The OPSBrief

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In This Issue
Citywide Public Meeting on Master Plan Amendments

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www.eastbankcollaborative.com 

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This report is created by Ken Ducote and Rose Drill-Peterson on behalf of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools 

Greetings!


The following report is from the Saturday, July 9, 2011, citywide public meeting on proposed amendments to the School Facilities Master Plan.

Saturday's meeting was the first of nine scheduled to provide for public input before the amended Master Plan is considered for approval in August.

Visit www.rebuildingnolaschools.com to view the complete list of public meetings.


***This email is created by Ken Ducote and Rose Drill-Peterson on behalf of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools and is not an official correspondence from the Orleans Parish School Board***
CITYWIDE PUBLIC MEETING ON MASTER PLAN AMENDMENTS

Discussion of Plan Implementation and Amendments

  • Conducted by a panel consisting of the following persons:
    • Facilitator: Bill Rouselle of Bright Moments
    • RSD: Capital Projects Director Lona Hankins and Deputy Superintendent Patrick Dobard
    • OPSB: Superintendent Darryl Kilbert
    • Oversight Committee: OPSB President Lourdes Moran and Technical Representative Paul Flower, P.E.
  • Presented a short film on the progress of plan implementation.
  • Distributed and reviewed A Guide to the School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish

Key Points Made during Panel's Presentations

  • Giving people "world-class schools" will raise community's expectations for future schools.
  • Neglected buildings are evidence of neglected children.
  • Instructional methods have changed, requiring flexible school buildings that meet individual needs and encourage real-life experiences while being community-friendly.
  • The public is invited to participate in all of the review meetings; schedule viewable here.  
  • OPSB and RSD are working together on the plan.
  • The FEMA settlement replaced individual school repair projects with one comprehensive, "alternate" project, the Master Plan.
  • Plan amendments include two related, but separate, areas:
    • Building program and technical specifications, and  
    • Construction and renovation projects.
  • Amendments to specifications were based upon recommendations from three peer review committees and are intended to improve building performance while reducing per-pupil capital and operational costs.
  • Revised list of proposed projects reflects post-census demographic projections, revised enrollment targets for "right-sizing" schools, and funding limitations.
  • Master Plan is limited to major renovations and new construction; stabilization and major maintenance projects will be funded from other sources.
  • Plan amendments represent a "work-in-progress" for which public input is sought. 
  • Attendees were encouraged to talk to their elected OPSB and BESE representatives.
  • The assignment of operators to school buildings is a separate process from the Plan:
    • OPSB recently adopted a process and criteria for assigning operators.
    • RSD will again engage the community on assignments early in the Fall. 

Public Input Session

  • General observations on the decisions facing OPSB and BESE in considering the proposals, within funding limitations, as revealed in public comments:
    • Capital improvements where students now live versus capital improvements as a catalyst for redevelopment of underpopulated areas;
    • Citywide attendance by choice and theme versus neighborhood children able to attend neighborhood schools;
    • Provision of limited selection of career-tech labs in each school versus strategically placed specialized schools; and
    • Planning facilities for specific programs versus planning flexible and generic facilities able to house a variety of programs.
  • Speakers opposing the phase-outs of Walker HS and McDonogh HS.
  • Speakers supporting the funding of renovations to Lusher ES and HS, Behrman ES, and Audubon ES.
  • Speakers supporting new schools for the following areas: Carrollton-Riverbend, Lower 9th Ward, Florida, Mid-City, and Carver.
  • Speakers supporting larger school yards and more health clinics.
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 This service is made possible by a Community IMPACT 2010 Grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation.