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THE OPPORTUNITY FOR

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATION

IN THE NORTHEAST DELTAREGION

In early July, Governor Mike J. Foster signed the Juvenile JusticeReform Act of 2003. Part of that act requires the closure of the SwansonCorrectional Center for Youth- Madison Parish Unit, to juveniles. SCCY-MPU annually costs the state $16 to $25 million to operate. With itsclosure the state should now reallocate resources to true economicdevelopment for the Madison Parish region and to more effectivecommunity-based prevention and diversion programs for juveniles.When the word was sent out that the facility would be shut down it was more thandevastating, still is. There was a lot of hope there. Families were dependent on it. Andnow we have really come to a crossroads where we are saying, “ what’s next? What canwe do for this community?” Raymond Lee Cannon, Attorney and Long-time Resident

The closing of SCCY-MPU presents a unique opportunity for the state toinvest valuable, and much needed resources into areas that can directlyreduce poverty, promote health, cut crime, and support economicdevelopment— by investing in education.

We propose that the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth- Madison beconverted into a Learning Center, possibly called The Northeast DeltaLearning Center – a community college which provides accessible,affordable, and high quality educational opportunities for professional andpersonal enrichment, and develops our community as we assist indeveloping our economy. We propose that the state invest in this positivereuse of the prison, lifting up the Tallulah community and serving as avaluable resource for the entire Northeast Louisiana Delta region.

If they turned SCCY, when it closes or if it closes into a vocational school or communitycollege, people would be able to get skills, and it would turn this whole town around. Iam really in favor of that, if it becomes necessary to close it down. If it’s up to me, amember of the city counsel, to keep it open I wouldn’t, even though my husband worksthere, I still wouldn’t do that. Gloria Hayden, Tallulah City Council.

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The Direct Route to Sustainable Rural Economic Development -EducationThe correlation between economic development and educationalattainment is well known, and widely documented, and in fact, hasstrengthened with the onset of globalization. In previous decades, certaineconomic sectors that could provide decent wages and quality of lifebenefits were a comfortable fit for rural communities with low educationlevels. Those rural jobs held by workers with limited education now havebeen lost to changes in production technology, overseas competition, andchanging consumer demand. Now instead, prospective employers areincreasingly attracted to areas offering a concentration of well-educatedand skilled workers. Although not a panacea for places struggling toattract jobs and residents, education, is still a critical part of a broadereconomic development strategy.1

“Education is the cornerstone of Louisiana’s economic viability. Througheducation, we are doing economic development the right way.” GovernorBlanco, then Lt. Governor goes on to say, “We need a respectededucational system that serves our children well and one that will bringbusiness and industry to Louisiana. As your Governor, I will build strongeducation experiences for our children and our workforce through anetwork of competent, caring professionals and the most modern toolsavailable.”

The Governor’s position is further supported by recent data from USDA’sEconomic Research Service, which states that low education is highlycorrelated with persistent poverty. The quarter of nonmetro counties withthe lowest high school completion rates include two-thirds of all persistentpoverty counties. A third of adults in persistently poor counties, onaverage do not have a high school diploma. Low education levels areassociated with a low-wage economy and a less stable labor force. Inaddition, poor counties lack the tax base and often the social andcommunity capital to invest adequately in better schools, which reinforceslong-term economic distress.

Education and the Economy in Madison Parish and NeighboringDelta ParishesMadison Parish, host community to Swanson Correction Center for Youth,and neighboring parishes, East Carroll and Tensas share similardemographic, educational, and economic characteristics. All located inthe Northeast Louisiana Delta Region, running alongside the Mississippiriver, this region is one of the most impoverished in the country.

1 US Department of Education, Economic Research Service. Rural DevelopmentResearch Report Number 98. November 2003.

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Over half of the children living in Madison Parish are below the povertyline, with more than 80% of public school children requiring subsidizedlunches. The residents of Madison Parish have a per capita income of$14,480, with an unemployment rate of 11.4%.

East Carroll Parish, Madison’s neighbor to the north has a per capitaincome amount of $9,629 and 47% of its children live below poverty. Thepublic school student body is 91% African American, and 92% of studentsreceive free/reduced lunches.

Tensas Parish, south of Madison has 42% of its children living belowpoverty. The per capita income of its residents is $12,682, the publicschool system is 85.5% African American and nearly 80% of studentsreceive free/reduced lunches.

Equally troubling, are the unintended though detrimental impacts ofSCCY-MPU on its host community- effects that span from a weakenededucational system to a tarnished community image to a destabilizedeconomy.

The most damaging, potentially long-lasting effect has been on theeducation system. Drawn by significantly higher pay, a steady stream ofcertified teachers left the Madison Parish school system for the prison.The Parish now has a teacher certification rate of 45%, where WestsideAlternative High School, which sits behind the razor wire of SCCY-MPU,has a rate of 95%. In a region that is already hard-pressed to find qualifiedteachers, the result has been devastating. The Madison Parish schoolsystem, this year came in last--worst of 66 Louisiana school districts.McCall High School, less than 1/2mile from the prison, has now beenclassified as a “school in decline”.

