time at the legislature. Thomas said the calls to strike down the measure put legislators in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between colleagues and the public.

Thomas and Rep. Beryl Amedée, R-Houma, voted against the measure. Seven of the committee’s 15 members opted to be absent for the vote and much of the debate, leaving the committee with barely a quorum. Chair Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, did not vote.

Smith afterward called the vote disappointing. He told the Manship School News Service that many stakeholders and alumni who have lobbied against the bill are losing faith in the process.

“They know that as long as it continues to get pushed to the next step that we have less and less chance of this not happening,” he said. “We don’t have the political power to change what’s happening here. All we can do is express the stakeholders’ opinions in this and hope for the best.”