For the first time Post-Katrina, the New Orleans community will be given an opportunity to define what it wants for leadership of its schools. Not since the late days of 2005, in the twilight of Act 35’s passage has the New Orleans community had a platform to articulate its vision for the future of school board governance and local control. While the State Superintendent, RSD Superintendent and other elected/education officials reiterate the importance of this critical decision affirming that the collective New Orleans community must decide the future of its school system, there has been no public forum for having the community’s voice heard in directly articulating what it wants from its schools and School Board, until now! In an important public process convened by the people and for the people, the Orleans Public Education Network in partnership with a broad and diverse coalition of 20+ organizations will convene the four-part School Governance Conversation to define the mandate for the next school board and the future of public education leadership in New Orleans.
The four-part series will include meetings across the city, spanning the uptown/downtown geographical divide and reaching into Algiers and New Orleans East to ensure ALL New Orleanians are afforded easy access to the discussion.
During the process, community members will: Craft a vision for the future of public school governance, Delineate values for the system & Identify and select school governance model(s) that are most aligned with the community’s vision and values.
Meeting One: Visioning for The Future of Schools: What’s in The Law?
Expected Outcome: Initial Vision for the School System
Saturday, October 6 | 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Mahalia Jackson School (Central City –2405 Jackson Avenue)
Meeting Two: The Challenge of Effective Leadership
Expected Outcome: Community Values for the New Orleans School System
Saturday, October 13 | 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Andrew H. Wilson School (Broadmoor –3617 General Pershing)
Meeting Three: Building A Model That Works for New Orleans
Expected Outcome: Identify Models/Designs most aligned with New Orleans’ Values and Vision
Saturday, October 20 | 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Knights of Columbus (Lakeview – 6254 Vicksburg [next to St. Paul Church])
Meeting Four: Community Dialogue and Decision-Making (The Vote)
Expected Outcome: Finalized Vision, Values and Model(s) most well-suited for New Orleans
Saturday, October 27 | 10:30 am - 1:00 pm | Two Locations, same time
Christian Unity Baptist Church (Treme –1700 Conti Street)
& O. Perry Walker High School (Algiers –2832 General Meyer Ave)
Transportation, Childcare & Meal Provided
For More Information Contact: 504.821.4004 or [email protected]
The next school board will determine the return of local control setting the course for public education into the forseeable future. In fact, the ability to craft a plan and reconstitute its leadership model, already rests in the legal purview of the School Board. With the future of public education already in its scope of influence, the plan and mandate of the next school board cannot be left to chance or the vision of the candidates alone. A sustainable model of local control requires the support of an informed and engaged public. The community must make clear its values, expectations, and desires for a model of local control it must define the mandate.
OPEN and the Coalition are fully committed to not only providing a venue for community voice but also a conduit for on-going engagement and accountability of the next school board. All school board candidates have been asked to attend and participate in the series. Each candidate will also be invited to sign-off on the final recommendation. The Governance Coalition will actively monitor, report and engage with the new school board to support the realization of the mandate.
We need you!! There is room for you in the Coalition of the willing. There are several ways you can get involved:
Get people mobilized to attend! OPEN will provide transportation to meetings for groups of 20 or more.
Spread the word! - Share announcements/flyers at your upcoming meeting, post it on your website, share it on your facebook page or tweet it, text or email friends to let them know about the meetings. Print and e-blast materials are available for distribution. To get print or e-blast materials contact either [email protected] or [email protected] or call 504-821-4004.
Volunteer to phonebank or canvass a neighborhood – We will be conducting direct outreach to ensure members of the community are aware of this important conversation. Volunteer by contacting Elizabeth Victor at [email protected] or 504-821-4004 ext. 401.
The Governance Coalition is a diverse group of organizations and individuals with equally diverse perspectives on public education. They share a common recognition of the importance one dialogue where the community’s voice is heard in order to build a sustainable model of school governance. Their mission is simple: use every tool available to promote shared decision-making with the public regarding the future of public education in Orleans Parish. Our goal is to support the creation of a high performing unified school district with leadership accountable to the community that will ensure the success of all children.
100 Black Men of Metropolitan New Orleans
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
C-6
CapBlack
Central City Renaissance Alliance
Children’s Defense Fund- New Orleans
Christian Unity Baptist Church
Churches Supporting Churches
Committee for a Better New Orleans
Families and Friends of Louisiana
Incarcerated Children (FFLIC)
Gloryland Mount Gillion Baptist Church
Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools
League of Women Voters
Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church
National Coalition of 100 Black Women -Greater New Orleans Chapter
Neighborhoods Partnership Network
New Hope Baptist Church
New Schools for New Orleans
“New Zion” City Preservation Association, Inc.
Puentes New Orleans
Resurrection After Exoneration
The Alliance Institute
The Micah Project
The Ponchartrain Chapter of Links Incorporated
The Sixth Baptist Church
Total Community Action
United Teachers of New Orleans
Urban League of Greater New Orleans
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association (VAYLA)
Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries
Xavier University of Louisiana -Department of Education
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