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District will develop plans with schools across the city to address systemic racism
NEW ORLEANS – (June11, 2020) - Today, at its June Board Business Meeting, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) passed a resolution approving the engagement of a consultant to strategically evaluate School District policies, practices and procedures and utilize those findings to develop a racial equity plan for all public schools in New Orleans. The goal of the plan is to ensure that racism does not affect outcomes and experiences for NOLA-PS students and their families. Currently, the New Orleans public school district student body is 80 percent African American.
“Our students, parents and staff deserve more than mere platitudes of support and solidarity. They deserve action! We are committed to rooting out any racial inequalities within our system,” said OPSB President and author of the resolution Ethan Ashley. “I am thankful to our administration for their commitment to combat racial inequities in our system. I am certain that this resolution is the natural next step to build upon the internal work around equity. For in the end, change starts one system at a time.”
The resolution outlines the OPSB’s outrage over the killing of George Floyd and other African Americans in recent years as well as “the persistent racial violence and systemic racism we continue to see across our country.” The resolution goes on to state that while the OPSB has strived to bring equitable solutions to systemic problems, these efforts are often undermined by institutional legislation, policies and mandates from governing bodies within the community. With this understanding, the OPSB hopes to lead efforts to disrupt the patterns of racial inequality that permeate our system by auditing policies and procedures and to encourage and support OPSB-authorized schools to do the same while crafting a racial equity plan that addresses the daily structure of the school system and improves the outcomes and experiences of all families and students.
The full resolution text can be found online here.
Last week, the district posted a statement in response to the recent protests sweeping the city and country following Mr. Floyd’s death. The statement was as follows:
“NOLA Public Schools is devastated and outraged by the tragic events gripping the nation. We must speak out and fight against systemic racism on behalf of the 45,000 students served by our district – 80% of which are African American and nearly that are African American males. This is personal to us, #BlackLivesMatter.
We know that racial injustice is a traumatic reality known too well by our students, parents, educators and many of our own staff. We must demand a better future for our students. They deserve to live and thrive in a world that sees their humanity and appreciates the value of their life. As we process these recent events collectively, we stand with all those fighting against these injustices and we are committed to doing the work, day in and day out, to help educate our children to continue to fight for their rights.
Our heart aches for the families of those who have been killed at the hands of police officers. We stand resolute in joining our voices with others to demand justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and all the victims of police brutality.”
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ABOUT NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish, which includes the district’s elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board and the district’s administration led by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools. For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.
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Grisela Jackson will take Ben Klebans’ place on the Orleans Parish School Board
NEW ORLEANS – (June 11, 2020) – At the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) board business meeting on Thursday, June 11, the OPSB elected Grisela Jackson to take the District 5 seat on the board. District 5 covers parts of the Lower Garden District, Uptown and Central City. The seat became available for assignment following current District 5 board member Ben Kleban’s announcement that he will be resigning from his seat in June as his family is moving out of state.
“I would like to welcome Grisela Jackson to our board and I am grateful for her interest in working alongside myself and my fellow board members with dedication and respect on behalf of our City’s children.” said OPSB President Ethan Ashley. “I look forward to seeing how she will contribute to the Orleans Parish School Board and District 5, especially during this critical and trying time for our students and schools.”
“I am pleased that our board identified a new member this evening to support our work and I very much look forward to working closely with Grisela Jackson in the coming months as we work together to serve the students and families,” said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr.
JJackson is a mother, pastor’s wife and businesswoman with a passion for education and a love for children. Endeavoring to bring back quality public school education for all the children of our city, she led the efforts to restart and rebuild Lawrence D. Crocker Elementary School with support and involvement from members of the Historic Second Baptist Church and other committed residents from the community. A native of Puerto Rico and a New Orleanian since the age of eight, she is a product of Orleans Parish public schools.
The board welcomes Jackson in her new role and looks forward to working together to advocate for the students and families of NOLA Public Schools. Jackson’s term will run through the board elections in November.
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ABOUT NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish, which includes the district’s elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board and the district’s administration led by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools. For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.
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NEW ORLEANS – (MAY 26, 2020) - In planning for the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) has announced it will be launching an open survey for parents, students, teachers, school staff and the community to share their insights and experiences on how COVID-19 has affected public education, as well as share their thoughts on how to best return to school in the fall. The survey, which will launch online this week, will inform the newly formed NOLA-PS Reopening Task Force in their development of a Roadmap to Reopening, which is tentatively scheduled for release by the end of June.
