Lycée is dealing with its challenges, rival parent group responds

Following the explosive letter one group of parents filed with the Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans board last week, another school faction has sent its own petition to the board.

Following the explosive letter one group of parents filed with the Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans board last week, another school faction has sent its own petition to the board.

“There is no doubt that the school has faced challenges,” reads the letter, dated Monday, “but when faced with challenges, the school leadership has responded in a positive manner.”

The new letter goes on to laud the controversial hiring of academic director and interim CEO Gisele Schexnider in a prompt manner, saying she’s improved communication at the school and acted quickly to fill vacancies.

Though the new letter is addressed to Lycée’s board, board member Paige Saleun is among the 62 whose names are attached to it as being in agreement. Other names included on the letter were Jim MacPhaille, husband of board member Catherine MacPhaille, and musicians Ani DiFranco and Jeff Raines.

The Rebuilding Trust Working Group — the name of the parents who penned the eight-page complaint last week — called for Saleun’s ouster as well as that of board president Jean Montes.

The letter was also sent to state education Superintendent John White, Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Executive Director Caroline Roemer-Shirley and CODOFIL Executive Director Joseph Dunn.

Marta Jewson

Marta Jewson is an independent reporter based in New Orleans. Marta has covered New Orleans schools for 15 years through the nation's largest education reform experiment and was instrumental in holding schools accountable to sunshine laws during the rapid expansion of charter schools in the city. She focuses on education, health and climate.

She earned her journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin.