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BATON ROUGE, LA – Education, state and community leaders will participate in an education forum on How ��ɬֱ�� Can Lead the Nation in Educational Progress: Shaping the Agenda for ��ɬֱ��’s Leaders.

“The forum is designed for gubernatorial candidates to hear first-hand about the progress ��ɬֱ�� has made in the past eight years and how we can accelerate the gains throughout the next decade,” University of ��ɬֱ�� System President Sally Clausen said.

After an introduction by Southern University System President Leon Tarver and ��ɬֱ�� Community and Technical College System President Walter Bumphus, there will be a presentation by Mark Musick and Lynne Cornett, of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), on ��ɬֱ��’s progress compared to that of the region and nation. A panel discussion on ��ɬֱ��’s challenges and opportunities will follow.

When: Noon to 2 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003
Where: Claiborne Building – Room 136; 1201 North Third Street, Baton Rouge

��ɬֱ�� Public Broadcasting President Beth Courtney and Council for A Better ��ɬֱ�� President Barry Erwin will serve as moderators for the discussion. The 15-member panel includes:
* Senate Finance Committee Chair Jay Dardenne
* Senate Education Committee Chair Gerald Theunissen
* House Education Committee Chair Carl Crane
* Appropriations Committee Chair Jerry Luke LeBlanc
* Glenny Lee Buquet, Blue Ribbon Comm. for Educational Excellence
* Andy Kopplin, Chief of Staff for Governor Mike Foster
* Commissioner of Higher Education E. Joseph Savoie
* State Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard
* Frances Henry, Blue Ribbon Comm. for Educational Excellence
* ��ɬֱ�� State University System President William Jenkins
* ��ɬֱ�� Parent Teacher Assn. Past President Michael Johnson
* ��ɬֱ�� Assn. of Business and Industry President Dan Juneau
* Grace Sibley, National Board Certified Teacher (St. Landry)
* John Freeman, School to Work Council (CLECO)
* McNeese State University SGA President Mark Steward

Space is limited. To sign up, call 225-219-0263 by Jan. 3, 2003.

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