Recovery School District March 2006

RSD Legislation of the 2005 Extraordinary Session of the

Legislature (R.S. 17:10.7)

Transfer of Schools Below the State Average School Performance Score

Orleans Parish School Board

13 with School Performance Scores above the state average• 4 open – OPSB operated

Ben Franklin Elementary, Bethune Elementary, McMains High, McDonogh 35 High

• 6 chartered 5 open - Karr High, Harte Elem, Audubon Montessori,

Lusher K-12, Ben Franklin High 1 needs alternate facility – Lake Forest Montessori

• 3 remaining in need of alternate facility Easton High, Moton Elem, Hynes Elem

3 Alternative Schools• 1 chartered and open in alternate facility

NO Science and Math High School• Juvenile Alternative School• New Orleans Center for Health Careers - needs alternate

facility 16 schools total Orleans also has other facilities that could be used for

alternate sites for these schools or for other services.

Recovery School District 101 schools with School Performance Scores

below the state average 6 Option 1 Alternative Schools 5 Existing Type 5 Charters

• Capdau

• Nelson

• Phillips

• Wright

• Green 112 schools total

New Orleans SchoolsOPSB

District Operated

Charters

Type 1

Ben FranklinElementary

McMainsHigh

McDonogh 35High

Type 3 Type 4

Singleton Charter* New Orleans

Charter Middle*

Ben FranklinHigh

AudubonMontessori

Karr High

Walker High*

BehrmanElem.*

EisenhowerElem.*

HarteElem.

Lusher K-12

New OrleansMath/Science

HighBethune

Elementary Lake Forest Montessori

BESE

Type 2Charters

RecoverySchool District

Type 5Milestone/

SABIS

InternationalSchool

of Louisiana

Capdau

Nelson

Wright

Green

RSD Operated

*School transferred to RSD by Act 35 and will be reviewed to transition to Type 5 charter in RSD for 2006-07.

Louisiana Think Tank Sponsored by Education Trust, Broad

Foundation and Gates Foundation Brought together national experts on

innovative methods for educating students in urban school systems

Focused on how to deliver/provide structures for schools in the Recovery School District• Don’t rebuild the past• Ensure Rigorous Content• High Standards and Expectations• Provide needed support services including mental

health/counseling, extended day, school-based health clinic

• High Quality staff with a track record of success in urban settings

• High Quality school operators with a track record of success in urban settings

Critical Elements of the RSD Vision Equal Access to Top Quality Educational

Opportunities for Every Child in New Orleans

Caring, qualified teachers, school leaders, and school operators with record of success

Focus on high quality teaching and learning Success for all students

• Academic• Emotional• Social

Community Engagement Accountability at all levels

Phase I - A

Meeting Immediate Needs for Children by Opening Schools

AndEnsuring Adequate Capacity for

Spring 2006

Addressing Immediate Needs 20 schools are open as of March 17, 2006

• 4 OPSB operated 2 elementary (K-6) – capacity = 809 (Ben Franklin

Elem, Bethune Elem) 2 middle/high (7-12) – capacity = 1800 (McMain, Mc

35)• 10 OPSB charters

5 elementary (K-8) – capacity = 2851 (Audubon, Behrman, Eisenhower, Harte, Singleton)

1 elementary/high (K-10) – capacity = 800 (Lusher) 4 high schools (9-12) – capacity = 2237 (Karr, Walker,

NO Science and Math, Ben Franklin High)• 3 Recovery School District

2 elementary (K-8) – capacity = 652 (Capdau, Nelson) 2 middle (4-8) – capacity = 698 (Wright, Green)

• 2 Type 2 Charter schools 1 K-8 – Capacity = 340 (Milestone/SABIS) 1 K-5 – Capacity = 163 (International School of

Louisiana)• Total Capacity = 10,318

Factors Affecting Capacity Original capacity projections were based on

25:1 and higher student to teacher ratios School operators, including OPSB and

charters, have adjusted capacity numbers to provide for:• High percentage of special needs students

• Varying levels of ability of students

• Individual student differences in school enrollment since Hurricane Katrina

• Mental health concerns due to traumatic experiences associated with hurricane and evacuation

