Caddo Parish students need smaller class sizes and updated text books and school buildings. Educators need current teaching tools, safe classrooms, and better pay. True stories, right? Well, here's a way to get the money needed to make this possible: Roll back on allowing tax breaks for big business.

Over the past decade, the Caddo Parish School System has lost tens of millions of dollars to corporate tax giveaways. Money that would have otherwise gone to best serve our students has instead contributed to these companies' profit margins. We're not saying businesses don't add a level of value to our community, we're just saying they should pay a fair share of property taxes so our public schools have the funding needed to best provide for our students.

School board members will consider a local corporation's request for a tax break at a special school board meeting on Friday, March 23. We can’t let them approve this proposal without holding it to a clear set of standards that ensure the business adds value to our community.

Join us at the meeting to send a message to board members telling them it's time to get it right and put Caddo Parish students' needs first and roll back on corporate tax breaks.