The agency responsible for maintaining the multibillion-dollar flood protection system can’t afford the $34 million annual bill, and possible solutions are blocked by state and congressional politics. “We’ll soon be facing a $600 million question,” says John Barry, vice president of the South Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East.
Posted inCharter Schools
Middle grades showing academic gains at NOCP
Middle school students at New Orleans College Preparatory Academies are improving in math and Language Arts, according to testing data the charter organization’s top administrator shared with board members Feb. 5. Ben Kleban, founder and director of the charter group, highlighted gains its middle schoolers showed on recent Achievement Network tests during the Feb. 5 […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Jindal airs tax plan in D.C. but here at home leaves details to his aides
With his poll numbers down sharply, Jindal has asked donors to finance a $750,000 media blitz.
Posted inSchools
Ben Mays families lament loss of community as charter is pulled
The Mays community doesn’t dispute the school’s poor scores, but they believe test scores are just one part of the formula that makes for a good school. They cite the school’s familial atmosphere as one of its greatest strengths.
Posted inOpinion, Schools
Memo to charters: Steal, pirate, plagiarize the private school playbook
Private prep school have forged many of secondary education’s “best practices.” Folwell Dunbar says the best public charter schools are smart to be copycats.
Posted inEnvironment
Ivor van Heerden, LSU settle wrongful termination lawsuit
Van Heerden credits a column by The Lens’ Jed Horne with helping to push LSU to settle.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Ruling stays execution of elderly killer who tortured stepson
Judge says Christopher Sepulvado is entitled to learn more about the state’s plan to put him to death with a single drug.
Posted inCharter Schools
New pool and wellness center will be open to Singleton families
A long-anticipated wellness center and natatorium in the works next door to James Singleton Charter School is nearing completion. The school’s board of directors, which also oversees the Dryades YMCA that operates the charter school, received a status report on construction of the wellness center and indoor pool at its monthly board meeting Jan. 22. […]
Posted inCharter Schools
Einstein lands $1 million federal grant for Intercultural ‘turn-around’
New Schools for New Orleans announced Tuesday that Einstein Group, Inc. will receive $1 million from the federal government to turn around an academically failing school next year. At the behest of Recovery School District officials, Einstein is taking over Intercultural Charter School, an F-rated school currently serving 425 students. The federal grant should help. Shawn Toranto, principal […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Too late to save face, but time for LSU to settle van Heerden lawsuit
LSU tried to discredit Ivor van Heerden and then fired him for speaking out about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ failures with the levees in New Orleans. Now the university is fighting his wrongful termination lawsuit.