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In Baton Rouge, high schoolers will now have to take more advanced classes; not everyone is on board

East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Associate Superintendent of Workforce Development, Ben Necaise, answering questions about the “Pathways to Bright Futures” program at the March 9th community meeting at Scotlandville Magnet High School.
Karen Henderson
East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Associate Superintendent of Workforce Development, Ben Necaise, answering questions about the “Pathways to Bright Futures” program at the March 9th community meeting at Scotlandville Magnet High School.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we learn the city of New Orleans has recently lifted its vaccine mandate for public spaces. And, we hear about a new program in East Baton Rouge Parish that will require high school students to take at least one advanced level class per year.

New Orleans has officially lifted its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, or proof of a recent negative test, for entry into public spaces such as restaurants, bars and other venues. This shift comes just three weeks after Mardi Gras, which despite concern, did not show a dramatic increase in COVID cases. Brian Knighten, owner of the musical venue The Broadside and the Broad Theater movie theater, and Tom Thayer, owner of the music venue d.b.a, tell us how this decision will impact their businesses.

For the past few weeks, East Baton Rouge Parish School officials held a series of informational sessions at area schools in hopes of answering parents' questions and clearing concerns about a new mandatory program called “Pathways to Bright Futures.” The program requires high school students to take at least one advanced-level course per year.

But many parents still have questions and concerns, specifically regarding the program’s funding. To learn more, WRKF’s Karen Henderson spoke to Ben Necaise, associate superintendent of workforce development at the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Patrick Madden. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our digital editor is Katelyn Umholtz. Our engineers are Garrett Pittman, Aubrey Procell, and Thomas Walsh. 

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 pm. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Patrick Madden joined WWNO in 2019 as its first-ever Regional News Director, overseeing news reporting at WWNO, as well as our partner station WRKF Baton Rouge. Madden also serves as one of the hosts of Louisiana Considered, and co-hosts Friday's Politics Roundtable on Louisiana Considered with Stephanie Grace, columnist for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate.
Alana Schreiber is the managing producer for the live daily news program, Louisiana Considered. She comes to WWNO from KUNC in Northern Colorado, where she worked as a radio producer for the daily news magazine, Colorado Edition. She has previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul and The Documentary Group in New York City.