In Plaquemines Parish, “residents live with disasters,” Richard A. Blink Jr. said Friday, the two-year anniversary of the BP oil spill. But as Blink and others pointed out, some residents live with disaster better than others, and indeed, the oil disaster affected residents differently. Blink, a small-business owner, was among those attending the release of […]
Posted inSchools
Orleans School Board likely to raise taxes, citing projected loss from voucher law
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | Citing a drain in state funding, the Orleans Parish School Board likely will increase city property taxes by 4 percent to raise an additional $6.8 million for 2013. Board officials say new education legislation, particularly Gov. Bobby’s Jindal’s statewide private-school voucher program that will use public money, […]
Posted inSchools
Forum discusses successful schools tonight
Three educators will discuss best practices for successful schools tonight at a Loyola University forum. The League of Women Voters of New Orleans has partnered with the Loyola Institute for Quality and Equity in Education to present a public form, “High Schools in New Orleans – What Works?” at 7 p.m. in Loyola’s Miller Hall. […]
Posted inOpinion
What's with City Hall's ongoing campaign to kill District Councils?
The New Orleans City Council will soon vote on the future of citizen participation in our city. It’s an ideal mandated by both a post-Katrina amendment to the City Charter and the city’s long-overdue master plan. But despite overwhelming popular support, it appears to be in grave peril.
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Church building to be leased; 8th graders off to Washington; talent show draws 100-plus crowd
Directors of Milestone SABIS New Orleans Academy are studying two properties owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and hope to decide in the next few weeks which one to lease, board vice president Lorin Crenshaw told board members at their monthly meeting, April 16. Members also interviewed two candidates for an open board […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
$1 million "i3" grant to be awarded in early May; state tests administered without problems
By Marta Jewson, The Lens charter school reporter | A federal i3 grant to expand enrollment was up for discussion at the James Singleton Charter School directors meeting, April 17. The i3 program describes itself as designed “to turn around persistently low-performing schools through the development of new public charter schools.” The grant would provide […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board to meet with PTO as school year winds down; academics at par; budget balanced
Directors of the Andrew H. Wilson Charter School will meet with the school’s parent-teacher organization at an open assembly in May, and parents are encouraged to fill out an evaluation form being circulated by the school. The PTO meeting was one of several end-of-the-school-year topics discussed at the board’s monthly meeting, April 17. Committees were […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Local acro-gymnasts go for glory in Orlando World Championships
As work continues on the longer-form topics mentioned in previous posts, here are two notes about local sports news: 1) New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson purchased the New Orleans Hornets basketball team last week, having convinced NBA commissioner David Stern that he represented the best local ownership option to maintain the team’s future in […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Students look toward college as school prepares to shut down for good
The school’s impending closure and how to assist students in furthering their education elsewhere were among primary concerns at this month’s meeting of the Sojourner Truth board of directors, April 17. Juniors and seniors were scheduled to attend a college fair on Thursday at Landry High School to talk with representatives of several Louisiana colleges. […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board meeting agenda released
Review the agenda for tomorrow’s NOMMA board meeting here.