The board of Pride College Prep School met on Oct. 18 at 6:45 p.m. in the conference room of the Main Office Building. Three board members were absent: Lauren Bierbaum, Lisa Tabb, and Janice Piazza. Two teachers and a reporter for The Lens comprised the audience. Founder and school director Michael Richard, an ex-officio board member, discussed school leader […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Tonight's board meeting cancelled
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the board for Lagniappe Academy re-scheduled tonight’s meeting. Details for the date and time of the new meeting will be announced soon.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Landrieu saying little about two no-bid contracts given to Gusman worth $1 million
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | For the second time in a year, Mayor Mitch Landrieu has used an intergovernmental agreement to funnel city money to Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman without seeking bids on the work or showing why Gusman’s services provide the best value to taxpayers. The two contracts likely will […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Pool swimmable by early January; Title 1 and MFP problems ironed out, but deficit lingers
The Dryades Y/ James M. Singleton Charter School board of directors met Oct. 18, with 11 of 17 members present. Absentees were Kendricks Brass, John Calhoun, Sidney Cates, Priscilla Edwards, Jacque Jackson, and Mary Joseph. School staff members in attendance were Avis Brock, Douglas Evans, Catrina Reed, Rhenette Tobias, and Mossy Turner. A reporter for The Lens was the only […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Dardenne, Nungesser race for lt. governor gets down and dirty
Jay Dardenne: incumbent. Photo by Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. Billy Nungesser: challenger. Photo by Gage Skidmore. Three weeks ago I thought I’d be the only one to plumb the lurid depths of the lieutenant governor’s race between Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and incumbent Jay Dardenne. But, happily, pundits of all stripes have jumped […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Absent officers stall hearing on 7th Ward bar
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | In a move to address repeated neighborhood complaints about two neighborhood bars, city officials held a second administrative hearing Tuesday, a month after negotiating an agreement with the first place, The Duck Off Bar. That decision allowed the owners to continue operating a business, but as a […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board weighs charter transition options; transfer to FirstLine gains favor, pending community input
NOLA 180, the board that governs Langston Hughes Academy Charter School, met Oct. 10 to discuss that administrative transition made necessary by the pending expiration of the school’s charter. Board co-president Dow Edwards identified two possible responses: One is to let the charter expire at the end of the fiscal year, June 30. The other, […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Action plan attacks low school performance score; volunteer reading tutors want to help
At its monthly board meeting, Oct. 14, Success Preparatory Board members continued to discuss aggressive strategies to improve the school performance score — 54.2 — recently assigned by the state Department of Education. Any score below 60 is equivalent to an “F” in the state’s revamped grading system. Scores are based on student testing, attendance […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board reschedules tonight's meeting to Oct. 25
The New Orleans Charter Schools Foundation board meeting scheduled for tonight at McDonogh City Park Academy has been pushed back a week to October 25.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite community input, Landrieu increases NOPD spending, cuts most other areas
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | This summer, Mayor Mitch Landrieu invited residents to come out and tell him how they wanted their tax dollars spent in 2012. Community meetings held in every section of the city attracted hundreds of residents who spoke passionately about needs in their community – needs for jobs, […]