The board that governs Harriet Tubman Charter School, which, in July, will extend its governing arm to Akili Academy, approved a budget for Tubman at its June meeting based on $5.3 million in revenues. The board also approved a $930,000 budget for Crescent City Schools, the charter management organization that runs the school. The organization will […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Sheriff, city discussing new jail building that would add capacity for 600 additional inmates
Sheriff Marlin Gusman and city officials are in quiet discussions to build another new jail facility within the Orleans Parish Prison complex, creating room for more than 600 inmates, according to recent correspondence and drawings obtained by The Lens. This comes despite a City Council vote last year that limits capacity at the complex to […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board taking steps to open two new schools on Carver campus
The board of Collegiate Academies met Wednesday night to discuss plans for the new George Washington Carver campus and to announce the approval of a building plan for Sci Academy’s permanent facility on its current location. Only one night before the board meeting, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved the Recovery […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Crocker Arts and Technology School sees 15 percent budget increase
Crocker Arts and Technology School’s preliminary operating budget of $2.2 million for the 2012-2013 school year is a 15 percent increase from the previous year’s. In addition to an increase in student population, the school will be moving into a new building. The school anticipates a $240,000 increase in operational costs as a result of […]
Posted inOpinion
Steve Gleason to Times-Picayune fans and staffers: "No White Flags"
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. […]