Go Green Campaign News

Mayoral candidates react to neighborhood schools legislation

WAVE3 News, August 31, 2010
By Connie Leonard

Following the Jefferson County Public Schools busing problems during the first week of school, the Neighborhood Schools Act touted by State Senator Dan Seum and Senate President David Williams are now getting plenty of play in Louisville. Even Mayor Jerry Abramson put in his two cents.

"I've always been a strong proponent of local elected officials making local decisions," Abramson said.

Abramson told reporters the best solution is to keep the state out of it and let the school board decide. If you don't like it, Abramson reminded voters that half of the school board members are up for election every two years.

But we wanted to know what the men running to be the next Louisville mayor really think about the controversial bill?

Campaigning in a diverse Louisville neighborhood Monday night, Democrat Greg Fischer said it's important to keep choice and diversity but Fischer also said: "Nobody wants our kids to be on school buses for two hours during the day."

On the bill specifically, Fischer said: "Some people want neighborhood schools and that should always be a goal and some people want public school choice so parents could send their children to the school that's best situated for them."

Republican Hal Heiner says no child should have to ride the bus for two hours, but he also wasn't rock solid about changing state law.

"I think the act could be a catalyst to start a discussion here in Jefferson County about our current student assignment plan," said Heiner.

Heiner says it's important to keep diversity and magnet schools magnetic and that the current student assignment plan needs to be re-worked.

"As mayor, I intend to be directly involved in trying to find a solution to the student assignment plan," Heiner said.

"So far to me, it seems like they have dodged the issue," said Jackie Green, an independent candidate for mayor who was most opinionated about his two opponents.

"They need to grab it by the horns and state a position," said Green of their stance on JCPS. "I am very much in support of neighborhood schools."

Green added he's just happy the bill was introduced, saying JCPS should take its busing transportation dollars and use them to improve poor performing schools.

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