A group of parents from Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans charter school have asked the state’s public education chief to investigate its board’s actions regarding recent hiring and firing decisions, including the manner in which it hired its interim chief executive officer. State schools superintendent John White last month praised Lycée’s board for hiring Gisele Schexnider, whom he […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Politics and prosecutors: tortuous route to an all-powerful office
Aspirants to the office of United States Attorney don’t openly campaign for it. That’s unseemly. Protocol dictates that they urge friends to lobby political party leaders on their behalf—governors, senators and representatives on down. The partisan bigwigs then narrow the list of aspiring candidates based on… what precisely? Loyalty? Patronage? Owed favors? We’ll never find […]
Posted inCharter Schools
Algiers charter board rejects schools’ return to OPSB
The Algiers Charter Schools Association voted 5-2 Thursday night to keep three schools under Recovery School District jurisdiction, despite months of pleas from many in those school communities to let them go. Improved student test scores at O. Perry Walker High School, Martin Berhman Elementary and Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary made the schools eligible return to Orleans Parish […]
Posted inSchools
McDonogh City Park tightens security in wake of Newtown shootings
McDonogh City Park Academy leaders plan to tighten security measures in the New Year in response to last month’s school shootings in Newtown, Conn. Keeanya Dupre, director of finance and operations for the elementary and middle school, said the school will use state money to hire a part-time security guard to man the front door […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Will board say yes or no to Orleans Parish School Board control?
The Algiers Charter Schools Association board is poised to vote tomorrow on whether or not to recommend three schools return to Orleans Parish School Board control. Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy, Martin Behrman Elementary School and O. Perry Walker Senior High School are each eligible to leave the Recovery School District due to their students’ improved […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
KIPP New Orleans prepares for its own ‘fiscal cliff’ as schools mature
As KIPP New Orleans Schools’ large, one-time grants begin to run out, the finance committee prepared its board for a renewed push in fundraising and a drive to build cash reserves for the future. “A significant non-recurring revenue phase out in the near term could lead us to our own fiscal cliff,” finance committee member […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Police report adds details surrounding theft at Lusher
A New Orleans police report regarding embezzlement at Lusher Charter School provides more details regarding the theft of $25,000 last school year, including the name of the employee involved. Accounting office employee Lauren Hightower, 30, forged the signature of Lusher Chief Executive Officer Kathy Riedlinger and others on six checks, according to the report released […]
Posted inCharter Schools
Einstein poised to take over second school
The Einstein Charter Academy board is poised to ask the Orleans Parish School Board to amend its charter so that it can expand to operate two schools. Without naming the school they hope to begin operating, the board of directors on Wednesday approved asking permission to add another school site to their charter in order […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
State helps find consultant to guide Lycée Français board
State schools Superintendent John White has taken the unusual step of offering the state’s help to the troubled charter school Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans, as it goes about searching for a new leader, according to a letter he sent to the school. White said he’s helped secure private money to pay for a consulting company, […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
RSD: Landry and its F grade will dissolve in merger with Walker
For months, officials have described the planned merger between West Bank rivals O. Perry Walker and L.B. Landry high schools as a “unification.” The new school could have an ecumenical new name: “Landry Walker High School,” planners said. Graduating seniors from the class of 2014 could choose Landry rings or Walker rings. And together students from both […]