Demographics, not success driving N.O. schools master planning

1st August 2011   ·   1 Comment

In an ongoing series of public meetings to garner community recommendations regarding amend­ments to the Orleans Pa­rish’s School Facilities Master Plan (SFMP), students, parents, educators and community members filled the gymnasium at Behrman playground in Algiers last Thursday to discuss the future of their district’s school facilities landscape.

Following a synopsis of the plan by representatives from the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB), the Recovery School District (RSD) and planning participants, attendees broke into three facilitated working groups and were asked to offer “recommendations” to the proposed plan based upon three questions.

The questions focused on: approval or disapproval of the SFMP’s Phase 2, which currently funds certain projects; design for of preK – 8 school facilities; desires for more or less space such as a practice gymnasium, classrooms for ROTC, dance, drama or career and technical programs, science laboratories, or a school based health clinic at high schools.

The new amendments to SFMP differ from the 2008 master plan in that it focuses on increasing school building capacity and reducing the number of school facilities. For pre-K to 8th grade schools, the proposed SFMP calls for schools that have three classes per grade, are within a one mile walking distance, service 50 percent of neighborhood students, have the capacity to service 750 to 850 students and will acquire three to five acres of new acquisition.

The 2008 master plan had two classes per grade, a half of mile walking distance and service capacity of 450 to 600. Neighborhood make-up and land acquisition remained the same.

Proposed amendments for high schools maintain the city wide enrollment, relaxed boundary requirements and 10 acres of new acquisition as outlined in the 2008 SFMP. However, instead of having comprehensive schools for 600 to 1,100 students and boutique schools for 450 to 600 students, the new plan will call for three subsets. Larger schools would service 813 to 1,199 students, medium schools would service 626 to 918 student and small schools would serve 418 to 609 students.

During the meeting, facilitators pushed for recommendations to the proposed amendments; however, working group participants had several questions for their decision-makers — most of which went unanswered due to the meeting’s informational gathering structure.

“It seemed like they weren’t taking the time out to hear what we were saying. The whole process was rushed,” said Jerrica Holmes, sophomore at Alcorn State University in Mississippi and alumna of O. Perry Walker College and Preparatory High School and Community Center.

During the meeting, the most dominating question focused on the fates of Walker and Martin Behrman Charter Academy for Creative Arts and Sciences. Specifically, why Walker, which currently serves about 881 students and is need of more approximately, $1, 460,819 in post-Katrina repairs, isn’t included in the three phases of the master plan. The school is one of 19 schools available for continued use that have “no planned capital investment” from its respective district.

Additionally, Behrman, which services approximately 651 students is among 19 schools listed in Phase 3 of the SFMP that requires additional funding. The plan calls for renovations to Behrman in the amount $41,529,388. The total cost for 19 new construction and renovation projects in Phase 3 is $422,308,284.

Both schools are run under the auspices of the Algiers Charter Schools Association (ACSA). Dr. Andrea Thomas-Reynolds, CEO at ACSA, advocated for the two schools to be moved to Phase 2, which currently has $633,689,407 allocated for projects (16 new constructions, inclusive of one new high school; 11 schools requiring renovations or repairs; and one school in need of a classroom addition).

Thomas-Reynolds argued that her schools have consistent enrollment, a proven track record and leadership. Such thoughts were echoed at the end of the meeting when each group presented their recommendations.

The three working groups offered some of the following recommendations to the District:

• Build schools in relation to what exists, school success and programs, not demographics alone

• Look at school enrollment rather than demographics

• One mile walk to school may offer safety risks to younger students

• Gymnasiums and auditoriums should accommodate the entire student population

• Ensure that schools are about children, not just bricks and mortar

The groups proposed the following questions:

• Why was the New Orleans Marine and Military Academy removed from the SFMP?

• Who determines the demographics?

Following group presentations, the meeting closed without further discourse.

In “A Guide to The School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish,” OPSB and RSD note that the proposed amendments reduce the over plan from six phases, only one of which was funded, to three phases — two of which are funded. According to the report, “Com­pletely funded, Phases 1-2 will put 83 percent of students (with moderate demographic growth) in new or renovated buildings by 2016. Based on building capacity alone, Phases 1-2 provide enough seats for 102 percent of moderate projected student population through 2016.”

The report continues: “Phase 3, which will require additional long-term funding, includes 19 buildings that may be needed in the future. Some of these buildings received significant renovation and stabilization work between 2006- current, providing critical needs to school facilities following Hurricane Katrina. Identifying funding for this phase is a critical objective.”

There are 58 Orleans school facilities that require “critical recovery expenditures” such as: minor repairs or renovations; roof replacement or minor roof repairs; electrical work; a play yard; floor replacement; electrical work; HVAC controls replacement; window repairs; exterior doors; masonry repairs; bleacher replacement and auditorium floors. Total cost to repair these facilities, inclusive of district wide renovations and kitchens, is $137,4,841.

Of the facilities that are in need of such repairs or renovations, the OPSB and RSD have determined that:

• 19 schools that are available for continued use will not be included in the three phases of the master plan.
There are no plans for capital investment in 13 of such schools. Six are available use as potential swing space.

• One school, McDonogh 15, has been removed from the master plan, as it is not required due to demographic estimates. The school was in need of minor renovations and masonry repairs valued at $1,169,942.

• Additional funding is needed to fund 16 of the 58 schools needing renovation.

• Phase 1 Design started for three of the schools.

• 15 schools are slated to receive funding for renovation, repairs or designs in Phase 2.

To review the full report and the school listings, visit www.rebuildingnolaschools.com.

OPSB will present the final amendments, which will incorporate public comments, during a citywide public meeting on Aug. 16. The location is to be determined. Final amendments will be presented to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on August 18.

This article was originally published in the August 1, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper