Board wonders if Frantz School makeover will be done in time for December move

The school’s board of directors held its August meeting on Sept. 11, after delays due to Hurricane Isaac.

Principal Shanda Gentry said the school has 410 students in pre-k through sixth grade, 18 shy of the projected enrollment.

Gentry said she has been preparing teachers for the Recovery School District site visit, Sept. 18.  This evaluation, along with others last spring, will figure in the state’s decision whether to renew the board’s charter. The 2012-13 school year is Ben Mays’ fourth in operation.

Gentry said some early benchmark testing was delayed by Hurricane Isaac but that she would have results at the next meeting.

The board is awaiting updates on construction at Frantz Elementary, where the school is slated to move Dec. 26.  Board members said problems may push back the move-in day, though board president Sidney Barthelemy said the RSD has not officially announced a delay.

The finance committee did not submit a report as the school is completing an  audit.

Gentry said the school will host an open house on Sept. 19.

Members present in addition to Barthelemy included John Williams, Raashand Hamilton, Damon Burns, Todd James, Bonita Robertson, and James Moffett.

The meeting began at 5:51 p.m. and adjourned at 7 p.m. The board’s next meeting is Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.

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.