Charter School Board

New Orleans Charter Schools Foundation

Parents have few options when moving kids from failing public schools

The federal No Child Left Behind law mandates that children at failing schools are given the opportunity to attend better ones. But more than seven years into the New Orleans choice experiment, schools are so academically anemic that the transfer options aren’t much better — and in some cases, they’re just as bad.

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McDonogh City Park tightens security in wake of Newtown shootings

McDonogh City Park Academy leaders plan to tighten security measures in the New Year in response to last month’s school shootings in Newtown, Conn. Keeanya Dupre, director of finance and operations for the elementary and middle school, said the school will use state money to hire a part-time security guard to man the front door and make rounds through the school.

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Board discusses enrollment boost, new hires and LEAP prep classes

Enrollment numbers came in much higher than expected at McDonogh City Park Academy, Principal Christine Mitchell announced at the board’s October 16 monthly meeting. The current enrollment of  420 marks the highest total since New Orleans Charter School Foundation took over the school, according to Mitchell.

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Programs put in place to encourage good behavior, discourage bullying

At Tuesday’s monthly board meeting school leaders at McDonogh City Park Academy announced a new partnership with the Center for Restorative Approaches and the successful implementation of the Kickboard program. Kickboard is an online data-collection tool that helps teachers gather information about students’ academics and behavior. The program allows teachers to keep detailed digital records of each student, which are used to improve classroom instruction and inform weekly communications with parents.

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Surging enrollment eases sharp cutbacks in projected spending for 2012-13

With the projected student count rising from 395 to 452, McDonogh City Park Academy’s 2012-13 budget will rise accordingly, the board learned at its monthly meeting, July 17.  More students means more expenses, but also more revenues; just how much more remains to be determined, finance director Keeanyu Dupre said. Dupre said the school was “working with the bare bones” when constructing a budget based on an enrollment of 395.

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Slight drop in overall spending projected, despite jump in some budget categories

Revenues and expenses are expected to hold steady as McDonogh City Park Academy prepares for the 2012-13 school year.  The school projects $4,155,180 in available funds and $4,071,986 in expenses for the year – a one percent drop in both categories compared with last year. The projections are based on a student count of 395, five fewer than the official count on Feb.

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Board reviews Children's Bureau program to enhance emotional well-being among students

On March 20, at the monthly meeting of McDonogh City Park Academy board of directors, the Children’s Bureau presented data  they have collected over the past eight months while working with the school’s leadership to enhance the emotional well-being of students. Children’s Bureau president Paulette Carter led he presentation with Stacy Overstreet, a professor and co-director of Tulane’s School Psychology Program.

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