NOLA, 5 Years Later

Yes, parts of New Orleans have recovered from the ravages of that terrible hurricane five years ago. New homes abound, the city proper has 91% of its pre-Katrina population, the unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country for a large urban area and some improvements have been made in the city's educational system.

The general consensus regarding education states that things are much better today than prior to the storm. That may well be as only 20% of students met or exceeded state test score mandates prior to that fateful day five years ago. This isn't hard to fathom.

But to hear the major networks and to read many media cover stories one might surmise nearly all is well. True, overall LEAP scores are on the rise and some new schools have appeared (most being charters), among some other achievements, but that just tells a part of a more sobering story. The fact of the matter is this, many issues and problems have not been addressed and, in fact are either intentionally ignored or they are being handled in what amounts to a sinister fashion.

The vast number of schools that our charity works with are outside the purview of this rosy picture. Almost all of the RSD schools we serve face huge problems, too many of which are ignored. How would you like to be Gregory Elementary, with over 200 students (and growing), and be housed in two huge trailer units? To boot, these folks are in a complex, on the same piece of property, with private schools with separate administrations. I know for a fact that Gregory, as are other RSD schools in a similar housing situation, is underresourced when it comes to daily supplies needed for the students. Draw your own conclusion.

Many of the schools we assist are in trailer complexes and are overcrowded and seem to have little chance of ever having a 'real' building with the proper facilities. These same schools lack a neighborhood feel; in fact, many aren't neighborhood schools at all as many have reported to me that over 90% of their students are bused to them. Despite heroic efforts by many, they have the feel of a holding pen.

And let's be honest, many of the higher performing schools aren't really public in their entirity. If so, they would openly seek to take their fair share of educational service students, those who are autistic and the lower achieving childen. The truth is, most of these students can't get into most of the private and charter schools in the city. Aside from that, I'm aware of the fact that skimming of the best elementary school students in the RSD system takes place further enhancing reported improved test scores of some while depriving 'real' public schools, whose students have been plucked away, from indicating their gains since the storm.

In other cases, I am aware of the threat of shutdowns or takeovers of RSD schools who, despite the sheer hard work of their students and staff, by 'the powers that be.' What a joke.

By the way, plenty of public schools (non-charter) which we serve that have made great strides on their own. Take a look for yourself at the improvements made in such schools as Banneker Elementary, Reed Elementary, A. P. Tureaud, Fannie Williams, James Weldon Johnson, and other RSD schools. Go to http://www.nolaparentsguide.org/ for more data in schools that are doing their best despite many of the problems I've described.

Don't be fooled by all that you hear about the charters of NOLA turning around the entire system. Plenty of schools still need our help. Please accept my thanks for all that you have done over the past five years.

Dick