The board of Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy Charter School held their second monthly meeting of the academic year on Oct. 3 at 6:05 pm. Five board members were in attendance as the meeting began: Arthur Williams Jr., Ashton Ryan Jr., Dr. Charles Southall III, Clinton Smith, Jr. and Jesse Hills Jr.; Norma Dixon Monroe arrived ten […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Staff resignations filled; small deficit should be plugged by pending grants and donations
Directors of the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy met Sept. 29, at 6 p.m., to discuss the state of the school and plan construction of its future home. Board members Col. Terry Ebbert. Maj. Blake LeMaire, Eades Hogue, and Capt. Dave Whiddon were present. Board members James Reiss, Courtney Bagneris, and Capt. Keith Amacker […]
Posted inSchools
School building program gets fraud oversight
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | Contractors tasked with nearly $2 billion worth of school renovation and construction will face a comprehensive fraud monitoring program announced Monday afternoon by the Recovery School District, which oversees the facilities master plan. The monitoring will involve investigators from the city’s Office of Inspector General, the State […]
Posted inOpinion
Protest should focus on Lafayette Square — and 2nd Harvest Food Bank
On Thursday, the Occupy Wall Street protest movement wil come to New Orleans. It’s inspiring to see people gearing up to act locally about national economic-justice issues that can seem far removed from South Louisiana but have a tremendous influence on our well-being. However, the current plan can be greatly improved upon. Indeed, the New Orleans affiliate […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Released after three month delay, city audit reveals 2010 budget shortfall
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | New Orleans began this year operating $28.7 million in the red, an audit of the city’s 2010 books released Thursday shows. The news comes as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Mayor Mitch Landrieu as he attempts to maintain a balanced budget without making significant cuts […]
Posted inLand Use, Opinion
Is Avondale’s owner sabotaging possible sale of the shipyard?
A “Save Our Shipyard” rally for the imperiled Avondale facility is set for tomorrow at 10 A.M. on the Poydras Street side of the Superdome. Supporters of Avondale will then march to the Federal Building at 500 Poydras, for speeches and cheers. The event is sponsored by the AFL-CIO and other unions, and all “stakeholders […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
All visitors must wear name tags; rules set for social contact between teachers/students
The board of the International School of Louisiana gathered on Sept. 28 for its first regular meeting of the year. All members were present as was an audience of eight. The meeting began with a question and answer session with ISL’s acting principal Sean Wilson. Topics Wilson broached included ISL’s decision to vigorously enforce its […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Algiers Charter School Meeting agenda released
Review it at the following link: ACSA Board Agenda 9-29-2011final.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Group studying New Orleans jail size may consider adding 1,000 beds to complex
Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s jail working group will meet again in October, and it could recommend another 1,000 jail beds on top of the 1,438 that the City Council has already given Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman the go-ahead to build. The group will convene Oct. 19, the first time in 12 weeks. The administration said […]
Posted inLand Use
BioDistrict violates state law requiring hearing to let public offer input on budget
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Nearly two years into its operations, the state-funded organization coordinating development of a new biomedical district spanning downtown, Mid-City and Gert Town has never held a public hearing on its $2.5 million budget. The lack of public input puts the Greater New Orleans Biosciences Economic Development District […]