(New Orleans – December 13, 2023) — NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is engaging in the district's open siting process to provide for the sustained operation of Lafayette Academy Charter School and Robert Russa Moton Charter School for the 2024-2025 school year. This proactive measure follows the Orleans Parish School Board's (OPSB) recent approval of Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams' recommendation to not extend Lafayette Academy's contract and accept Advocates for Innovative Schools' voluntary withdrawal to seek renewal of Moton's contract.
An open siting process is triggered when a current charter operator surrenders its charter, undergoes revocation, or encounters nonrenewal. In such cases, if the superintendent intends to keep the school operational in the upcoming academic year through a transformation process or seeks a new operator for a district-run school, an open siting process is initiated. Charter management organizations are encouraged to apply to operate the school(s).
The district hosts meetings for scholars, families, and staff at schools that will not have the same operator next year. During these sessions, potential operators present their vision for the school under their management to these key stakeholders. Scholars, families, and staff will then have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the potential operators via an online survey.
The Superintendent will meticulously review submissions and consider survey data as part of the open siting process and determine the new operator for the school whose contract will not continue. The Superintendent will then communicate this decision to all relevant stakeholders and the School Board in a timely manner. In cases where the Superintendent deems that the best interests of the students may not align with an operator selected through the open siting process, alternative options will be explored.
Potential Paths to Siting:
New and existing eligible operators are welcome to participate in the open siting process. In all pathways to siting below, current scholars will retain a seat at the new school.
In line with OPSB's mission, the district is committed to a smooth transition to operator(s) selected through the open siting process. Comprehensive support will be provided to the operator, staff, families, scholars, and the community. Assessments of potential operators' readiness and viability will be conducted, and stakeholder input will inform decision-making.
NOLA-PS will lead decision-making to ensure the selected operator is well-equipped to serve students and families at the newly sited schools. Below is the timeline for Lafayette and Moton's siting decisions process.
Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams is slated to announce final siting decisions the week of Jan. 8, 2024.
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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 67 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.
For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.