PARENTS GET FINAL LOOK AT PLANS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESTORATION/REBUILDING

Section: Education

School Facilities Master Plan

PARENTS GET FINAL LOOK AT PLANS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESTORATION/REBUILDING

The School Facilities Master Plan for all public schools in New Orleans
reaches a final and direct involvement by parents and friends of the
system beginning this weekend with the first of ten citywide meetings
scheduled over the next two weeks.

Considered as one of the most significant of undertakings by the
State Department of Education, the Recovery School District and the
Orleans Parish School Board, the Master Plan is designed to serve
as a blueprint to guide future school renovations and new construction
for the entire system as it recovers from the ravages of Hurricane
Katrina.

As conceived, the Master Plan is scheduled for completion in May of
this year, with a formal recommendation submitted to Superintendent of
Education Paul Pastorek for final approval and leading to the work of
restoration and rebuilding of all damaged school properties as well
as recommendations for creating new schools. Where necessary,
the demolition of those buildings which cannot be salvaged will also
be part of the Plan.

The ten meetings are the last opportunity for parents and friends of
the system to join in the planning process. Constance Caruso,
Director of Planning for the Recovery School District, calls the work
of the Master Plan as "historic," with its determination to involve
parental attitudes and concerns for neighborhood schools. "What
we are about, literally, is the building of an entirely new school
system," Ms Caruso stated. "Katrina severely damaged some of
our schools," she added, "but not our determination to gain the
thinking of those who will be the direct beneficiaries of our work ....
the children through their parents."

The ten meetings are being conducted across the entire geographic
expanse of Orleans Parish. Parents are urged to attend the meeting
closest to their child's school. The first two meetings are scheduled
for this weekend and both are in Algiers. On Saturday morning,
February 165, parents and friends of the Westbank High Schools
will gather at the O.Perry Walker campus, at l0AM. Then, on Monday,
February 18, parents and friends of Westbank elementary schools
will gather at 6PM at the Habans Elementary School campus.

The full schedule for the remaining eight meetings is as follows:
Tuesday, February 19, 6PM, at the M.L.K. Charter School, 1617
Caffin Avenue;
Thursday, February 21, 6PM, at Wicker Elementary School, 2011
Bienville Street.
Saturday, February 23, 10AM, parents of Eastbank High Schools
will meet at John McDonogh High School, 2436 Esplanade Ave.
Monday, February 25, 6PM, at the Andrew Jackson Elementary
School, 1400 Camp Street.
Tuesday, February 26, 6pm, at McNair Elementary School, 1607
South Carrollton Avenue.
Thursday, February 28, 6PM, Nelson Elementary School, 3121
St. Bernard Avenue.
Monday, March 3, 6PM, at Capdau-UNO Charter School, 3821
Franklin Avenue.
Tuesday, March 4, 6PM, Village de l'Est Elementary School, 5100
Cannes Street.

Further information can be obtained at www.nolapublicschools.net.