When former New Orleans Saints player, current ALS fighter and forever fan favorite Steve Gleason posted this inspirational commentary to a private Facebook group called “Friends of The Times-Picayune Editorial Staff,” it immediately drew scores of “likes” and 40 grateful comments within the small, tight-knit group. Many wrote that Gleason’s take puts the situation of scaled back […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
City still awaiting expert report on criminal-justice financing
Update: Gusman takes responsibility for at least some of the delay. Additions to the original story marked below. A financial expert hired by the city to report on the controversial method the city uses to pay the sheriff’s office appears to have missed its early June deadline. Chief Administrative Officer Andy Kopplin wrote a May […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Lake Forest Elementary sees strong LEAP performance
The Lake Forest Elementary Charter School Board announced higher than expected LEAP and iLEAP scores at its June 19 board meeting, held immediately after its budget meeting. Principal Mardele Early pointed board members to the pages of detailed analysis in their packets, highlighting several exemplary scores. “That is unprecedented. You don’t hear of that many […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Treme Charter School Association cancels board meeting
The Treme Charter School Association, which up through the 2011-2012 school year ran the McDonogh 42 Elementary School, announced June 20, 2012 that it will not hold its July board meeting. It is unclear if the association will continue to function now that Choice Foundation plans to take over control of McDonogh 42.
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
E.P. Harney-Spirit of Excellence addresses audit report, performance scores at June board meeting
The board of E.P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Elementary met Monday night, June 18, to discuss the findings of their independent audit report, preformed by the firm of Roslyn J. Allen in Baton Rouge. Melvin Davis, a certified public accountant with the firm, noted four issues with the school’s financial reporting procedures including a lack […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Facilities changes cost KIPP New Orleans Schools
The proposed budget for KIPP New Orleans Schools shows an increase of about thirty percent in both revenue and expenses for the 2012-2013 school year over last year, with total costs reaching $32.3 million. The schools are relying on an increase in per-student funding from the state as enrollment grows from 2,400 to 3,200 students. […]
Posted inSchools
School Board put off decision on disadvantaged-business policy
After a heated discussion, the Orleans Parish School Board delayed Tuesday night a decision on modifications to its disadvantaged business enterprise program. The program is intended to help socially or economically disadvantaged businesses to compete in, and obtain, contracts with the School Board. The City of New Orleans has a similar program, as does the […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Milestone/SABIS nears decision on new location
The board of Milestone SABIS announced at its June 19 board meeting that it had begun building inspections on two locations in Gretna as it narrows its search for a new facility for the upcoming school year. Board Chair Leslie Ellison said she was confident the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education would approve the […]
Posted inSchools
Few appeal RSD placement; most who do get a top-three choice
Of the 32,000 students that the Recovery School District placed in its schools this year through its new centralized application process, only 4 percent were unhappy enough with their assignment to submit an appeal, according to data provided by district officials. Just more than two-thirds of those who appealed ended up getting into one of […]
Posted inOpinion
Reset the hook: something educators should do-now
The first lesson I ever taught was in Pachamama, Ecuador. I was a wet behind the ears Peace Corps volunteer, and it was my first charla, or workshop. I was delivering a presentation on the importance of cropping sheep tails to a group of seasoned campesinos, who obviously knew far more about ovine management than […]