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Times-Picayune
That’s the direct result of meddling by Gov. Jeff Landry and his unofficial aide, Shane Guidry, and it causes us great concern. The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East was formed back in 2006, when a citizen-led reform movement spurred the creation of one regional authority for the east bank flood basin and one for the west, replacing multiple boards broken up along parish lines that have nothing to do with how water flows. This happened after the catastrophic flooding following Hurricane Katrina, and the subsequent discovery that the federally built and maintained flood protection infrastructure that guarded New Orleans was faulty. So, it seemed, was the local board’s oversight, which was often focused on other things such as managing real estate holdings and policing nearby neighborhoods. These new boards, recommended by and stacked with people with relevant expertise rather than political connections, were created via constitutional amendment by an overwhelming 81% statewide vote. But now, the east bank authority is in the sights of a governor who is looking to bring appointed boards all over the state more under his control. The first sign that something was up came at the end of last year’s legislative session, when Landry — with no explanation — refused to ask lawmakers to confirm the board appointment of Norma Jean Mattei, a professor of civil engineering at the University of New Orleans, a former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers and one of the most qualified candidates the board has ever had, according to Jay Lapeyre, the longtime chair of the nominating committees for both regional boards. Since then, Guidry, who has said he wants to streamline the agency’s operations, save taxpayer money and better utilize the board’s police force, has worked with his handpicked chair to push the board not to hire a director for the agency, but to instead allow its police chief to assume many of the director’s duties. He has called for an end to the nominating committees, and actually accused members of being “scammers who are just out for themselves,” without explaining what he means. In response to all this, four members have now resigned from the nine-member board, leaving it with the bare minimum membership to conduct some business and short of the minimum needed to approve infrastructure projects. We don’t know what the administration’s end game here is, but we know what it should be: a singular focus by knowledgeable professionals on making sure the area is as protected from flooding as it possibly can be. That’s what this newspaper supported in 2006, and what a massive majority of voters back then said they clearly wanted. That’s what they still deserve. New Orleans levee board members quit as Jeff Landry's adviser pursues controversial changes4/2/2025
Reprinted from the Times Picayune
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Voter Tool Shows Which Candidates Pledge to Support Platform for Excellence and Equity |
The platform establishes issues the coalition defines as most important to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for New Orleans public school students: (1) racial equity evaluation, planning and training; (2) COVID-19 and emergency planning; (3) system-wide strategic planning and stakeholder engagement; (4) expansion and replication of successful schools; (5) ensuring all students have equitable access to resources; (6) school standards and accountability; (7) resource management; and (8) collaboration on best practices.
“We are very pleased the overwhelming majority of candidates support the platform,” said Kelisha Garrett, Executive Director of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, a FNOPS member organization. “The platform represents a consensus among advocacy organizations around policies and ideas that support all students, and the scorecard of candidates who pledge to support the platform is a useful tool for voters to consider when deciding how they will cast their ballots. This unique focus ensures that the voices of our collective organizations are included and presented to those that will have the responsibility to implement the mandates and work hand in hand as we create the educational experience our students deserve.”
The candidates who pledged to support the FNOPS 2020 School Board Elections Platform are:
• John A. Brown, District 1
• Patrice Sentino, District 1
• Ethan Ashley, District 2
• Asya M. Howlette, District 2
• Eric Jones, District 2
• Chanel M. Payne, District 2
• Philip C. "Phil" Brickman, District 3
• Olin Parker, District 3
• Leslie Ellison, District 4
• Jancarlo "J.C." Romero, District 4
• Katherine Baudouin, District 5
• Grisela Jackson, District 5
• Antoinette Williams, District 5
• Erica Martinez, District 6
• Carlos L. Zervigon, District 6
• Nolan Marshall Jr., District 7
• Jamar Wilson, District 7
The following candidates either declined or did not respond to requests to interview with FNOPS:
• Aldine Lockett, District 2
• Winston "Boom" Whitten Jr., District 4
• David Alvarez, District 6
• Kayonna K. Armstrong, District 7
After the election, FNOPS will hold School Board members accountable by monitoring and encouraging their performance and periodically reporting on their progress towards completing the platform’s action items. This process is intended to keep the community engaged and active in holding elected officials accountable for the actions to which they have committed.
EXPLORE THE PLATFORM
“We are very pleased the overwhelming majority of candidates support the platform,” said Kelisha Garrett, Executive Director of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, a FNOPS member organization. “The platform represents a consensus among advocacy organizations around policies and ideas that support all students, and the scorecard of candidates who pledge to support the platform is a useful tool for voters to consider when deciding how they will cast their ballots. This unique focus ensures that the voices of our collective organizations are included and presented to those that will have the responsibility to implement the mandates and work hand in hand as we create the educational experience our students deserve.”
The candidates who pledged to support the FNOPS 2020 School Board Elections Platform are:
• John A. Brown, District 1
• Patrice Sentino, District 1
• Ethan Ashley, District 2
• Asya M. Howlette, District 2
• Eric Jones, District 2
• Chanel M. Payne, District 2
• Philip C. "Phil" Brickman, District 3
• Olin Parker, District 3
• Leslie Ellison, District 4
• Jancarlo "J.C." Romero, District 4
• Katherine Baudouin, District 5
• Grisela Jackson, District 5
• Antoinette Williams, District 5
• Erica Martinez, District 6
• Carlos L. Zervigon, District 6
• Nolan Marshall Jr., District 7
• Jamar Wilson, District 7
The following candidates either declined or did not respond to requests to interview with FNOPS:
• Aldine Lockett, District 2
• Winston "Boom" Whitten Jr., District 4
• David Alvarez, District 6
• Kayonna K. Armstrong, District 7
After the election, FNOPS will hold School Board members accountable by monitoring and encouraging their performance and periodically reporting on their progress towards completing the platform’s action items. This process is intended to keep the community engaged and active in holding elected officials accountable for the actions to which they have committed.
