By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A little-scrutinized but powerful government body run by Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman is holding a public hearing on its budget on Friday, though scant information on the budget has been made available. The organization is the taxpayer financed Orleans Parish Law Enforcement District. By law, the […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Improving school performance hinges on parental involvement; campus move in the offing
As the date draws near for moving to a new building, the board of Crocker Arts and Technology School is addressing critical issues, including the student performance score. At the their monthly meeting, Dec. 10, board members discussed what needs to happen in the next few months before the school moves from a few bocks […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Poor attendance jacks up student failure rate – but what to do about it?
Discussion of the school’s Response to Intervention report dominated the Dec. 8 monthly meeting of the New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High board. The report takes a close look at Sci High’s student achievement levels through the first half of the year. Of the schools 370 students, 182 are currently failing at least one […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Romney a GOP lock? Unpredictability is only sure thing in politics
Political upsets warm my soul. They’re comforting reminders that the election game isn’t hopelessly rigged towards incumbents and wealthy interests. A voter can still enter a curtained booth on Election Day and push a button to throw the bums out… even if it’s only to replace them with new bums. Before you roll your eyes […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board releases tonight’s meeting agenda
The agenda for tonight’s Success Prep board meeting is available here.
Posted inLand Use
Huge underground drainage project kicks off by clear cutting Claiborne neutral ground
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | The first not-so-subtle signs of a massive drainage project on Claiborne Avenue near the Jefferson Parish line cropped up in the past week. Or rather were cropped down. Nine blocks of trees and plantings have been clear cut along the neutral ground, the first step in tearing […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Park regulations that got Occupiers evicted are little known and rarely enforced
By Benjamin Leger, The Lens contributing writer | Every morning in New Orleans before the sun comes up, runners wind their way through the city’s public parks, getting in their miles before heading to work. Most of them probably don’t know they are breaking city law. The city’s parks and public spaces are closed from […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Road warriors: City officials score $52 million for repairs to flood-damaged side streets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Good news for your undercarriage – Mayor Mitch Landrieu has secured more FEMA money for street repairs in Broadmoor, the Lakeview area and St. Claude. The combined total of $52 million divided between the neighborhoods came as a result of Landrieu-initiated damage assessments done on neighborhood streets. […]
Posted inLand Use
Study of elevated I-10 over Claiborne to get underway; demolition being considered
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | After more than a year of delay, Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration soon will begin a long-anticipated federally funded study of how to revitalize the North Claiborne Avenue corridor, his planning director Bill Gilchrist said this week. The study, which is expected to take more than a year […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board ponders choice of campuses, timing of move; red ink worries auditors
Lagniappe Academies will decide in coming months whether to remain where it is or move to one of two available campuses, board members learned during their monthly meeting, Dec. 7. According to the board, the school has been given a preliminary green light to either move into McDonogh No.7 — a space soon to be […]