Behind The Lens episode 278: ‘Failed to file’

Matt McBride on a controversial candidate for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. Marta Jewson on how state standardized test scores should serve the children who take the tests.
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This week on Behind The Lens, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell withdrew a nominee for a spot on the board of directors for the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board earlier this month. The candidate, Kimberley Thomas, was fast-tracked for approval by the New Orleans City Council, which apparently had been poised to overlook years of state ethics-law violations to approve her nomination.

And while the state department of education turned around standardized test scores for thousands of students in record time this year, it can take another four months for them to turn the results into the highly anticipated letter grades given to all schools. This time gap leaves teachers, students and families still guessing about the future.

Our guests this week are freelance reporter Matt McBride and Lens education reporter Marta Jewson. 

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music Bright White by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

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Carolyne Heldman

Carolyne Heldman Rovira has been in media for 35 years, and is currently the podcast host and producer for Behind The Lens. Heldman served as executive director at Aspen Public Radio, an NPR affiliate, where she launched four weekly news, public affairs, and cultural affairs programs. She has been a guest lecturer at Tulane University, is a frequent guest and moderator for the Aspen Institute, Rocky Mountain Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute.