Louisiana Legislative Session brought major wins for Local Public Schools, including ACT 430 which provides more funding to Orleans Parish Classrooms

Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr., NOLA Public Schools Superintendent, expressed his gratitude to state officials, especially the New Orleans legislative delegation, for supporting local students and families.

“It was a tremendous session for public education in New Orleans. The many successful initiatives, including Act 430, prove what can be done when local and state officials work together to do what is best for students, schools, teachers, and families. I applaud all members of our local delegation for representing our students and families this legislative session,” said Superintendent Lewis.
In addition to Act 430, the legislature approved other statewide measures to increase state funding for schools by $39 million and to provide a teacher pay raise of $1,000 a year. The Superintendent applauded the Governor, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the state legislature for these statewide efforts. “Our teachers and schools alike deserve a raise, and we are grateful to Governor Edwards and our statewide officials,” said Superintendent Lewis.

Locally, Act 430 focuses funds towards better advancing NOLAPS’ vision and goals to provide a high-quality education for every student. More specifically, the act does the following:

• Allows NOLAPS to direct more of its existing tax revenue to support students and academic programming;
• Creates a System-wide Needs Fund which will allow NOLAPS to support major needs across the district such as expanding programs for students with special needs as well as recruiting and training the most qualified teachers;
• Updates the School Facility Preservation Program allowing NOLAPS to preserve the post-Katrina FEMA investment in school facilities and ensure that none fall into disrepair;
• Ensures that 100 percent of the school facilities property tax approved by voters in 2014 continues to go to facilities preservation.
  
  

“This is a common-sense solution to balance school funding,” Superintendent Lewis said. “The measures in this bill will help our students, while simultaneously allowing NOLA Public Schools, and our school administrators to do our job — to efficiently balance resources in service of a unified vision for our schools.”

The bill’s primary author was State Representative Walt Leger III. The following lawmakers were coauthors of the bill: State Representatives John Bagneris, Gary Carter, Kenny Cox, A.B. Franklin, Jimmy Harris, Katrina Jackson, Pat Moore, Barbara Norton, Vincent J. Pierre, Patricia Smith, Malinda White along with State Senator Troy Carter.
“In a world of limited resources for public education, Act 430 allows for funds to be directed where they are most critically needed. I was pleased to work with NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Lewis and members of the Orleans Parish School Board to support our local schools and students,” said State Representative Walt Leger (D) New Orleans.

“I commend the Orleans Parish School Board and the Superintendent for their collaborative approach in helping to advance Act 430. It establishes measures that are fair, transparent, and in the best interest of schools and students,” said State Senator Troy Carter (D) New Orleans.

Act 430 aligns with the OPSB’s legislative priorities for NOLAPS which were unanimously approved by the School Board on March 21, 2019. It passed both the state House and Senate without any votes in opposition.
“All students in New Orleans deserve a high-quality education — that’s the promise of NOLA Public Schools. Act 430 is an important step in the right direction. I applaud NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. along with State Rep. Walt Leger, State Sen. Troy Carter, State Sen. JP Morrell, and other members of our local delegation for answering the call in this bill which supports students, their families, and their schools,” said OPSB Board President John A. Brown, Sr.

“Seeing more funding allocated to classrooms in our public school system is a clear indication that the Governor and state lawmakers are committed to the future of our city by investing in our children,” said OPSB Vice President Leslie Ellison.

For more information on Act 430, click here.

ABOUT NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish, which includes the district’s elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board, the district’s administration lead by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. and its 78 public schools. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools, including 75 charter schools, three direct-operated schools and a school with two educational programs for students in secure-care facilities.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools