NEW ORLEANS – (Jan. 17, 2019) – At the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) board business meeting on Thursday, Jan. 17, the OPSB re-elected John A. Brown, Jr. to serve as school board president and Leslie Ellison to serve as school board vice-president. The New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board presented their findings and strategies to address childhood trauma in New Orleans public schools and the newly appointed Student Advisory council was introduced. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henderson Lewis introduced new members of the 2019 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. The Board also recognized 27 schools that received A/B growth.
OPSB elects new board president and vice-president
The OPSB re-elected John A. Brown, Jr. to serve as a president and Leslie Ellison to serve as vice-president for a one-year term, beginning this month. The president and vice-president received the votes of a majority of the board.
OPSB amends the student dress code policy to allow bullet-resistant backpacks
This amendment provides for an exception to the general prohibition against the use of the body armor in school to allow students to carry bullet-resistant backpacks. Additionally, the amendment revised the Parent Bill of Rights, which mandates schools notify parents of uniform specifications and its effective date change.
Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis introduces the newly appointed Student Advisory Council
Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis announced that the following students will service on the Student Advisory Council for the 2019 school year. This year’s council includes 39 students between 8th – 12th grade from 23 schools across the district:
- Tiana Antoine, Sci High
- Trinity Barnes, John F. Kennedy
- Ryan Benn, Einstein MS
- Blake Brooks, Ben Franklin High School
- Franklin Burke, Dr. Martin Luther King
- Martika Carter, Warren Easton
- Darreonna Davis, International High School
- Terrione Davis, ENCORE
- Destiny Davis, Eleanor McMain
- Des Monique Farris, The NET
- Alize Foreman, The NET
- Michael Francis, Edna Karr
- Valeria Garduno, Abramson Sci Academy
- Breiann Griffin, Edna Karr
- Tiara Jones, Ben Franklin High School
- Ashira Jones, KIPP Booker T. Washington
- Arshiya Khoker, Lusher
- Tai LeBlanc, Capdau
- Jari Lee, McDonogh 35
- Trinity Magee, Abramson Sci Academy
- Jaelynn Maldonado, Lusher
- Trenton Mays, Eleanor McMain
- Demond McDonald, Livingston
- Tianna Murray, Bethune
- Mayela Norwood, Lusher
- Grear Palmer, Lusher
- Taylor Porter, Warren Easton
- Christian Randolph, Ben Franklin High School
- Alaney Reed, Hynes
- Anthony Rhodes, Ben Franklin High School
- Kerri Rhodes, Morris Jeff
- Quasjale Selders, ReNEW Accelerated
- Jared Shelton, Warren Easton
- Terione Smith, Landry-Walker
- Jon’nae Sylvester, Einstein
- Keishawn Thompson, Sci High
- Akilah Toney, NOCCA
- Seth West, Warren Easton
- Ysabella Wilson, Landry-Walker
- Wilfred Wright, Landry-Walker
Members of the Board celebrate 27 public schools’ growth
The OPSB honored 27 New Orleans public schools that received A/B growth from their most recent statewide school performance evaluation. This year, School Performance Scores (SPS) revealed that nearly 80 percent of Orleans district schools received a progress index score of “A” or “B” for the 2017- 2018 school year. Additionally, 36 schools in the district increased their SPS scores since last year.
New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board present comprehensive plan for addressing childhood trauma
The New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board (CYPB) was created to advance City’s Council’s request to examine issues around childhood trauma and to generate recommendations that mitigate its negative effects on children and youth. The OPSB has been a longstanding partner of CYPB and will continue to support their positive youth development work. Karen Evans, executive director of CYPB, provided updates on the task force, as well as current priorities and goals for the upcoming year.
Behavioral health services for students amended to allow private behavioral health access
The board passed a new policy allowing private behavioral health service providers access to students at their schools during the school day if the parent requests such services and the student’s health evaluation indicates that the services are necessary to assist the student with the behavioral health impairments preventing the student’s ability to learn.
OPSB increases funding for the Orleans Justice Center to accommodate for increased enrollment
Due to an increased number of students now able to access educational services at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC), the OPSB approved an amendment to its contract with the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS) to provide for automatic adjustments to funding based on increased student enrollment at the center.
OPSB adopts a resolution to establish a revenue and expenditure budget for Edgar P. Harney Elementary School
The OPSB voted to pass an amendment that is required to establish a Revenue and Expenditure Budget for Edgar P. Harney Elementary School. This Budget has been compiled utilizing information as provided by the Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy Charter School Finance Office. Projections of Revenues and Expenditures have been made based on current enrollment data, and remaining expenditure information on hand for the balance of the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2019. The anticipated fiscal impact of both revenues and expenditures is $1,160,000.00.
Edna Karr football team celebrated for state championship win
The Superintendent recognized the Edna Karr football team for winning the state championship three years in a row. This year, Edna Karr defeated Warren Easton by a score of 28-20 in the 2018 Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Class 4A state championship game. Edna Karr and Warren Easton were both honored for being the first “A” rated, open admission public high schools to compete for the first time in the 4A championship in December.
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The OPSB currently oversees 78 public schools, including 75 charter schools, two direct-operated schools and a school with two educational programs for students in secure-care facilities. On July 1st, all New Orleans public schools were unified under the oversight of the locally-elected Orleans Parish School Board for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. Learn more about Unification here.
For more information, visit www.opsb.us. For updates, follow OPSB on Facebook, Instagram @orleansparishschoolboard and Twitter @_OPSB.