Akili Academy’s larger-than-expected enrollment helped bring in an additional $300,000 in per-pupil funds to Crescent City Schools coffers this fall. Harriet Tubman Charter School also helped draw in unexpected money, bringing in a federal School Improvement Grant $500,000 larger than what was budgeted.
Overall, treasurer Doug Harrell told the CCS board at a meeting Wednesday night, the extra funds helped bring the central office’s net operating income “closer to a break-even point,” at $3,427.*
Crescent City’s CEO Kate Mehok reported that the school still faces facility issues, especially at Akili Academy. The lights in the kindergarten rooms do not work at all, and lighting throughout the school is faulty. Mehok said the school’s administration is in constant contact with the Recovery School District, which owns the building, the project coordinator and the general contractor who are all aware of the problems.
“Nobody else seems to think this is an emergency and here we are at week eight, nine? But because we’re not paying utilities we don’t have the leverage,” Mehok said.
Christopher Hines, the organization’s chief operations officer, said Harriet Tubman students will move to the old O. Perry Walker building over Christmas break while the current Tubman building undergoes renovations. Walker has merged with L.B. Landry and is using Landry’s campus now.
The board also accepted the resignation of member Coleman Ridley, whose new job presented a conflict in accordance to the board’s policies. The governance committee announced that it will seek a replacement for Ridley and wil search for at least two additional board members to grow the talent on the board.
Board members Anna Burrell, Carolyn Chandler and Agnieska McPeak did not attend the meeting.
*An earlier version of this story reported incorrectly that the entire organization — not just the central office — had a surplus.
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ALKILI ACADEMY OF NEW ORLEANS
Notice is hereby given that ALKILI Academy of New Orleans, a Louisiana non-profit corporation, is about to be liquidated out of court, pursuant to authorization by its incorporations and Directors, duly given, and that Robert J Stefani, whose address is 201 St, Charles Avenue, 46th floor, New Orleans, 70170, has been duly appointed to serve as liquidator. All creditors of, all persons believing themselves to have valid claims against, and all persons having unfulfilled contracts with said non-profit corporation are hereby called upon to present any claims they may have in writing and in detail to the Liquidator, at the above address on or before May 1, 2014.
Appeared in the Times Picayune today. Can somebody explain?
Re: Akili – – – Damn!?? If anybody would pay attention to this, it would be you, Lee. Does Crescent City Schools (Board of Directors) know about this? (I have fallen off of my chair, because really, do any of these boards actually know what the hell is going on – other than what they sit and listen to (glowing financial and academic reports) from 6-figure staffers and principals/CEOs (!), which BTW, these boards are supposed to be monitoring, regulating, supervising, yadda yadda yadda?
The original LA nonprofit corporation, by which Akili Academy was founded, had to be dissolved because it (the school and management thereof) was awarded to another charter management group selected by the RSD in its effort to award failing charter schools to creditable and proven charter groups which have a track record (what is that and where can I find it?) of turning (a) failing school/s around. What do you think this New Orleans educational landscape will look like in 3 to 5 more years? That’s what I thought. Ha!