St. Charles school system is prospering

We’ve seen evidence nationwide what a good school system can mean to a community.

New Orleans, next door, has been a living testimony of how a poor public education system can bring poverty and crime. St. Charles Parish, on the other hand, has one of the best in the state, even the nation. And the standard of living here is among the highest in Louisiana.

And things could even look better for us in the future. The school board reports that its financial situation is better than in past years with an increase of some $10 million a year in sales tax revenue.

This increase is mainly due to increased sales of building supplies and other items in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Whether or not the increase will continue in future years remains to be seen so it is not something we can automatically count on for the long haul.

In the past, the board has managed available funds well, setting up the infrastructure that has provided good educational opportunities for our citizens.

We’re sure that managing these extra funds for the short term or long haul will likewise be done in the best interest of our educational system.

Our future looks good, indeed.