Eight years ago, I was up at odd hours of the night, helping my wife care for a newborn. After a bit of noodling on the internet I discovered and joined the wonderful (and wonderfully small) community of South Louisiana bloggers. We discussed politics and current events and mocked the stupid things written on other […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOAH contractor changes plea to guilty; stole post-Katrina federal funds for blight removal
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Appearing Thursday in federal court before Judge Nannette Jolivette-Brown, former New Orleans Affordable Homeownership contractor Earl Myers changed his plea from not guilty to guilty of conspiring to commit theft of federal funds. Until the city agency was shut down in November, New Orleans Affordable Homeownership, also […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Interview with OPSB's Thomas Robichaux: Looking beyond school system's past
Thomas Robichaux, 43, a former city attorney who now works as a lawyer for a gaming distribution company, ran in 2008 as a reform candidate for a seat on the Orleans Parish School Board and today is its president. Few dispute that change was sorely needed. For years the city school system had been synonymous […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
It's official: second grade to be added next semester; new board chairman takes charge
By Amy Holiday, The Lens charter school reporter | Lycée Francais is adding a second grade, a move approved by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and ratified at a special meeting of the school’s board, April 24. Thirty students were accepted conditionally by lottery from a large pool of applicants on April […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Two playgrounds are on the way; new board members seated; utility bills coming down
KaBoom will begin construction of two playgrounds at Edward Hynes next fall, its board announced at its April / May meeting. Principal Michelle Williams said KaBoom, a national non-profit dedicated to creating community play spaces, will build a smaller playground in a dedicated space for the school’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students and a larger one […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Finances in surplus despite enrollment uncertainties at some schools
Budget projections have held up and each of the five schools in the expanding FirstLine network are operating with a surplus of roughly $30,000, finance committee chairman Stephen Rosenthal told fellow board members at their monthly meeting, April 24. The strong balances have been realized despite unpredictable drops in attendance and related revenue, especially at […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
School looks to profit from Fest parking; smooth start to revamped application process
Five members of the Langston Hughes Academy board gathered on April 24 but in the absence of several members, including finance committee member Paul Pechon, did not formally convene a monthly meeting. The school’s chief financial officer, Adrian Morgan, delivered a brief management report highlighting positive early returns from the first phase of the centralized […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Head to take at-large seat immediately — even though it costs her a shot at 2 full terms
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Defying political speculation, Stacy Head told The Lens Wednesday she plans to take office as one of the City Council’s two at-large members before May 7, meaning she would not be eligible for two full terms after this partial term is over. “I think it is important […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board discusses celebrations of ethnicity, questions quality of cafeteria food
Directors of Intercultural Charter School were advised at their April meeting that individual financial disclosure forms must be delivered to the Louisiana Board of Ethics by May 15. Board member Tap Bui reported on attending a luncheon at which John White, the state’s superintendent of education, discussed his newly inaugurated Louisiana Believes program. Developed as […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
KIPP discusses contract extension, school enrollment
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer, and Kelsey Foster, charter school reporter | One of the schools under the KIPP New Orleans brand is up for a contract extension this year. The school’s performance history, including a less-than-favorable 2011 financial review, was up for discussion at a recent board meeting.The state education department has […]