The Collegiate Academies board heard a presentation by its growth committee Wednesday night detailing future potential growth in Louisiana, specifically into the Baton Rouge community. The plan would see 10 Collegiate Academies high schools across the state by 2022, with an expected enrollment of 4,500 students.
Board member Lisa Daggs said the $13 million needed to finance the growth is expected to come from the Charter School Growth Fund, New Schools for Baton Rouge and New Schools for New Orleans and other donors.
“We want to emphasize that we’re getting better as we’re getting bigger,” Daggs said, highlighting Sci Academy’s state- assigned school performance score growth from 73.6 in 2008-2009 to 128.9 during the last school year.
Daggs said the board will not consider growth unless all current schools are succeeding, the charter management organization would be allowed to open one grade at a time, long-term facilities would be provided at no cost to the organization and they had the chance to build a relationship with community members before opening.
Earlier Wednesday morning, several parents met outside of Sci Academy’s campus on Read Boulevard to protest disciplinary actions by the school. Collegiate Academy president Morgan Carter Ripski said administrators spoke with all the parents involved about their concerns.
Ripski said the organization sends home a student handbook at the beginning of every school year outlining disciplinary policies but that she believes more can be done to help parents understand why their children are being disciplined.
“We need to improve our communication with parents on our policies,” Ripski said. “We need to be very clear on the whys of disciplinary actions.”
The board announced the day before the meeting that it would table the vote to remain under Recovery School District oversight or move back under the Orleans Parish School board until its December meeting.
The board also voted to install Stephen Rosenthal as a member of the board. Rosenthal serves as the board chair for New Schools for New Orleans and formerly served with the KIPP New Orleans Schools Board of Directors. Rosenthal has been active with the Collegiate Academies finance committee for several months.
Is the growth in Louisiana or outside of Louisiana? Headline seems incongruent to rest of story.
Outside NEW ORLEANS. They plan to open charters statewide.
What a coincidence that Leslie Jacobs’ brother, Stephen Rosenthal, is on board before the vote to return to OPSB. Guaranteed no go!
Thank you, Sweet Jesus, and Lee Barrios that someone, other than I, has referenced Stephen Rosenthal (Leslie’s bro) and contributor to Jindal (top 400 – #170 Stephen and Sandy, $117,045.00). Yes, there is Leslie (not once but twice): Leslie Jacobs (#9 at $750,000) and then Leslie & Scott Jacobs (#64 at $$213,300), but let’s get back to Stephen (Board member of RSD’s “Firstline”). This is where Stephen really shines. Millions of dollars in FEMA money for the Dibert facility (the beginning), i.e., RSD-OPSB Agreement signed-sealed-and delivered – at whose expense? OBSB (local control) and New Orlean – the little people – the poor who are stuck in public education and the middle income who will never experience the things that Stephen and Sandy experience. Yes, Ira Thomas may have fought signing off on the agreement, but Usdin, Bloom, Koppel, and Nolan Marshall, II came through – emergency OPSB meeting. This is a not a defense of Ira Thomas by any means, however, what I would like to do (until someone makes a movie of what is going on in this city) is to call attention to what individuals, like the Stephens, the Sandys, the Leslies, the Scotts, the Michaels, and the Kathleens…on and on and on – those individuals – who, with the power, the connections, and the money always win! Can you hear me now?