“Our only salvation is education. If you can just read and count…Last night I waswatching the television and the guy on the news said that test scores improved inNortheast Louisiana, but when they started talking about the schools where improvementtook place I noticed that they omitted to mention any of the schools from East Carroll,Madison or Tensaw Parish. I know that our scores are down. We have six schools inMadison Parish and four of those are on Academic Warning.” Moses WilliamsPresident and CEO of the Northeast Delta Community Development Corporation.

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But the Opportunity Exists….

The opportunity to remedy any negative impacts of SCCY-MPU, to buildon community will, and to demonstrate that education is economicdevelopment- done the right way- now exists.

Support the efforts of the Madison Parish communityA great deal of work needs to happen to help populations understand the value ofeducation. Local communities need to realize that the link between where they are andwhere they want to be is education. Education leads to a better quality of life forindividuals and communities. Dr. Monty Sullivan, Vice Chancellor of the Louisiana DeltaCommunity College, located in Monroe.

A core group of leaders representing a wide range of local interests-churches, civic organizations, non-profits, elected bodies, andprofessionals - has formed to actively participate in their community’sfuture. The Coalition for Education and Economic Development in theDelta Region, at first an ad-hoc group created to respond to the closing ofthe juvenile prison, now meets regularly.

Our visionThe Learning Center at its core is a bridge. As a community college it is abridge between High School and higher education, between remediallearning and academic success, between isolation and lifelong learning,and between workforce development and industry. As an educationalinstitution the Learning Center is a bridge from despair and stagnation,from an identity tied to lockdowns - to a vibrant community future tied toself-determination.

We believe that Governor Blanco’s emphasis on the importance ofLouisiana's technical schools continuing to develop and provide a linkbetween high schools and businesses -another key to economicdevelopment; and President Bush’s assertion that community colleges arekey to the nation’s prosperity in his recent State of the Union address; areboth commitments which are fully in line with our vision. Bush said hewants to provide $250 million to the nation’s 1,173 community colleges,so they can train workers for the industries that are creating the most newjobs.

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There is plenty of room and opportunity to expand the communitycollege base in the NE Louisiana Delta Region.

Louisiana Technical and CommunityCollege system’s recent Strategic Planfor Quality Improvement, outlines goal 1as increasing student access and success.However, the LTCC literally has atremendous amount of ground to cover.For example, Region 8- Monroe andsurrounding areas (shaded in gold);covers a land mass of 6,750sq. miles andhas a total population of 309,525; hasonly seven post-secondary educationalinstitutions, two of which are in theMonroe area (4-year LSU and 2-yearLDCC); five satellite campuses ofLouisiana Technical College cover theremaining the region.

There are currently no community colleges in rural Louisiana. Technicalcolleges do exist, however their course offerings vary widely by location andmany are not transferable to the university system. For example, althoughLouisiana Tech offers more than 50 courses; at present only the following areavailable at the Tallulah campus.

LTC - Tallulah Campus Programs

Programs Offered Diploma Associate of AppliedTechnology

Accounting Technology

Automotive Technology

Computer Specialist(Support)

Diesel Powered EquipmentTechnology

Industrial MaintenanceTechnology

Nurse Assistant Certificate Only

Office Systems Technology

Phlebotomy Certificate Only

Practical Nursing

Welding

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The impact of a community college is tremendous – andpositive.

The Rural Community College Initiative, a national multi-year projectsupported by the Ford Foundation, sought to demonstrate the effectivenessof community colleges as lead change agents in improving the civic andeconomic environments of poor rural places. This initiative found thatcommunity colleges assisted in creating opportunities for people to stay intheir community instead of migrating out by: supporting and increasingentrepreneurship; nurturing small business development; providingleadership to identify and develop new economic opportunities; and byeducating and/or retraining dislocated workers.

Southeast Community College serves three counties in the heart ofKentucky's coal country. The population is 92,000 and declining. Theregion has persistently high rates of unemployment and poverty. Southeastbegan planning with the Rural Community College Initiative in 1994, andinitiated the creation of Pine Mountain Community DevelopmentCorporation. The goal of their efforts was to create new jobs by helpingsmall businesses start-up and expand. They set out to create a loan fundand business assistance program that would help local entrepreneurs. Thecommunity college, together with local banks and regional loan fundssecured bank investment, state funding, and federal funding.

To date:• Five local banks and other funders have invested $210,000 in a loan

pool, which has made 22 loans and created or retained 85 jobs.• Pine Mountain CDC has been certified by the U.S. Treasury as a

Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), making iteligible for federal funds for lending and technical assistance.

• PMCDC formed a regional alliance with other loan funds to bringadditional investment capital to eastern Kentucky.

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The Northeast Delta Learning Center- Madison ParishOur vision of the Northeast Delta Learning Center is of a dynamic

community institution that offers a range of opportunities to enhance theeducational, professional, and personal lives of citizens throughout the

region.

The Learning Center will offer:

1. Space for GED courses, remedial education, training andpreparation programs for college bound students:According to a recent study of college bound students, reported byThe News Star, nearly 3 in 10 who go directly to college fromHigh School end up taking remedial English or math classes.Further, in 2005 when most universities in Louisiana will admitstudents under the Board of Regents Master Plan; calling forhigher grade point averages and ACT scores, many students,particularly poor and minority students will be turned away fromuniversity, and turning to the community college system. LDCC isalready experiencing this demand, with 200 students this past fall,500 this spring, and a projected 2000 in the coming fall. Thatdemand will only increase in 2005. The proposed Northeast DeltaLearning Center can prepare students for college through remedialcourses. Even more compelling, through partnerships with thestate’s university system, students can receive college courses at adiscounted rate, receive credit transfers, even while they are still inhigh school- not just preparing them but jumpstarting their collegecareer.

2. Space for partnerships with the local public school systems toupdate and keep current curriculum and instruction methods,as well as courses for teacher certification. Qualified teachersand a strong curriculum are central to the success of our schoolsand our students. The demand for both are tremendous throughoutour region, the proposed Learning Center will serve as a hub forcontinued training, innovation, and educational excellence.

3. Space for specialized programs for students with mentaland/or learning disabilities. By providing a program dedicated toserving students with special needs, the Learning Center can offersmaller class sizes, targeted curriculum, alternative instruction,vocational skills; and most importantly teachers that are highlyqualified and passionate about serving special needs students. Thisprogram can encompass students who are more than two gradelevels behind, and students who require an alternative learningenvironment and/or non-traditional class schedules.

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4. Space for growing a strong workforce. Community collegesencourage new business, assist existing business, and create long-term economic growth. Colleges enhance worker skills andprovide customized training to businesses and industries. Theproposed Learning Center could offer training in areas such ashealthcare, cosmetology, communications, radio and television,architecture, visual arts, aviation, library sciences, funeral services,horticulture, hospitality, business administration, and performingarts.

Target the fastest growing industries in the country:HealthcareMedical assistants, nurses, home health aides, medicalsupport staff- the healthcare field is a tremendous growthfield, and is stable- as the population ages, needs aregrowing in all geographic quarters, and particularly in ruralareas. The proposed Learning Center could partner withMadison Parish hospital, LSU’s Health Sciences Program,LTC-Tallulah and others to meet multiple purposes -training qualified health care workers, boosting a weakhealth care system, and attending to ailing populations.

Computer TechnologyGlobalization and new technology trends demandthat firms locate in communities with higheducation levels. Computer support specialistsreceive an annual average pay of $34,110, which isanticipated to grow by 87% over the next six years.2

Homeland SecurityNorma Kent of the American Association of CommunityColleges says that community colleges train most of theworkers in what may be the nation’s biggest growthindustry: homeland security. Police, firefighters, nurses,emergency medical technicians and computer securitytechnicians are trained at these schools—often throughtheir employers

2 Bulkeley, Deborah. Computer, health-care fields offer state’s fastest-growing jobs.The Vicksburg Post, February 11, 2004.

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5. Space for community building initiatives: A cultural center that provides common,

public space, to cultivate the arts and tocapitalize on the rich history of the region;

Continuing education and self-improvementcourses for community residents, from the artsto health and wellness programs.

Small businesses development that is intensive andencourages the continued growth of small, minority, andwomen-owned businesses; and a

A non-profit incubator that stimulates innovation andcommunity-based development.

The first step toward implementation…There will be conversion costs but there are public, private, andphilanthropic sources to help defray those, and the short and long-termeconomic benefits will be significant.

To begin the process of implementing any plan to convert SCCY-MPU into aLearning Center, the state will first have to address the issue of ownership and useof the facility. Currently the facility is owned by a private corporation and leasedby the state for use as a correctional facility. There is legislation that specifiesthat “..for as long as the state is obligated for debt service on the SwansonCorrectional Center for Youth- Madison Parish Unit (SCCY-MPU) facility atTallulah Louisiana, the state shall provide alternative uses for the facility as acorrectional facility.” This means that the state would have to take affirmativesteps to either amend this legislation to enable continued leasing of the facility foruse as a Learning Center or would have to address the debt service issue andconsider purchasing the facility directly.

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu contracted with a well-known bond attorney fromthe Washington DC firm of Piper Rudnick in the spring of 2003 to review andanalyze the documents pertaining to the contract and debt service on the facility inTallulah. Richard Marks, the attorney, provided the state with a thorough legalanalysis of the situation and recommendations for further action to address theissue of the debt service in a way most beneficial to the state. He has also offeredto assist the state pro-bono on this issue if the state decides to further investigatethe matter. We recommend that as a first step, the state take a serious look intothe current financial obligations regarding the facility as well as therecommendations of Mr. Marks and take the necessary steps to release the facilityfrom its current mandate to only be useable as a correctional facility.

The benefits far outweigh the costs…Community colleges provide a long-term, sustainable boost to thequality of life and social and economic health of host communities;

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from the increased earning power of graduates, to a reduction incrime, welfare, unemployment and other social service needs. It isestimated, using a conservative approach, that every dollar spent bya college on goods and services turns over 2.5 times, and dollarsspent for payroll and benefits turns over 5 times within theeconomy.3

3 Motlow College News, Lynchburg, TN.