Reports

Redistricting

Received report from Angele Romig on behalf of GCR and Associates on plans to reapportion and/or redistrict OPSB member districts

• GCR team is Angele Romig, Bill Cody and Richard Poche'.
• The process must be completed by March 2012 and will affect next OPSB elections.
• Required by law to be done after each decennial US census.
• Must adhere to "one-man / one-vote" principle.
• Must be based on latest official Census (i.e., 2010) and cannot take into account projected changes. 
• Under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, OPSB plan must be submitted for approval by US Justice Department (DOJ) to ensure it has no discriminatory purpose or effect and does not regress on minority representation.
• Louisiana R.S. 17:71 requirements:
• Based on official US Census
• Compact and contiguous districts
• Cannot split a precinct among districts
• Enacted through a Board resolution that specifies the size of the Board, terms of office, district boundary lines, date of elections, and effective date.
• Board has two directions it can take:
• Redistricting, which involves keeping 7 districts with modified boundaries.
• Reapportionment, which could involve having some citywide and some district members.
• The current districts, redone after the 2000 Census, had the following characteristics:
• Total New Orleans population was 484,674.
• "Ideal" population per district was  69,239.
• Actual population per district ranged from 66,024 in District 5 to 71,056 in District 4, a variance from ideal <5%.
• Based upon the 2010 Census, OPSB has the following considerations:
• Total New Orleans population was 343,829.
• "Ideal" population for each of the seven districts would be 48,118.
• Current population per existing district ranges from 38,157 in District 2 to 66,663 in District 4.
• Desired variance from ideal population <5% or maybe as high as 10% if justified.
• Districts 1 and 2 need to be enlarged to increase population.
• Districts 4 and 6 need to be reduced in population.
• Districts 3 and 5 are closer to ideal.
• Changes in one district will have a "domino effect" across other districts.
• For the five City Council districts, the "ideal" population is 68,766.
• There will be considerable opportunity for public review and comment during the process.
• The full report will be posted at www.nops.k12.la.us.

Renewal of Lease with Archdiocese of New Orleans

• This item was withdrawn from the agenda. 

Update on Swing Space - Eastbank

• Eastbank need is for Audubon School for 24 months during its renovation.
• Use of modulars at the former Stern Site on Orange & Annunciation now deemed not feasible due to new lead abatement directive from LA DEQ.
• Administration is exploring other options and will report at OPSB business meeting Tuesday.
• Renovation may be delayed if temporary site is not available soon.