K-8 Projections and Capacity (Spring 2006)

Based on current projections, we will have a projected need for:• 42 seats by March 1, 2006• 685 seats by April 1, 2006

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K-8 Projections and Capacity (Spring 2006)

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Based on current projections, we will have a projected need for:• 796 seats by March 1, 2006

• 1101 seats by April 1, 2006

9-12 Projections and Capacity(Spring 2006)

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Based on current projections, we will have a projected need for:• 392 seats by March 1, 2006

• 560 seats by April 1, 2006

9-12 Projections and Capacity(Spring 2006)

9-12 West Bank

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Projections

Based on current projections, we will have adequate seats for high school students on the West Bank through April 2006.

Additional Schools Opening by April 18, 2006 1 ACSA Charter - March 30th

• Fischer Elementary – Capacity = 650 3 RSD operated schools – April 18th

• Clark High School – Capacity = 600• Banneker Elementary – Capacity = 400• Craig Elementary – Capacity = min. 400

1 OPSB charter – opening date TBA• Lake Forest Montessori – Capacity = 200

It is critical to balance need for additional schools with financial resources to support these schools. We have an obligation to ensure the financial stability of these schools and the districts.

Current Planning Activities for Opening New Schools

Small team of Distinguished Educators and LDE staff are working on plans for these schools:• Instructional Model

High School Redesign elements in High School Literacy Plan in all schools Model Classroom specs for FEMA replacement

and set up of classrooms Positive Behavior Support

• Additional Services School-based Health Clinics Mental Health Services – Project SERV grant

Additional Planning Areas Staffing

• Principal and Assistant Principal selection process is being conducted now –

~ 40 principal applicants and ~30 assistant principal applicants

• Teacher Applications being accepted now through TeachLouisiana –

~ 250 applications received since Friday, March 10th Salary Schedule

• Reviewing surrounding school districts and charter schools• Includes differentiation by years experience and degrees• Incorporates performance-based compensation

Transportation, Food Service, Security• Working with appropriate LDE staff to secure contracts for

these services School Site Preparation

• Working with Alvarez and Marsal on identifying sites and getting repairs done

• Inventory of current equipment and materials in buildings

Outreach to Parents and Community Press release and radio announcements

providing LDE website and 800 number for more information

Launched website on Feb. 7th for parents to register on regarding their timeline for returning to New Orleans and need for schools

Working with LRA Housing Task Force to provide flyers with information on LDE website and 800 number to individuals receiving trailers

LDE website includes list of all schools available in Orleans Parish regardless of school operator

Phase II

2006-2007 School Year

Ensuring Quality SchoolsConsultant – National Association of Charter School

Authorizers Evaluation of Type 5 Charter Applications by qualified

reviewers with national expertise Identification and recruitment of high quality local and

national school operators to apply for charter schools in New Orleans

Assist in determining requirements, processes, and system for:• Student information systems• Attendance reporting• Student discipline (including suspensions and expulsions)• Special education• Student records• Payments to schools• Budgets and financial reports, audits• Emergency procedures• Health and safety• Training for governing boards

Develop and administer Pre-Opening Checklist for all schools

Establish appropriate rigorous accountability goals for new schools

Population Estimates and Identification of Temporary

School Sites Worked with demographer to update

student population estimates Worked with FEMA and Alvarez and

Marsal to define list of 56 proposed facilities (including currently open schools) to meet 2007 demand

Have presented FEMA with a white paper to justify repair of these schools as Category B Temporary repairs based on:• Inability to do long-range planning now• Need for temporary facilities until long-

range plan is developed• Cost effectiveness of this option over

portable buildings or alternate space

Shared Services Provider Critical for every school (OPSB, RSD, and Charters) to

be successful and provide a high quality education for all students.

