By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Quietly and with no discussion, the City Council broadened the definition Thursday of what constitutes disturbing the peace during its meetings, asserting control over where people can stand to record public meetings. Anyone who plans to record or broadcast meetings, either with audio or video, is now […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Primary politics: Does Jindal secretly want Obama to win?
1. Basketball analyst Digger Phelps appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box show to talk about the men’s NCAA basketball tournament known as March Madness. At the end of the segment (video here) Phelps said that in two weeks, coinciding with the Final Four in New Orleans, he will be on hand to announce that John McDonogh […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board meeting postponed for lack of a quorum
The Pride College Prep board of directors attracted only two members to their monthly meeting on March 13. Five members constitute a quorum sufficient for the proceedings of such a meeting to be binding. For lack of a quorum, the meeting was canceled. In addition to the two board members, a school administrator and two […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Judge's wife not the only appraiser for sheriff who lacks background but has connections
The wife of Municipal Court’s chief judge isn’t the only appraiser lacking a license in that field who is working at the pleasure of Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman – and earning tens of thousands of dollars doing so. In fact, Ann Sens, wife of Judge Paul Sens, is a licensed real-estate broker and might […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board meeting agenda released
Review the agenda for the school board governing Morris Jeff here.
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Schools gain more discretion on spending; test scores call for more work
School leaders within the ReNEW network will have a bigger say in next year’s budgets, the ReNEW charter management organization announced at the monthly meeting of its board of directors, March 8. ReNEW’s chief executive officer Gary Robichaux informed the board that school leaders planning for the upcoming year will be given a template with […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Dispute flares over authority to add 2nd grade; fundraising fete declared a success
In an occasionally tense monthly meeting on March 12, Lycée Francais board members debated whether they or the school’s administration has the authority to approve adding a new class to the school. Earlier this month, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved continued exploration of adding a second grade. But as the board […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
School deepens culture of civic engagement; cost of Jindal proposals worries board
The Lake Forest Elementary Charter School’s board of directors met on March 13 to discuss the school’s culture. Principal Mardele Early stressed the school’s focus on community service as well as rigorous academics. She described some of the charity and community development functions the school hosted recently. “None of us know when any of the […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board seeks scholarships as first senior class prepares to graduate; high school plan filed
School spending is in line with budget projections through the end of the year, provided grants that have been applied for come through. That was the message from the finance committee as directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. School of Science and Technology gathered for their monthly meeting, March 13. The finance committee is […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Testing shows progress but weak spots remain; attendance tops 97%; dropouts at zero
Quarterly benchmarks for and math language comprehension were a focus of attention at the monthly meeting of the Dryades Y James M Singleton Charter School board of directors, March 13. Testing of third- through eighth-graders shows progress, principal Melrose Biagas told the board. About 40 percent of students in this age group demonstrated basic comprehension […]