Dibert Charter School Down But Not Out
June 11th, 2006 by Michael HomanOpening quality schools is fundamental to the rebuilding of New Orleans. The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is sponsoring the charter of Dibert Elementary School to begin to meet this end. After a great deal of work by some very gifted and committed volunteers, we had provisional approval and everything looked in order to open this much needed school in September of 2006. However, in a shocking turn of events, we learned late Friday that our application was denied. There seems to be quite a bit of evidence that something fishy is going on. Charter applications far inferior to ours were approved. We’re worried that it’s state politics as usual, and that perhaps another neighborhood’s school is slotted to use the now vacant Dibert property. We’re currently doing some research on how we appeal this process and we will be sure to keep you posted on events as they unfold. Also, people need to know that because of legislation in the Special Session of the Fall 2005, the Recovery School District pledged [Word document, 1.1 MB] that it “is committed to developing a strong model of parental and community collaboration” and “The RSD is committed to ensuring transparency regarding its processes and practices and accountability (at all levels).” Neither of these things has happened with the RSD, nor did the National Association of Charter School Authorizers help as they were supposed to.
Right now we need your help. Please email the people below and let them know why you think opening Dibert is important, and why Mid-City needs our own school. Use as the subject “Mid-City Needs Dibert Elementary.” Also please leave a copy of your email as a comment to this post. We had hoped that by creating a model school in the neighborhood that we would attract families, increase community involvement, and simply better educate our children. It was a vital and necessary piece of the puzzle for us to move forward. All of this is tragically on hold for the moment. Not opening Dibert simply makes no sense.
The following are members of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. They can all be reached at:
sbese@la.gov
Mr. Dale Bayard, Ms. Polly Broussard, Ms. Glenny Lee Buquet, Mr. Edgar Chase, Ms. Penny Dastugue, Ms. Louella Givens, Ms. Leslie Jacobs, Ms. Linda Johnson, Mr. Walter Lee, Dr. James Stafford, Ms. Mary Washington
Cecil Picard, the state superintendent of Education
SuperintendentPicard@la.gov
The following are City Council Members who could potentially help us:
Shelley Midura
smidura@cityofno.com)
Stacy Head
shead@cityofno.com
Oliver Thomas
OMThomas@cityofno.com
Arnie Fielkow
arniefielkowcoun@bellsouth.net
Thank you, and here’s hoping this can make a difference.
June 11th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Was it denied because MCNO has not run a school before?
I know there is an organization called KIPP that is helping to run other charter schools in the city. http://www.kippschools.org/
Maybe you guys could partner up with them.
Just a thought….
June 11th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Mr. Dale Bayard, Ms. Polly Broussard, Ms. Glenny Lee Buquet, Mr. Edgar Chase, Ms. Penny Dastugue, Ms. Louella Givens, Ms. Leslie Jacobs, Ms. Linda Johnson, Mr. Walter Lee, Dr. James Stafford, Ms. Mary Washington,
Please let me know why MCNO’s application was denied. I am truly amazed at the outcome of this decision.
Joe Laura
June 12th, 2006 at 8:34 am
MCNO contracted our company to run the school. We are the ONLY local education management company to have applied for a school. I urge you to look at our website to see what we have to offer. You would be shocked to see the applications that were approved. There is indeed something fishy going on, and we have been unable to get any satisfactory answers.
June 12th, 2006 at 9:02 am
Lynn, MCNO has partnered with Education Design Management. They have a website at
http://www.educationdesignmanagement.com
June 12th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
To the BESE Board:
I was surprised to hear that the charter application for Dibert Elementary was turned down. At the moment, the reasons for the decision have not been widely announced.
Residents are returning to the Mid-City area and need local public schools in the area reopened. The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, Education Design Management, and many others joined together in this application. They were ready to reopen Dibert in the Fall.
Please reconsider this decision and help us rebuild our neighborhood.
June 12th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
I am writing this letter to ask you to please reconsider your decision to not allow the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization and Education Design Management sponsorship of Dibert Elementary in New Orleans. I understand their application was accepted provisionally with advice to improve the final application. Surprisingly, after those recommendations were addressed, the charter application was denied. Furthermore, I have been informed by friends and relatives in the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, you have provided very little guidance to help open the school in the Fall. We need a neighborhood school to help us rebuild. The neighborhood was very enthusiastic about opening Dibert, and now all of that is on hold and I’m not sure why. Please write me with your explanations and intentions to help my city move forward with quality education. Thank you for your time,
Therese Fitzpatrick
June 13th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Dear Board Members:
I was extremely disappointed and surprised by the news that the application for Dibert School, proposed by the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization and Education Design Management, was denied. I have been eagerly following the progress of a process that seems to have left everyone in the dark. There seemed to be no guidance at all on the part of RDS. I personally got in touch with a few BESE board members over confusion about things that were written in the paper. Although they were helpful, it wasn’t always clear who could help answer the questions. The one thing I do know is that we have a group of dynamic people ready, willing and able to open what could be one of the best charter schools in the city. We have energetic and concerned parents, an innovative company, EDM and, from what I understand, a superior principal, ready to go. It would be such a shame to continue to fail our children. With all of the time and energy spent by countless individuals to get this school ready, it was not fair to at least get a fraction of that back in the way of input by someone who could give us much-needed answers. Please reconsider your decision and we will work towards making Dibert a model school not only for New Orleans, but for the rest of the country.
Sincerely,
Wendy Laker