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

 

The Orleans Parish School Board held a Public Hearing on 2014 Charter Applications, followed by its regular monthly Committee Meetings, on Thursday, July 17, 2014, in the Timbers III Office Building, 3520 General DeGaulle Drive. 
  
Three Committees met, the Legal and Legislative Committee was not scheduled to meet, and the Budget and Finance Committee Meeting was cancelled. 
  
Typically, OPSB reviews and discusses at Committee Meetings those items that will be considered at future Board Business Meetings and reviews the progress of the implementation of items previously approved. In general, Committee Meetings offer the public the best opportunity for input regarding items pending before the Board. 
  
The next Board Business Meeting is scheduled to be held in the McDonogh 35 HS Auditorium, 1331 Kerlerec Street, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 and will be preceded by a Public Hearing on Policy Matters. The Hearing will probably be scheduled for 4:30 p.m., to be followed by the Business Meeting at 5:00 p.m.
  
The posted agendas and back-up documentation for items being considered may be reviewed by clicking on the title of each respective Committee below. OPSBrief has also summarized the items appearing on each agenda.

  

***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***
REPORT FRM JULY 17 OPSB MEETINGS
Public Hearing
  • Type 1 Charter School Applications - 2014
    • Consideration of Administration recommendations to approve or deny
      • Received comments from applicants and the public on the Administration's recommendations
      • Asked questions of staff and applicants
    • Analysis had been performed by both independent third-party reviewer and  OPSB Charter Schools Office
    • Type 1 Schools usually are responsible for finding their own facilities
      • OutLearn Charter School
        • Proposed 9-12 HS for 400 students
        • Recommendation was to deny
        • Applicant did not appear at the hearing
      • Pathways in Education
        • Proposed 9-12 HS for 3 sites of 300 each as alternative settings
        • Recommendation was to deny
        • Applicant appeared, did not object to recommendation, and promised to resubmit in the future
      • Cypress Academy
        • Proposed K-8 ES for 700 students and specific emphasis on special needs populations
        • Recommendation was to approve
        • Applicant appeared in support of recommendation
        • One parent of special needs child spoke in support
      • Foundation Preparatory
        • Proposed K-5 ES for 648 students and special emphasis on English Language Learners in N.O. East
        • Recommendation was to approve but with K-6 or K-8
        • Applicant appeared in support, as well as agreed to K-6
        • Several community persons spoke in support
  • Type 1 Charter School Applications - 2014
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve Administration's recommendations
  • OutLearn Charter School - to deny
  • Pathways in Education - to deny
  • Cypress Academy - to approve
  • Foundation Preparatory - to approve with modification for K-6 or K-8
  • LEAP and iLEAP test results
    • Received report from staff on 2012-2014 trend data synopsis
    • Showed trends in improvement by test and by schools (direct-run and charter)
    • Showed district-wide results for ACT tests
  • School Facility Master Plan update
    • Received and discussed a report from Superintendent Stan Smith
    • Discussed overall OPSB-RSD progress and challenges
    • Said OPSB's current share of capital revenues allows it to complete all of its Master Plan projects, including the new Bio-District HS
      • OPSB current projection is for a balance across capital funds of $ 7.42 million, subject to "true-up" for insurance proceeds
      • Earlier projections of shortfall are in RSD's projects
        • BESE Committee of the Whole Meeting scheduled to discuss RSD's related report
          • Lake Area New Tech Early College High School
            6026 Paris Avenue
            New Orleans, LA 70122
            July 30th at 6:00 p.m.
  • Capital progress report
    • Received and discussed status report from staff
  • North Kenilworth (Moton) ES
    • Received and discussed report of delay claim settlement results
    • Settles alleged owner-caused delays with OPSB to pay an additional $ 677,000 to general contractor
  • Lusher HS (Fortier) Refurbishment
    • Bid results were under budget and contract ready for award
  • Warren Easton HS Stabilization
    • Bid results were under budget and contract ready for award
  • John McDonogh HS
  • Surplus property update
    • Received and discussed a report from the Administration
    • Heard commendation from representative of Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools for OPSB's readiness to offer surplus property to approved charters for purchase
  • Policies for First Reading
    • Received report from staff on need and process for policies
    • Heard commendation from counsel for East Bank Collaborative of Charter Schools for the openness of OPSB Charter School Office to work with charters on drafting policy
      • A126 - Charter Authorizer Authority and Guidelines
      • A127 - Charter School Performance Framework and Evaluation
        • Replacement of current policy
      • A128 - Charter Extension and Renewal
        • Replacement of current policy
      • A129 - Charter Monitoring, Intervention and Closure
        • New policy
  • Policy for Second Reading
    • F602 - Change Orders
      • Amendment to current policy
      • Will subject of Public Hearing before next Board Business Meeting

This meeting was cancelled, although it is possible that many of the scheduled agenda items below may be considered at the forthcoming Board Business Meeting 

  • Lusher HS (Fortier) Modular Buildings
  • Sophie B. Wright HS Shoring
  • McMain HS Stabilization
    • Harrah's funding
  • Master Plan relocation (moving) expenses
  • Warren Easton HS campus expansion budget
  • North Kenilworth (Moton) ES New School delay claim settlement
  • OPSB FY 2015 Stipend & Supplemental Compensation Scales
  • OPSB Salary Schedule Analysis
    • Teacher Aides
    •  Child Nutrition Technicians
  • OPSB Employee Work Year Revisions
    • Security Officers
    • Assistant Principals
  • OPSB Millage Rates for 2015
  • A.P. Tureaud ES Repairs
  • Lusher HS (Fortier) Refurbishment project
    • Bid results
  • Warren Easton HS Stabilization project
    • Bid results
  • Harte ES New School
    • Cisco Hardware and Software
  • Discussion and information items
    • 2015 Millage Adoption
    • Notice of public meeting to call an election
    • May 2014 Financial Statements
    • Harrah's Jazz Casino Fund Disbursement Update
    • Special Progress Report - Capital Projects
 
This service is made possible by support from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and funding from the
Robert Reily Family Trust and the Smith/Cooper Foundation