This week on Behind the Lens, the NOLA Public Schools district recently floated a new standardized contract for charter schools. The proposed contract language sought to improve reporting and enhance protections against retaliation. School leaders pushed back, and the plan has been shelved for now. But the district may now pursue the same proposals through policy changes.

An update on Angola prisoner Bobby Sneed, who was granted parole in March after nearly five decades behind bars but faced parole revocation because of disciplinary charges before his release. He was cleared of the charges, but the state parole board reheard his case and denied his parole anyway.  

The New Orleans Public Library will ask voters to renew an expiring property tax in full this fall. The proposal has the support of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who last year backed a proposal that would have cut part of the funding. 

Our guests this week are education reporter Marta Jewson, criminal justice reporter Nick Chrastil, government and cultural economy reporter Michael Isaac Stein, and The Lens editor Charles Maldonado.

Behind The Lens is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher. And we broadcast the show on community radio stations 102.3 FM WHIV LP in Mid-City and 90.3 FM WAMF-LP in the Marigny.