By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Update, 7:28 p.m.: Landrieu’s spokesman Ryan Berni says the meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow, January 18, at 5 p.m., after all. To clarify, a meeting of the recreation commission foundation was rescheduled. The executive search committee will meet in the Office of Homeland Security conference room […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board meeting cancelled
According to our CSRC reporter, tonight’s board meeting has been cancelled. No further information available at this time.
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
500-year protection for under $2 billion? Why wait 20 years to start?
Reapirs to New Orleans’ current “100-year” flood defense have already cost more than $10 billion, and yet the coastal master plan projects “500-year” protection for a mere $1.8 billion more? (Dana M. Clark, Flickr Creative Commons) Thursday, The Times-Picayune ran a front-page story on the state’s newly-released 50-year strategy to confront south Louisiana’s coastal loss […]
Posted inOpinion
Last ONE left standing? Sucker punch whacks 'citizen participation'
Office of Neighborhood Engagement leader Lucas Diaz addresses Planning Commission members at the hearing on citizen participation. (New Orleans Public Access TV) By Tim Garrett, The Lens contributing opinion writer | Tuesday’s four-hour meeting of the New Orleans Planning Commission amounted to a public showdown between two rival visions for “citizen participation” in the planning process, […]
Posted inLand Use
Tulane quest to rezone 'peripheral' properties dominates Master Plan hearing
The former Pike frat house on Broadway is among Tulane properties the university seeks to rezone from “residential” to “institutional”. (Photo by Matt Davis) The Planning Commission as well as the general public logged late hours at City Hall Tuesday night. The occasion was an Amendments to the Master Plan meeting, and while it kicked […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board wins charter to take over troubled Cohen High; NOCP performance score back on track
There was good news this month for the board of directors of New Orleans College Preparatory Academies. State education officials have extended the original charter for three years and granted them another to take over Walter L. Cohen High School. “BESE approved our three-year renewal, and approved our charter for Cohen,” executive director Ben Kleban […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Holidays boost enrollment; attendance goal set; Open House and Family Math Night ahead
Two prospective members attended the Jan. 10 monthly meeting of the Pride College Prep board of directors: Sam Joel, director of research for Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and Gabriel Bordenave, the Recovery School District’s portfolio communications director. Pride’s founder and school leader, Michael Richard, announced that with an enrollment of 257, the school is approaching full […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
After-school enrichment is refunded; school improvement plan distributed
At their monthly meeting, Jan. 10, Einstein Charter School’s board of directors approved the allocation of $28,500 to continue after-school enrichment for the remainder of the academic year. With the current enrichment program, Open World, winding down, principal Shawn Toranto requested the funds to pay eight to 15 teachers to conduct after-school classes. The program […]
Posted inSchools
New Orleans native Patrick Dobard named interim chief of Recovery School District
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | Less than two hours after the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education appointed former Recovery School District chief John White to the state superintendent spot, White announced his successor. White’s pick is RSD Deputy Superintendent for Community and Policy Patrick Dobard, who has long been a […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Nationwide search costing tens of thousands could find NORD boss is already here
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A search firm paid $42,000 to find a new city recreation director warned officials today that the longer they take to make a decision, the more likely they are to hire the interim director already in place. The more time the process takes, the less rival candidates […]