Six representatives participated in a forum to discuss the post-Katrina change to the New Orleans public education system post-Katrina.
The Lousiana Society for Civic Engagement and the Loyola University Sociology Student Orignization hosted “5 Years Later: a Forum on the State of Public Education in New Orleans” in Nunemaker Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Moderator and president of LSCE Richard Tucker asked each panel member one question directed to their individual expertise. Orleans Parish School Board representative Brett Bonin commented on the role of the New Orleans School Board.
“Since Katrina, there are new board members who have increased the accountability of the school board. Also, public money is now going to the right places. We are trying to resurrect the image of the board’s reputation.” Bonin said. “The role of the school board is to educate children and represent the people.”
Tucker asked Kevin Guitterrez, deputy superintendent of the Recovery School District, “What is the main goal of the RSD?” Guitterrez said, “Our responsibility is to intervene with schools that have failed for four or more consecutive years.”
The RSD has helped raise the average school performance scores from 69 percent to 93 percent since Katrina. “Our main goal is to revive New Orleans’ schools,” Guitterrez said.
Loyola political science professor Peter Burns said the most important post-Katrina reform has been the increased attention to the schools and the importance of education in New Orleans.
“The people are happy because the ways of the old school board are gone due to the newly elected school board,” Burns said.
Laura Mogg, research manager for the Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education, said much of the improvement in the education system since Katrina stems from school choice, extended school days, an influx of one time federal funding for programs, and the progress in the finance and facilities operations.
“The school board has had four successful years of audits, new schools are being built, and previously deplorable schools are being renovated,” Mogg said.
Since Katrina, the majority of New Orleans public schools have become charter schools. This designation allows for greater flexibilty and ensures accountability on the part of school administrators. So far, New Orleans’ education expirement has been hailed as a success.
President of the Board of Directors for ReNEW charter schools, Carol Asher said that the charter system’s success is due to the value of competition, hiring the best possible faculty and administrations, implementing governance, and putting the students’ needs first.
According to the panel, New Orleans schools have traditionally struggled with issues of racism, white flight, unequal opportunity and economic mismanagement, which contributed to the struggle for New Orleans schools.
Post-Katrina reforms, and charter schools, have influenced the educational system for the better. The panel members said the new school board, the division of resources, the citizens’ involvement with the school board, the focus on governance and the lack of corruption have greatly changed the New Orleans educational system post-Katrina.
Burns, on the other hand, said, “New Orleans had the seeds of reform planted before Katrina. The old place will dictate what the new place looks like. Katrina did not create the new ideas for reform. It allowed the chance for reform.”
Renee’ Dotollo can be reached at
