The school didn’t notify the public before a retreat that included seven of its nine board members.
Author Archives: Jessica Williams
Jessica Williams stays on top of the city's loosely organized collection of public schools, with a special emphasis on charter schools. In 2011 she was recognized by the Press Club of New Orleans for her reporting on charter school transparency and governance. In 2012, she was part of a team that received a National Edward R. Murrow Award for their work following a New Orleans family's recovery after Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Edna Karr Secondary School in Algiers, and she obtained her bachelor
Posted inCharter Schools
Crescent City Schools may take over City Park Academy as principal retires
McDonogh City Park Academy would be the second addition to the Crescent City Schools network in as many years.
Posted inSchools
Two charter organizations spent about $250,000 on out-of-state professional training
Algiers Charter Schools Association staff went on 19 trips over four years, including five out of state that cost $113,000. And new figures from KIPP New Orleans Schools show that it spent $133,000 on its trip to Las Vegas. All told, The Lens has added up $316,000 in travel for three charter organizations.
Posted inSchools
Q & A: Nolan Marshall Jr. says he aims to build consensus as OPSB president
He also discussed charter school oversight and changing the makeup of the board.
Posted inSchools
Unauthorized credit card use among issues faulted by OPSB auditors
Another problem: OPSB computer program automatically adjusted staff seniority to reflect pay grades, regardless of actual years of service.
Posted inSchools
State flags standardized test problems at 17 New Orleans schools in 2012-13
Most of the problems were small-scale plagiarism, according to a report.
Posted inSchools
RSD’s school closure process has uneven effect on students at failing schools
Based on 2013 test scores, are the students who left the Recovery School District’s four failing schools in better academic environments than before? If they left Mays and Henderson, they generally are. But not if they left Abramson and Johnson.
Posted inSchools
You want local, elected school boards? Charter-based voting would do it
Other states are pioneering different ways of bringing electoral control to charter school management. Would they work here?
Posted inCharter Schools
Crescent City Schools board loosens rules on midyear budget adjustments
But the board didn’t comply with state law when it failed to solicit public comment before two votes.
Posted inCharter Schools
KIPP rejects move to Orleans Parish School Board; strong reserves projected
The board that governs KIPP New Orleans unanimously voted Dec. 19 not to switch four eligible schools from the Recovery School District to Orleans Parish School Board oversight. The vote was quick, with little to no discussion from board members. Parents KIPP talked to didn’t want to switch, director of advocacy Jonathan Bertsch said. “A […]