“Now more than ever we need to hear from our community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. “The virus has presented us all with unique and trying challenges. As we plan for what lies ahead for the next school year, we want to be sure we are involving everyone in developing plans to best keep our children and education professionals healthy and supported, while also taking into consideration the needs of families and the community at large. It’s going to take all of us to do this and I know we can do this. I am eager to hear more from the Task Force and encourage everyone to participate in the survey and have their voice be heard.”
The Task Force, which held its first meeting virtually last week and will meet weekly throughout the summer, is focusing on planning for every possible scenario to ensure students, staff and faculty are safe while helping children grow and learn. The group will act as a conduit for various stakeholders including the City, the Louisiana Department of Health, the Louisiana Department of Education, the Office of Youth and Families as well as the district’s students, parents, retired educators and faith-based community advisory committees. It will advise district administration and the board on the resources and supports that should be available to students, families and educators next school year. In addition to safety and educational considerations, the group will address the needs of diverse learners and the mental and behavioral health of students and staff in various reopening scenarios.
The group is comprised of school leaders, teachers, social workers, medical experts, parents, city officials and other key experts. Current members include:
City Officials:
Mayor Latoya Cantrell
Dr. Jenifer Avegno – New Orleans Health Department
Emily Wolffe and Camille Alexander – Office of Youth and Families
School Leaders:
Sharon Clark- Sophie B. Wright Charter School
Mervin Jackson- Warren Easton Charter High School
Rhonda Kalifey- Aluise- KIPP New Orleans
Myrialis King- Foundation Prep and Community Academies
Jamar McKneely- InspireNOLA
Sabrina Pence- Firstline Schools
Patricia Perkins - Morris Jeff Community School
Troave Profice- Bricolage Academy
Kathy Riedlinger- Lusher Charter School
Terri Smith- Encore Academy
Terri Williams- Moton Charter School
School-Based Staff: Teachers, Principals, and Social Workers:
Tom Coates-Welsh- Akili Academy of New Orleans
John Gravier - ReNew Dolores T. Aaron Academy
Arriane Jones - Fannie C. Williams Charter School
Hope Loughran – Edward Hynes Charter School
Raquel Palacio - Mildred Osborne Charter School
Zerlander Ragas, New Orleans College Prep
Charter Board Chairs:
Gina Dupart- Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
Aaron Jackson – Algiers Charter School Association
Stephen Rosenthal- Collegiate Academies and ReNew Schools
Robert Stefani- Crescent City Schools
Parents from the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Committee:
Erica Martinez
Anna Dominique
Diane Freedman
Key Experts and Experienced Educators:
Dr. Donaldo Batiste
Valencia Douglas
Lamar Gardere
Quentin Messer, Jr.
Carol Rowe
Pat Watson
The pending launch of this survey and the formation of the Task Force are the first step of re-entry planning for the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response has been organized into four phases - Rapid Response, Assessment, Re-entry Planning and Implementation.
Over the last several weeks the District has been in the Assessment phase of the COVID-19 recovery; working with school leaders to determine what has worked and what will be needed to continue to support teachers and students in the next school year. As the District works through realigning plans and changing budgets for the next school year, it has been sharing various potential scenarios for reopening with school leaders and working with them to develop plans for each step. To better unify the protocols for reopening schools, and to make protocols and guidelines streamlined across the district, the administration has been sharing multiple potential needs to inform schools’ planning.
Some of those shared considerations include:
Additionally, NOLA-PS is in the process of hiring a medical and public health advisor who will oversee reentry planning processes and will be available to all schools in the district to advise on actions to take and how to keep our campuses safe.
How to Participate in The Public Education Survey
NOLA-PS will be issuing notifications to parents across the district once the survey is live. It will also post announcements on social media and issue to the media as well. Please be on the lookout for announcements this week.
They survey will be completely anonymous and open to all parents, teachers, school staff and admin, students in grades 6 and above, and community members. The goal of the survey is to gather feedback on the current experience of stakeholders and discover what is most important to them at this time as they think ahead to the start of the new school year. The combined responses will help the district and Task Force understand what is happening in our community right now.
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A Record Number of 106 Graduating Seniors Were Eligible for the Drawing.
NEW ORLEANS – (June 5, 2020) – For the 14th year in a row, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) and Premier Automotive Group awarded a brand-new car, courtesy of Toyota of New Orleans, to a graduating senior with perfect attendance. This year, a brand-new 2010 Toyota Yaris IA was awarded to Lavelis Fountain from New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School. In addition to the brand-new car, Lavelis Fountain was awarded a $2,000 scholarship by the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB).
“I’d like to thank Troy Duhon and the Premier Automotive Group for their partnership and generosity,” said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. “This is an event our seniors with perfect attendance look forward to every year. The opportunity to compete for this car is a fantastic reward for their commitment to their education.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, six finalists were selected via a virtual lottery on Thursday, June 4. Those six finalists were invited to Toyota of New Orleans for the final drawing on Friday, June 5. Other students with perfect attendance were eligible for monetary donations and swag bags provided by Troy Duhon, founder and president of Premier Automotive, along with All-Star Electric, Mobile-One Auto Sound and Core Construction. Additionally, car insurance is being provided by Jonathan Stewart from State Farm.
“This event is very important to me personally. I want to be part of the solution to keep kids in school,” said Premier Automotive Founder & President Troy Duhon. “During the last fourteen years, we have rewarded several hundred outstanding high school seniors with new cars and/or scholarships. Hopefully, we have inspired them to succeed in life.”
“This year, a record 106 seniors did not miss a day of school,” said OPSB Board President Ethan Ashley. “Congratulations to all the eligible seniors! The chance to win this brand-new car proves that your hard work and dedication is paying off.”
“I’d like to thank all of our dedicated teachers and school leaders who helped these seniors reach this exciting milestone,” said OPSB Board Member Leslie Ellison. “We are very proud of these 106 seniors for achieving perfect attendance, it is truly a great accomplishment!”
ABOUT NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
# # #
NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish, which includes the district’s elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board and the district’s administration led by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools. For more information ,visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.
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NEW ORLEANS – (MAY 27, 2020) - The NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) Public Education Survey on how COVID-19 has affected public education is now live. The goal of the survey is to gather feedback on the current experience of participants and discover what is most important to them at this time as they think ahead to the start of the new school year. The district invites parents, students, teachers, school staff and the community to share their insights, experiences and priorities on schooling during the pandemic and how to best return to school in the fall. The combined responses will help the district and the newly formed Reopening Task Force understand what is happening in our community right now.
“Now more than ever we need to hear from our community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. “The virus has presented us all with unique and trying challenges. As we plan for what lies ahead for the next school year, we want to be sure we are involving everyone in developing plans to best keep our children and education professionals healthy and supported, while also taking into consideration the needs of families and the community at large. It’s going to take all of us to do this and I know we can do this. I am eager to hear more from the Task Force and encourage everyone to participate in the survey and have their voice be heard.”
How to Participate in The Public Education Survey
To have your voice heard be heard in the public survey please visit www.nolapublicschools.com.
The survey is completely anonymous and open to all parents, teachers, school staff and admin, students in grades 6 and above, and community members. The survey takes approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. Participants are not asked which school they attend or work. They are rather simply asked to provide their zip codes. The survey is open now and will close at 5 p.m. on June 5th.
Public Education Survey To Inform Reopening Task Force
In planning for the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year, the district has convened and will lead a 30-member NOLA-PS Reopening Task Force to assist in their development of a Roadmap to Reopening, which is tentatively scheduled for release by the end of June.
The Task Force, which held its first meeting virtually last week and will meet weekly throughout the summer, is focusing on planning for every possible scenario to ensure students, staff and faculty are safe while helping children grow and learn. The group will act as a conduit for various stakeholders including the City, the Louisiana Department of Health, the Louisiana Department of Education, the Office of Youth and Families as well as the district’s students, parents, retired educators and faith-based community advisory committees. It will advise district administration and the board on the resources and supports that should be available to students, families and educators next school year. In addition to safety and educational considerations, the group will address the needs of diverse learners and the mental and behavioral health of students and staff in various reopening scenarios. The group is comprised of school leaders, teachers, social workers, medical experts, parents, city officials and other key experts.
The launch of this survey and the formation of the Task Force are the first step of re-entry planning for the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response has been organized into four phases - Rapid Response, Assessment, Re-entry Planning and Implementation.
Over the last several weeks the District has been in the Assessment phase of the COVID-19 recovery; working with school leaders to determine what has worked and what will be needed to continue to support teachers and students in the next school year. As the District works through realigning plans and changing budgets for the next school year, it has been sharing various potential scenarios for reopening with school leaders and working with them to develop plans for each step. To better unify the protocols for reopening schools, and to make protocols and guidelines streamlined across the district, the administration has been sharing multiple potential needs to inform schools’ planning.
Some of those shared considerations include:
Additionally, NOLA-PS is in the process of hiring a medical and public health advisor who will oversee reentry planning processes and will be available to all schools in the district to advise on actions to take and how to keep our campuses safe.
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