The board of Intercultural Charter School met Oct. 20, at 6:00 p.m. before an audience of 36, including a reporter from The Lens. Members present were: Alvaro Alcazar, Kathleen Carlin, Vong Nguyen, Cam-Thanh Tran, Francis Cascio, Jerome Jordan, Amy Scalia, Ed Blouin, Tap Bui and Claudia Duque. Tran, the board’s chair, said the school’s decision to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Guide to participation in budget is released
New Orleans citizens interested in learning more about, and getting involved in, the city’s budget process can download a new guide created by an open-government coalition. The New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance produced the guide to encourage residents to become more active in the public-hearing process, which began Tuesday. The Lens is one of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Plans for Central City reception hall pit cousin against cousin at hearing on zone change
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | An after-the-fact request for a zoning change pitted cousin against cousin this week at the City Planning Commission meeting. According to developer Earl Myers, in December 2010 the city Department of Safety and Permits issued him a permit for commercial renovation of his Central City property, a […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Hike sought in enrollment, parent involvement; options discussed include pre-K, sports, music
Cash flow concerns, student achievement and the draft of a three-year development plan were the focus of greatest attention at the monthly meeting of the Benjamin E. Mays Preparatory Academy charter school board, on Oct. 24. Board members Sidney Barthelemy, Kristen Ponthier, John Williams, and Todd James were present; member Morgan Williams participated by phone. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Fairness of property assessments comes up at budget hearing, probably not for last time
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | The City Council began its three-week budget-review process Tuesday, with council members learning how much of $494 million in general-fund cash will come from property taxes, and hearing how the finance department intends to spend a proposed $50 million chunk of that money. The day began with […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Hynes hits two-year performance goal in just one year; December calendar tweaked for move
Edward Hynes Charter School remains on schedule to move to its new campus the week of Dec. 19, the school’s principal said during October’s monthly board meeting. In her report to the board at the Oct. 24 meeting, Principal Michelle Douglas said Hynes will adjust its academic calendar by canceling school on Friday and Monday, […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Performance scores rise despite influx of students from low-performing elementary schools
The KIPP New Orleans school board, which manages six schools in New Orleans, held its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20, with all members present and an audience of three, including a reporter for The Lens. After going into a lengthy executive session, the board emerged to discuss school performance and finances. Executive […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Academics, attendance remain strong; funding glitch leaves $114,000 hole in the budget
Directors of Akili Academy gathered in the main annex at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24, for their monthly board meeting. Work lies ahead in bringing new students up to speed with retained students, the board was told, but progress remains strong. Attendance, at 97 percent, is excellent and the budget is healthy, the board learned, though […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Big grants announced; new grading system explained; bus routes may be cut to save money
The ReNEW Charter Schools Board of Directors met Oct. 13 at Batiste Cultural Arts Academy at Live Oak. In addition to expected updates, the meeting included presentation of a $50,000 grant from State Farm and the announcement of another $400,000 grant from the NewSchools Venture Fund. In addition to Batiste, ReNEW manages Sci Tech Academy Elementary […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
NOMMA board agenda released
Below is a copy of the draft agenda sent to The Lens in advance of tomorrow’s board meeting. === Draft New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy Board Meeting October 26¸ 2011 6:00 PM Open Meeting Meeting Agenda 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of minutes 3. Reports and Recommendations A. Finance – Budget Update 4. Old […]