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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, June 9, 2016, at 3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Suite 1050 (Multipurpose Room - 1st Floor). 

Committees typically review and discuss items which will subsequently be considered at a regular Board Meeting and review the progress of the implementation of previously approved items. Therefore, Committee Meetings often provide citizens with their best opportunities for participation in discussions about important school system topics.
 
Complete posted agendas and back-up documents may be accessed via the School Board's website. OPSBrief has summarized the activities of the Meetings below and provided links to relevant back-up documentation.
 
The next Regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14th, beginning at 5:00 p.m., although a Public Hearing on Policy Matters may be held beginning at 4:30 p.m.

***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. Published in part with funding from the Robert Reily Family Trust.***
REPORT FROM JUNE 9 OPSB MEETING 
Accountability Committee
  • 2016-2017 Charter Renewal Process
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
  • Revised Geographic Catchment Zones for OneApp 
    • Received, reviewed and discussed a new report from Administration 
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
    • Animation explaining OneApp process can be viewed here
    • Heard comments from four members of the public
      • Executive Director of GNOCCS spoke in favor of the proposal
        • Disclosure - Ken Ducote, author of OPSBrief
        • Said it was a reasonable compromise across many variables and criteria
        • Emphasized need to revise every few years, especially after current school construction is completed
        • Said that geographic distribution of quality operators should be considered when operators are assigned to campuses
      • Representative of LAPCS spoke in favor of the proposal
        • Said it was a reasonable compromise
      • Another member of the working group spoke in favor
        • Plan not perfect
      • A parent reported that she lived across the street from a school that OneApp did not send her children to
        • Said her two daughters had sickle cell anemia which was aggravated by long bus rides and early pick-up times
        • Said she provided doctors' statements but officials would not consider making an accommodation
        • Thought there should be a preference for walking distance
        • Said she was told by EnrollNOLA office that the system governed assignments and no accommodation can be made
        • Superintendent Lewis told her that his staff would meet with her and work out accommodations
  • Board members asked for more and varied opportunities for parent input
  • Foundation Preparatory Charter School Charter Amendment
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
    • Moving to 7301 Dwyer Road (co-housed with Livingston HS) for 2016-2017
    • Expanding to PK
  • Revisions to 2016-2017 OPSB District Calendar
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Opening of School Convocation moved to August 11
    • Add Memorial Day as an employee holiday
    • Administration proposed additional amendments
      • OPSB Committee and Business Meetings moved to August 30 for that month
      • OPSB Meetings would normally be at  3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Suite 1050 (Multipurpose Room - 1st Floor) instead of McDonogh 35 HS
    • Board members proposed standardizing Committee Meeting times
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve with added amendments
  • Board members were concerned about the amount of instructional time that the State forces the District to use for standardized testing.
    • Board Member Marshall: "You cannot make the hen fatter just by weighing her every day."
 
Policy Committee


Property  Committee 
  • Capital Projects Status Report - March 2016
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
  • McDonogh 35 High School Site Improvements
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between City and OPSB for grant was previously approved by OPSB
    • More than $ 5 million has been secured via water management grants
    • McDonogh 35 and Willie Hall Playground to receive site improvements, including a football field, basketball courts, softball field
    • Pedestrian bridge will be added across Bayou St. John to open access to City Park
    • See site plan here
  • Plan for siting new N.O. Charter Science and Math HS
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
    • OPSB to allocate $ 5 million to refurbish former Thurgood Marshall ES
    • Success Preparatory Academy to vacate former Wicker ES and move to refurbished Marshall ES
    • Former Wicker Campus would then be available for redevelopment as NOCSMHS
    • Delegation from NOCSMHS spoke in favor of the proposal and thanked the Board and Administration
 
Budget and Finance Committee
  • Deferred Revenues Distribution for FY 2015
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Procedures clarified by the recently passed Act 91 (Reunification legislation)
    • Checks would be sent to schools around June 25
  • Financial Statements through March 2016
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Property taxes are now being received on schedule
    • Sales taxes are 4 to 5 % ahead of budgeted estimates
    • Per-pupil distribution of local funds was less than budget estimates because enrollment was about 1000 students higher than projections, thus spreading the fixed local revenues across a large base of pupils
  • Casualty Insurance Renewal 
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration that bids have not been received yet
  • Consent Agenda - forwarded to full Board with recommendation for approval
  • Donation from National University Systems - $ 1500 
  • Capital Budget Amendment Resolutions
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Represents cost true-ups and accounting transfers - no projects added or deleted
  • Revisions to OPSB Employee Salary Scale 
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
    • Adjusts salary scale to be competitive with other school districts for teachers and support personnel
  • Stipend and Supplemental Compensation Scale
    • Received, reviewed and discussed report from Administration
    • Annual requirement of external funders to have adopted pay scale for extra duties
    • Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
Legal and Legislative Committee
  • Executive Session
    • Personal injury lawsuit - settlement recommendation
    • Property class action litigation - stipulations
    • Personnel matter
  • Open Session
    • Forwarded the first two items to full Board for action