Landrieu chats with Avoyelles Public Charter School students by videoconference

MANSURA -- It's been a big week for a class of high school students at Avoyelles Public Charter School.

The class returned from a trip to Boston late Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, they were in a videoconference with U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

Avoyelles Public Charter is one of a handful of Louisiana schools that Landrieu is "visiting" as part of National Charter Schools Week. The school in Mansura was founded 11 years ago.

"I'm a very strong supporter of public charter schools," Landrieu said. "It's incredible to think of the opportunity you have there in Avoyelles Parish. It's an opportunity opening up around the state."

"We are very fortunate," said school principal and founder Julie Durand. "It's an honor to be one of only a few schools chosen. I hope they know how special this was."

After some opening remarks and a brief talk with Durand about the school, Landrieu, D-New Orleans, took some questions from the students. The first was a subject of tremendous local interest in Avoyelles Parish -- a proposal to sell or privatize some state prisons, including Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport.

"I am strongly opposed to the governor's plan to privatize prisons, but I don't have a vote in that," Landrieu said.

She said she has seen abuses in privately run prisons and expressed the thoughts of many parish residents -- that private companies are more interested in making money than public safety or rehabilitating

inmates.

The senator urged the students who are close to voting age to write Gov. Bobby Jindal and state legislators to express their opposition.

Landrieu addressed a question about high gas prices by saying America must diversify its vehicle-fuel needs to rely less on foreign oil. She said she supports using electricity and natural gas as alternate fuels, but that it will take time to move them into mass production.

"Even though it was nerve-racking, it was a very good opportunity for us all to experience this," said student Simone Swanier. "I felt lucky."

"It was interesting to hear her side of the story on some issues," said Leslie Saucier.

Other student questions dealt with potential flooding issues in Louisiana and when U.S. forces are expected to pull out of Afghanistan now that Osama bin Laden is dead.

Landrieu had to cut the session short to get to the floor of the Senate, where a bill she sponsored to reauthorize two programs of the Small Business Administration was being debated.

"I thought it was a really good experience to talk to her," said student Haylee Doyle. "She gave us some good answers."

Source : thetowntalk.com