EXPLORE THE PLATFORM
Forward New Orleans for Public Schools includes: Agenda for Children, Alliance for Diversity and Excellence, Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, Ed Navigator, Education Reform Now LA, Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Greater New Orleans, Inc., Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, Kingsley House, Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, New Orleans & Co., New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, New Schools for New Orleans, Public School Advocates, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Urban League of Louisiana, Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training, and Young Leadership Council.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 This November, New Orleanians will head to the polls to make decisions that impact the lives of our children and neighbors. With our nation in crisis, these national, state, and local choices are urgent. One local choice is the OPSB election.
The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) holds schools to high standards of academic and operational accountability, while also ensuring equity for families. OPSB does important work, such as approving the Charter School Accountability Framework, managing finances and other resources, approving the NOLA-PS budget, and hiring the Superintendent. The board also holds the Superintendent accountable for developing and executing a plan to ensure a high-quality school system for all students.
Learn more >
BY WILL SENTELL | STAFF WRITER | The Advocate
Assistant State Superintendent of Education Jessica Baghian, center, talks to three year old Lillian W education leaders and local policymakers to the early childhood education center at Close to Hom Lafayette La
After a four-month hunt in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, Louisiana’s top school board is poised to name a new state superintendent of education.
Six finalists are in the mix, but two educators who represent different wings of the public schools debate remain favorites for the job, which is set to be filled on May 20.
They are Assistant State Superintendent of Education Jessica Baghian, who is seen as the favorite of school overhaul advocates, and Jefferson Parish schools superintendent Cade Brumley, who is believed to the choice of fellow superintendents, school board members and teacher unions.
The question is whether Baghian or Brumley can win the minimum eight votes needed for the job from the 11-member state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or whether a compromise candidate emerges.Those who will make the call are saying little in public.
"The BESE members are keeping it very close to the vest," said Brigitte Nieland, government affairs director for the advocacy group Stand for Children.None of the candidates have locked up the job.
"We do not have eight votes for any of the top candidates," said Sandy Holloway, president of BESE.
BESE member Kira Orange Jones, who leads the work group that has led the search, said it is unclear whether the race remains wide open or a consensus is developing.
"The truth is I don't know," Jones said. "It is hard to say. I think board members are certainly deliberating."
One of the other contenders, former St. James Parish schools superintendent Lonnie Luce, is mentioned as a dark horse candidate.
Luce, 51, also led the state's first online charter school, which means he has experience in both the traditional and new public school camps.
The other finalists are Heather Poole, 46, executive vice-chancellor of Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Alexandria; Joe Siedlecki, 44, associate commissioner for school system support, innovation and charters, Texas Education Agency and Paul Vallas, 66, former superintendent of the Recovery School District.
Holloway and others hope to agree on a superintendent on May 20, so he or she can be confirmed by the state Senate before adjournment on June 1.
At stake is one of the most powerful jobs in state government, and the leader of roughly 720,000 public school students.
The superintendent carries out BESE policies.
But the post also carries a huge influence in shaping student testing, teacher training and evaluations, whether charter schools flourish or flounder, school ratings, the role of vouchers and the direction of public schools after two decades of sweeping changes.
All eight of BESE's elected members were backed by business groups, which would seem to favor Baghian, 35, since business has generally backed the push to overhaul public schools since 2000.
Six finalists are in the mix, but two educators who represent different wings of the public schools debate remain favorites for the job, which is set to be filled on May 20.
They are Assistant State Superintendent of Education Jessica Baghian, who is seen as the favorite of school overhaul advocates, and Jefferson Parish schools superintendent Cade Brumley, who is believed to the choice of fellow superintendents, school board members and teacher unions.
The question is whether Baghian or Brumley can win the minimum eight votes needed for the job from the 11-member state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or whether a compromise candidate emerges.Those who will make the call are saying little in public.
"The BESE members are keeping it very close to the vest," said Brigitte Nieland, government affairs director for the advocacy group Stand for Children.None of the candidates have locked up the job.
"We do not have eight votes for any of the top candidates," said Sandy Holloway, president of BESE.
BESE member Kira Orange Jones, who leads the work group that has led the search, said it is unclear whether the race remains wide open or a consensus is developing.
"The truth is I don't know," Jones said. "It is hard to say. I think board members are certainly deliberating."
One of the other contenders, former St. James Parish schools superintendent Lonnie Luce, is mentioned as a dark horse candidate.
Luce, 51, also led the state's first online charter school, which means he has experience in both the traditional and new public school camps.
The other finalists are Heather Poole, 46, executive vice-chancellor of Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Alexandria; Joe Siedlecki, 44, associate commissioner for school system support, innovation and charters, Texas Education Agency and Paul Vallas, 66, former superintendent of the Recovery School District.
Holloway and others hope to agree on a superintendent on May 20, so he or she can be confirmed by the state Senate before adjournment on June 1.
At stake is one of the most powerful jobs in state government, and the leader of roughly 720,000 public school students.
The superintendent carries out BESE policies.
But the post also carries a huge influence in shaping student testing, teacher training and evaluations, whether charter schools flourish or flounder, school ratings, the role of vouchers and the direction of public schools after two decades of sweeping changes.
All eight of BESE's elected members were backed by business groups, which would seem to favor Baghian, 35, since business has generally backed the push to overhaul public schools since 2000.