Decision Will Increase per Student Funding; Allow District To Recover From Upcoming Cuts To State Funding.
NEW ORLEANS – (November 19, 2019) – At a special meeting of the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) this evening, district board members voted unanimously to fully roll forward the millages dedicated to public education in Orleans Parish. The new revenue generated will total $325 dollars on average per student per year. Ninety-eight percent of the total funds that come to the OPSB go directly to Parish public schools.
"Today our locally elected school board members took a vital step toward improving our schools as they voted fully roll forward school millages that will result in the addition of urgently needed funding for our city’s children,” said NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. “I want to commend them on their leadership and commitment to what is best for our community. This essential decision by the school board means our schools will not be harmed by cuts to state funding while ensuring that NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) receive critical dollars to better serve students and support teachers.”
Prior to the board vote, advocates from local charter school organizations and education organizations voiced their support for a full roll forward of the millages in a public hearing. Such an increase will allow schools to make critical enhancements including increasing employee salaries, benefits and incentives so schools can compete to hire and retain the best educators. Additionally the funds will provide for the purchase of schoolbooks and other supplies, and enable more enrichment programming to be offered.
“I’m proud of the steps my fellow board members took today to act as champions for our children and schools,” said OPSB Board President John A. Brown. “As we heard from our many educators, parents, home owners and fellow citizens earlier, these funds are badly needed. This vote will allow us to make a concerted financial investment in our district’s future as we continue to provide an equitable, challenging and inspiring education for our city’s youth.”
The reassessment of property in Orleans Parish put the OPSB in a unique position. Assessments directly affect the amount of state funding the district receives for public education. As local assessments rise, state funding for Orleans Parish public schools will have a $9.1 million net decrease each year moving forward.
The OPSB’s actions today recognize the crucial need for these resources and the invaluable effect they will have on students today and into the future.
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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 and the district’s administration led by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools. For more information, visit //nolapublicschools.com/www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools