Jackson Free Press

Looking for evidence that charter schools don't offer a panacea for education because they're "run-like-a-business" solutions for education?

The churning waters of economic reality are bubbling over in New Orleans this spring; two schools, Miller-McCoy and Lagniappe Academies are both facing failure of their management, resulting in a great deal of turmoil for parents and students.

Interesting in the Lagniappe Academies case, the problem seems to be so dire that they may have to close the school early this year to "save money."

“I’m going to suggest that the school closes post state testing to save…money,” Bishop said.

Bishop said he recently learned the board may not have been receiving truthful information about the school’s finances and other matters from leadership. McCormick assumed leadership after CEO Kendall Petri and Chief Operating Officer Ninh Tran left mid-March. He said ending the year early could save the organization money and give the leadership the time needed to shut down the campus.

It sounds like the plan now is for management to give up completely and hand the school over to teachers.

The room broke out in applause when the board voted to put teachers in charge. Many members of the audience also voted ‘aye’ when the board voted on a motion calling for McCormick to resign by Friday.

Now, clearly, New Orleans has even greater challenges than Jackson when it comes to its schools and the failed school district they're trying to piece back together. But it does seem to offer some interesting case-studies for what happens when charters implode.

According to information from City Hall, Jackson public-works crews are working on the following projects today, April 14:

• Patching potholes on areas of Lynch Street at Highland Drive, Highland Drive, North Cliff Street, Ellis Avenue, Poole Street, Grand Avenue, Claiborne Avenue, Claiborne Avenue and First Avenue, Barrett Street from Dalton Street to Valley Street, Boling Street, Marshall Street, Woodhill Road, Old Canton Road & River Oaks Boulevard, Quail Run Road, Eastbourne Lane and Boxwood Circle.

• Repairing curb & gutter on St. Mary Street.