All Schools will need support in many critical areas, such as:• Recruiting and screening pool of potential school leaders and

teachers• Providing back office support services – financial management,

transportation, food service LDE is working with several foundations and state

charter school association to establish a non-profit shared services organization to support schools• All schools will be able to use services if they wish, but will not

be required to do so• RSD will provide some services for its schools – common IT

system, special education services such as Child Find and Pupil Appraisal

Several states/cities have implemented a variety of shared services models to provide support for schools and reduce size and cost of district central office• Philadelphia, Oakland, New York

Master Plan due by May 31, 2006 Challenges:

• Assessing and Repairing Buildings for immediate return of students

• Ensuring adequate finances to pay for repairs 10% match for permanent repairs

Estimated at $55 million OPSB facilities were underinsured

FEMA reimbursements will be reduced due to this Gap between FEMA’s expectation for proper insurance and

actual insurance is $165 million OPSB facilities did not meet fire marshal and other

building codes pre-Katrina Cost to bring buildings up to code $52 million Additional costs will be incurred based on changes to building

code per FEMA requirements FEMA operates on a reimbursement basis OPSB was near bankruptcy pre-Katrina and had just gone

to Bond Commission for $50 million loan OPSB struggling with Pre- & Post-Katrina issues

Huge Debt Audit Findings Insurance and Employee Benefit Issues

Challenges Short-term plan must take care of

immediate needs of educating children and providing for families who return to the city Recruiting high quality school operators quickly

Recruiting high quality school leaders Recruiting high quality teachers Ensuring adequate housing for school

personnel

Phase III

Long Term Plan Beyond the 2006-07 School

Year

Securing Expertise to Assist with Development of Long-term

Master Plan

Bring New Orleans Back Education Task Force

New Orleans Demographers/City Planners

Greater New Orleans Education Foundation

Louisiana Recovery Authority Louisiana Recovery Authority

Education Task Force

Long-term Planning By May 2006, the first phase of a plan will be

developed that will serve as the roadmap for educational planning in New Orleans

Plan will include input from RSD Advisory Committee, LRA, LRA Education Task Force; BNOB Education Task Force

Community meetings will be held to provide information to the community and gain their input

Community input will be used to develop long range master plan for school facilities

RSD Advisory Committee will continue to serve through implementation phase of plan

Plan will need to provide flexibility as data on repopulation becomes more stable and as decisions are made by city, state, and federal government on building codes and repopulation of certain areas

Community Input Currently meeting with community

groups as requested Need to either engage in existing

processes that communities have in place or develop a process that will include input from all segments of community

Must ensure that our process meets FEMA requirements for environmental justice and community outreach

Challenges

Gathering Data and Information to make decisions• All of the necessary pieces of information

are not yet available including: How many people will return? To what areas of the city? Where will temporary housing be placed? Where will permanent housing be built? Will building codes change that will impact use

of or building of schools in certain areas? How quickly will contractors be able to respond

to the building needs both for infrastructure and individual housing in New Orleans?

Challenges Decisions of other entities will impact

the plan for the Recovery School District

Buildings and facilities that can be repaired and used quickly to address short-term plan needs may not be part of long-term plan once information is available regarding stable student population in each area of the city

Goal is to build schools that are centers of the community and that can be built in cooperation with the city and other agencies to serve multiple purposes

Funding

Available Funding Hurricane Education Relief Aid

• Displaced Student funds Up to $6,000 per regular education student and

$7,500 per special education student Paid quarterly based on displaced student’s enrollment

in school on specific date each quarter

• Restart funds – Initial allocation OPSB - $7,468,946 RSD - $27,129,384

Federal Charter School Grant - $20.9 million total statewide

Minimum Foundation Program Local Revenue NCLB and IDEA Federal Allocations Foundation Donations

BESEState Superintendent

Of Education

RSD Superintendent

Network 1New

BeginningsUNO

Network 2MiddleSchool

Advocates

Network 3ACSA

Network 4Independent

Type 5 Charters

Network 5RSD

OperatedSchools

Capdau Nelson

NO CharterMiddle

Green

LandryHigh Behrman

Eisenhower

Singleton

WrightPhillips

RSD Advisory

Committee

School 2

School1

School3

Shared Services Provider(Financial Management, Transportation, Food Services,

Recruitment, Retention, Professional Development, etc.)