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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 RSD, BESE, nor any other state agency
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Greetings!
RSDigest recently sat down with Recovery School District Superintendent Patrick Dobard to learn more about his initiatives, priorities, and plans for the RSD. The conversation is summarized below.
***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 RSD, BESE, nor any other state agency*** |
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CONVERSATION WITH RSD SUPERINTENDENT PATRICK DOBARD
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RSDigest: What have been the successes and challenges of the OneApp student enrollment process?
Superintendent Dobard: OneApp has been a success in that over 25,000 students participated and over 84% of applicants for kindergarten and high school were able to be placed in one of their top three choices. We are not sure all the reasons why the number of applicants for high schools was lower than expected, but parents are certainly asking for better options to attend high school. Registration for available seats remains on-going as parents are in the process of informing schools of their enrollment decisions. One point of uncertainty at all grades is how many of the new students will actually register at their schools assigned through the OneApp process; as a new process, there is no historical data. Some students may have applied to OPSB schools also so they may have acceptances from multiple schools at this point while they decide where to actually register. RSD feels that one application process is needed for the whole city, not just RSD. If the OPSB wanted to get in, they can help build it now. If they want to own the system, be the entity that manages it, they can.
RSDigest: What is the latest on Career Technical Academies?
Superintendent Dobard: We are working on developing Career Technical Education. At the Future is Now program at John McDonogh, we are working with the Louisiana Restaurant Association on a Culinary Program We have a successful partnership going at Landry High School with ConocoPhillips in process technology, whereby students are trained for important, high paying and permanent technical jobs in the petrochemical industry. We are also developing other new programs, including in major local industries, such as construction and bio-medical.
RSDigest: Which schools and programs are moving next year?
Superintendent Dobard: We are moving some programs for the upcoming school year for any one of the following three reasons: (1) A newly constructed facility is being completed this summer and the program sited for that facility will move in; (2) A renovation of a facility has been designed and the program needs to move to a temporary location for construction to begin; or (3) A school is being moved to a permanent location as a result of a siting decision. Fourteen schools are moving, including nine into new school buildings, four into temporary "swing" spaces, and one location change. A complete list can be found on our report.
RSDigest: Have any new site assignments been decided for any remaining unassigned schools?
Superintendent Dobard: Not yet.
RSDigest: Which RSD charters are up for renewal or extension in 2012?
Superintendent Dobard: Seven charters are up for renewal: Sci Academy, Akili Academy, Crocker Arts & Technology School, Intercultural Charter School, KIPP Central City Primary, Miller-McCoy Academy, and Capdau School. Another five charters are up for extension: Arise Academy, Pride College Preparatory Academy, Success Preparatory Academy, Benjamin E. Mays Preparatory School, and Lake Area New Technology Early College High School.
RSDigest: Are you planning to charter next year any more currently direct-run schools?
Superintendent Dobard: We are planning to continue transitioning all schools into high quality charters. But in the meantime, we are continuing to make leadership and program changes to improve the direct-run schools. And we are looking to have more high quality charters ready to take the place of charters that are not renewed.
RSDigest: How are the direct-run high school transitions going?
Superintendent Dobard: High schools in transition with dual operators are doing more cross-planning. We are gearing up to using the ACT for all students. Many alumni are working with us in the transitions, but some alumni are still resistant to the changes.
RSDigest: Are you planning any other new initiatives for next school year?
Superintendent Dobard: We are starting our internal strategic planning processes now. We will have a focus on equity. Our new centralized Hearing Office will be operational to handle major suspension and expulsion cases. Renewed attention will be placed on special education.
RSDigest: Are you working with the OPSB task force for the return to OPSB of successfully performing Type 5 schools?
Superintendent Dobard: Not at this time. We are willing to participate.
RSDigest: Do you have any opinions about the local governance of education?
Superintendent Dobard: New Orleans as a community needs to define the role of governance in schooling. As the recent millage roll-forward question showed, there will always be a need for some central entity. But schools need to have autonomy and be held accountable. Who governs operators should be based on what is best for all the children in the community, not on who has the lower insurance rate or some other short-term narrow concern. It is not RSD's role to decide on governance.
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This service is made possible by a Community IMPACT 2011 Grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
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