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Story Archives: Education initiative upsets Monroe chamber president


Education initiative upsets Monroe chamber president
by Michael DeVault - posted Thursday, July 31st, 2008 @ 5:15 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
An education initiative put together by the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the City of West Monroe, Ouachita Parish Schools and ULM raised the ire of Monroe Chamber of Commerce President Sue Nicholson.

An e-mail communication obtained by The Ouachita Citizen and KNOE TV8 news showed Nicholson took issue that the Monroe chamber was not included in an initiative the West Monroe chamber helped develop to aid teachers in dealiing with students from impoverished backgrounds.

In a memo sent via e-mail on Wednesday to ULM President James Cofer and parish schools superintendent Dr. Bob Weber, Nicholson said she was surprised to read media reports about "A Framework for Understanding Poverty," a day-long conference and companion course spearheaded by the West Monroe chamber. Besides the West Monroe chamber, the city of West Monroe, the parish school system and the university are involved in the education program.

"What surprised me the most was that the effort was a collaborative effort between the Ouachita Parish School Board, ULM the City of West Monroe and the WM Chamber," Nicholson wrote via e-mail.

Nicholson questioned why more chambers of commerce were not invited to participate, given the regional representation of the education initiative.

"The Ouachita Parish System represents both east and west Ouachita, and ULM certainly represents the region," Nicholson's memo said.

Nicholson also took issue that other interested groups were not invited to participate.

"It is my understanding that neither the Children's Coalition or United Way were invited to participate," Nicholson wrote. "Both of these organizations have spent tremendous resources to address issues related to children in poverty."

Pam Accardo, chairperson for the board of directors of the West Monroe chamber, said she was surprised by Nicholson's assessment and pointed out school systems from 11 parishes in northeastern Louisiana have been invited to attend the one-day education conference, which will be held in August at the West Monroe Convention Center.

Accardo also noted the semester-long sister-course at ULM is open to anyone, "teachers or non-teachers" alike.

Accardo said the West Monroe chamber's intent was not to exclude anyone.

"This is just one of our programs," Accardo said. "When you have a lot of programs going on in both chambers, there is no way we can all do everything."

Nicholson said the program could have offered a great opportunity to demonstrate regionalized efforts. Nicholson also said she was impressed with the program.

"I absolutely commend the West Monroe chamber for taking the lead in creating this program," Nicholson said. "I think it's a wonderful program. We are overjoyed that our school systems will be invited to participate."

The Ouachita Citizen first reported online Wednesday about the initiative the West Monroe chamber launched in conjunction with the city, ULM and the parish school system. The Citizen's report was published in its print edition Thursday.
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