Superintendent Commits to Transformation of John McDonogh Facility and Academics
10/6/2011 12:00:00 AM
RSD will use tax credits to fund renovation in revised plan
View Superintendent White's Presentation (PDF)
NEW ORLEANS, La – Following through on commitments outlined earlier this fall, Recovery School District (RSD) Superintendent John White announced today that the district would use savings and new revenue to fully renovate the dilapidated John McDonogh Senior High School facility. In a plan outlined today, White stated that the district would make this investment when a plan for full academic transformation, with specific criteria, had been put into place.
John McDonogh has long ranked among the state’s lowest-performing schools, this year ranking third from the bottom in school performance score among Louisiana’s non-alternative high schools.
“Just as we should not tolerate dilapidated buildings, we also should never accept having schools where most students do not graduate,” said White. “We have heard the community on both of these issues. When a plan that will send John Mac kids to college and professional careers lands on my desk, we will make this building new.”
White stated that RSD staff has begun work and will continue to evaluate a variety of options for the transformation plan. He established four criteria any plan would have to meet in order to earn the renovation investment:
· A school management organization with a proven history of achieving college and career with all children, authorized by the state to operate a high school in Orleans Parish. · A plan that guarantees the school will be staffed with teachers who have made demonstrable and significant academic gains with children. · A curriculum that will prepare students for both the rigors of college and the challenges of specific professional careers, including a plan for partnerships with outside organizations. · The backing of a set of John McDonogh parents who have endorsed this plan because they trust it will change the lives of their children.
The announcement comes as the RSD and Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) are set to release revised amendments to the Facilities Master Plan for Orleans schools. RSD and OPSB issued amendments in July and received community feedback leading to adjustments in the ultimate plan.
The John McDonogh transformation continues the RSD’s efforts to follow through on 12 commitments to New Orleans outlined in the plan What Will It Take? To read the commitments, click here.
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