RSD Holds Third Public Meeting on School Building Assignments

On Tuesday, January 17 the Recovery School District (RSD) held the third meeting in its series of public meetings this month on school building assignments.  This meeting concerned schools and communities in City Council District C, and was held at Joseph Craig Elementary.  Approximately 200 people attended, including District C City Councilwoman Kristin Palmer and many parents, teachers, and school and neighborhood representatives.

Like the first and second meetings, it began with a presentation by RSD Director of Capital Projects Lona Hankins giving an overview of the School Facilities Master Plan (SFMP) and a timeline for the upcoming amendments to it.  RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas also talked about the SFMP, including the factors the RSD considers in making building assignments.  To see the presentation on the SFMP, click here, and to see the meeting agenda and proposed building assignments for schools in City Council District C, click here.

Councilwoman Palmer spoke first during the public comment period.  She thanked the RSD officials for their efforts and community members for their involvement, and stressed that the SFMP was meant to evolve and it was vital to have community input into school assignment decisions.  She also asked that there be a meeting on school facilities on the West Bank.

Next, there was a great deal of discussion about the future of the Colton school building on St. Claude Ave.  The building has been tentatively assigned to KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy, and many people spoke in favor of and against this assignment.  Supporters of KIPP stressed the quality and results of KIPP schools, and the fact that the community clearly wants KIPP since the number of students in the area currently served by KIPP schools shows how many parents choose KIPP.  Opponents of the KIPP assignment to Colton argued for more choice of schools in the area.  Many said the neighborhood already has enough KIPP schools and they would like a different charter school in Colton.  Some opponents also decried the RSD’s process, saying that the community didn’t have a voice in the RSD’s decision on the Colton site.

Beyond the Colton issue, community members at the meeting spoke on several other school sites and issues.  One person wanted to know the plan for the Lower 9th Ward, saying that MLK Charter School is overcrowded.  Another asked that KIPP Renaissance (Douglas) be taken off the landbanked list and receive modest renovations.  A representative from Audubon Charter School spoke, as in past meetings, of their interest in the Allen site Uptown.  Other people spoke in support of Craig school and asked about who would be operating it in the future.

Some speakers did not like the assignment process, and felt they didn’t have a voice.  One said that he didn’t believe it has been genuine and transparent.  Another said that the RSD isn’t providing real choice,  and some also felt that kids have to travel too far to school the way things are right now.

To close the meeting, Superintendent Vallas spoke again to respond to some of the comments and concerns.  He said that he is scheduling a meeting on the West Bank, and one in the Lower 9th Ward too.  Regarding Colton, he said that it wasn’t an arbitrary decision, but rather that the building assignment process picked KIPP.  He said that KIPP is a good and flexible organization, and recommended that it be open to some things the community wants.  Next, he said that some schools will probably come off the landbanked list.  Regarding Craig, Mr. Vallas noted that MLK applied to charter the school and was denied.  He said he didn’t know whether MLK would apply again, but regardless, Craig has to be held accountable for its performance.  Finally, regarding transportation, Superintendent Vallas said that many students move every year, so busing is a reality because the RSD has to keep students in their original schools if they want to stay in them, and city-wide school choice also leads to more busing.

In total, approximately 45 people spoke.  To read the Times-Picayune’s coverage of the meeting, click here.  For more on the School Facilities Master Plan, including details of each project, see the main SFMP website, www.rebuildingnolaschools.com.

The remaining meeting dates and places are as follows (all meetings begin at 6 p.m.):
Jan. 25, District D, Lake Area (Greater Gentilly) School, 6026 Paris Ave.
Jan. 27, District E, H.C. Schaumburg School, 9501 Grant St.

The Cowen Institute will continue to have representatives at these meetings and will report on each.