AN OPEN LETTER TO SUPT. PASTOREK

Dear Supt. Pastorek:

I am writing to offer my thoughts about your recent recommendation to BESE regarding New Orleans schools transferred to the Recovery School District as a result of Act 35. First, allow me to say that I know from firsthand experience that you are a diligent and astute public servant. Therefore, I offer these observations with the utmost respect for you and your office, which has the ability to affect the lives of tens of thousands of students.

I was greatly disappointed in your proposal. This issue is too important to allow for clever gamesmanship, or changing of the rules mid-way. Your recommendation was, at best, nonresponsive to the dictates of Act 35, which significantly expanded the reach of the RSD. The spirit of the law that established the RSD is that failing schools enter, undergo rehabilitation, and leave the RSD. Clearly stated, if a school is no longer failing, it should leave the RSD. If a school remains a failure, the RSD must be held accountable in the same way that the prior governance entity was.

Under your proposal, next academic year (2011-2012) a school with a score of 75 or above would be eligible to begin the process of leaving the Recovery School District. Your proposal allows for an eligible school to self-determine whether it will transfer back to OPSB or to another entity.

However, several questions emerge:
(1) Isn’t the RSD just for failing schools? If a school has “recovered”, what is the rationale for allowing it to “choose” whether it remains in the RSD?

(2) If a school can leave the RSD with a score of 75 or over, why were schools with scores 75 or above in the RSD in the first place? As you know, schools in this category include Thurgood Marshall, Stuart Bradley, Mary Coghill, and Dr. Martin L. King elementary. This question exposes the political insanity inherent in Act 35 which instituted a double standard for the takeover of schools in Orleans parish. For every other district in November 2005, the standard for takeover was a school performance score of 60. But due to some intricate legal wording found in Act 35, the standard for takeover of Orleans schools was elevated to the state average, which was 87.2.

(3) What about the schools that have declined in their scores since being a part of the RSD? Included in this category, as you know, are schools such as Coghill, Fischer, Gentilly Terrace, Habans, Schaumburg, and Tubman.

(4) If schools choose to transfer to an entity other than the constitutionally-ordained local, elected school board, what is the source of authority for such an alternative entity? Since such an alternative entity was mentioned in your report one must ask if plans have already been discussed, with whom and where, if not in public?

Aside from these critical questions, I was struck by what was not included in your recommendation and report to BESE. While I understand the reality of time restrictions, you did ensure that the so-called successes of RSD were highlighted. Nothing, however, was mentioned about the startling changes made to the administration of the New Orleans Public Schools which, after all, was the real subject of Act 35.

A truly unbiased and comprehensive report would have mentioned that since Katrina New Orleans Public Schools has had successive unqualified (meaning good) audits. The bond rating of New Orleans Public Schools, another measure of financial performance, is the best it has been in many years. When it comes to taking care of its students, it is important to note that since Katrina the special education department has been cited for exceptional performance. OPSB schools have produced significant growth in the district performance score. Since Katrina, the OPSB has chartered and annually evaluated its 12 charter schools. Since Katrina, the OPSB has effectively partnered with the community to fund the renovation of the Mahalia Jackson School and establish the Early Childhood and Family Learning Center, a new community resource based upon a model of best practices around the country. Since Katrina, the OPSB has worked successfully with you and others towards the successful renewal of vital millages and the development of the Facilities Master Plan, which has now obtained almost $2 billion dollars towards the construction and renovation of schools citywide.

Additionally, nothing was said about the fact that much of the success that has occurred post-Katrina has been due to practices made possible by an historic, unprecedented but unfortunately diminishing revenue stream from the federal government. Since 2005, the federal government has provided $196 million in RESTART funds that have been invaluable to our educational achievements. Because of such funding, per pupil spending has almost doubled in some cases when compared to spending pre-Katrina. However, we are no longer able to depend on this source of funds. Our community must have a discussion about how to fiscally sustain our educational gains without reliance on federal funds.

Lastly, your report and recommendation offers some guidelines for “21st century governance.” I applaud these guidelines and support them. In fact, I would like to draw your attention to my proposal for the “New Orleans Unified School District.” Enshrined in this new district are principles and practices that fuel academic excellence and innovation, but also provide the infrastructure for accountability, transparency and equity. As you may know, the plan was presented and well-received during the summer governance series sponsored by the Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN). For your review, the plan may be found online at www.blacknolathinktank.blogspot.com.

In conclusion, BESE should vote on a proposal that accurately reflects the spirit and letter of the law. I pray that these comments will inspire a revision of your proposal such that public education in New Orleans may be excellent and accountable, equitable and unified, avoiding the mistakes of the past and overcoming the challenges of the present. Especially for the poor and disenfranchised, public education is the “great equalizer”, helping to ensure that all citizens of our democracy, regardless of class or race or any other factor, have the opportunity to enjoy the most fruitful life that a high-quality education can afford. We are at a critical juncture in the life of our city. May we all act wisely.