Matthew Ory

St. John School Board Member Matthew Ory in particular voiced his dismay at the brevity of time allotted to the locals. He also stressed his belief that many of these measures could never pass in a federal court.

Ory also questioned the length of time many people at the state level have spent in their positions.

St. John School Board member Matthew Ory said enforcement of the book bag policy will be stringent."If they don't have the bags, they can't ride the bus," he said.

Beginning last August, 505 students from four private schools started riding the same buses as 5,800 parish students.

Taxpayers cover the cost.In 2001, the Department of Education distributed $155,340 to St. John and $7.6 million statewide for private student transportation.

The fracas that followed the blending of public and private students played into long-standing friction between St. John's dual school systems.