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This report is created by Ken Ducote  on behalf of the Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools 

The Orleans Parish School Board held its monthly Committee Meetings on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at OPSB's Timbers III Office Building, 3520 General DeGaulle Drive.
 
Committees typically review and discuss items prior to their consideration at a future Board Business Meeting. Committees also review the progress of the implementation of matters previously discussed by the Board. The next Board Business Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, at 5:00 p.m., following a 4:30 p.m. Public Hearing on policy matters. 
 
OPSBrief has summarized the agendas of the Committee Meetings below and provided links to posted agendas and back-up documentation.
 
OPSB's February Committee and Board meetings were cancelled.
 
 
***This email is created by Ken Ducote on behalf of the Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools and is not an official correspondence from the Orleans Parish School Board***
MARCH 10 OPSB COMMITTEE MEETINGS
 
Discussion and Information Items
Reviewed and discussed staff reports with no action required at this time
    • 2014-2015 Annual Reviews and OPSB Annual Report
    • OPSB Charter Performance Framework Updates
      • Einstein Charter's CEO complained that it was unfair that all schools are evaluated on the same scale although some are not properly funded for their particular student characteristics
      • Audubon Charter's Principal reported on the progress the school has made on improving its financial management and reporting
    • Type 5 Transfer Update
      • Five eligible RSD schools opted to return to OPSB (see below)
      • CFO explained insurance rates of OPSB vs. RSD
        • Local rates are getting more favorable to OPSB
        • RSD is included in a much larger pool of statewide property
        • RSD prorates insurance costs based upon enrollment which benefits schools at under-capacity
        • OPSB charges costs based on actual insurance premiums for the buildings occupied 
    • 2016 Charter School RFA
      • Four operators proposing 7 schools are being considered
    • 2016 Spring Assessment Testing Security Protocols
  • EnrollNOLA Annual Report
    • Discussed size of catchment areas and related policies
    • One App director reported that a working group was looking at catchment areas now 
Action Items
All items were forwarded to the full Board with a recommendation to approve
 
  • Extensions of charters
    • InspireNOLA Charter Schools - Year 3 Extension - Harte ES and Karr HS
    • Homer A. Plessy Community School - Year 3 Extension
    • Bricolage Academy - Year 3 Extension
  • Type 3B transfers from RSD schools - acceptance
    • Mary D. Coghill Charter School
    • Fannie C. Williams Charter School
    • KIPP Renaissance HS
    • New Beginnings School Foundation
      • Pierre A. Capdau Charter School
      • Lake Area New Tech Early College HS
  • Charter operating agreement amendment
    • Bricolage Academy
      • Would require a minimum of 1/3 enrollment be "economically disadvantaged"
  • Reasonable Assurance of Employment Letters
    • Routine annual to academic year employees
    • Prevents unemployment insurance payments during schedule days not working
  • 2016-2017 Academic Calendar
    • Discussed possible provision to ensure transcripts office was open during long holidays
 
Discussion and Information Item
Reviewed and discussed staff reports with no action required at this time
  • December 2015 Financial Statements 
    • Sales tax is about 5 % more than last year
    • Includes $ 19.4 million from BP Oil Spill Settlement
Action Items
All items were forwarded to the full Board with a recommendation to approve
  • Grants received
    • McMain Secondary School grant
      • $ 3,000 - N.O. Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation
    • Bethune ES
      • $ 12,700 - Better than Ezra Foundation
    • McDonogh 35 HS
      • $ 2,000 - Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Safe Routes to Schools Program
    • Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between OPSB and City of N.O.
    • Enhances transportation corridors and safety plans
    • Provides training to crossing guards
    • GNOCCS Executive Director (OPSBrief author) spoke in favor of the program but noted that the 10 crossing guards being provided are far short of the approximately 170 provided prior to Hurricane Katrina and that this represents only one of many strategies to make the paths to and from school safer

Action Items
All items were forwarded to the full Board with a recommendation to approve 

  • Second Readings - subject of forthcoming policy Public Hearing
    • Policy FHA - Final Acceptance of Construction Projects
    • Policy FHAA - Liquidated Damages
    • Policy Sections J (Students), K (General Public Relations), and L (Education Agency Relations)
      • A few changes were made and will appear in agenda of Board Business Meeting
    • Policy FJ - Orleans Parish School Facility Preservation Program
   
Reports and Presentations
Reviewed and discussed staff reports with no action required at this time 
  • Capital Projects Report
    • Moton scheduled to move in new building on April 4
      • Discussions held on various building concerns
  • Field of Dreams Project (Carver Complex Campus)
    • Reviewed report
    • Foundation lacks most of the funds needed to construct
  • Vacant Properties
    • Some vacant properties can be scheduled for sale
  • Demographic Update by GCR
    • Kindergarten decreased by 8% as apparent result of recession
    • Enrollment seems to be stabilizing overall
    • Growth and recovery varies by neighborhood
Action Items
The item was forwarded to the full Board with a recommendation to approve 
  • Lusher MS-HS (Fortier Campus) Capital Improvements
    • Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with OPSB for Charter-funded improvements
Action Items - Legislation
  • Deferred discussion of the items until a Special Board Meeting for April 4
    • HB 899 - "Carve-out" - funding for school operators
    • HB 562 - Assignment of pupils to charter schools by local districts
    • HB 466 - Return of schools legislation
    • 2016 MFP Resolution
 
This service is made possible by support from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and funding from the
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