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June 2, 2008
Langston Hughes Charter School: Same as the old boss
When renowned Harvard golden child M.B.A. and non-educator John Alford of Langston Hughes Charter School took his entire staff to see Left Behind: The Story of The New Orleans Public Schools, who could have guessed that he was actually taking notes on how to rob the schools blind, old-school New Orleans-style, while education took a back seat.
If you'd like to see how charter schools spend public education money, join Alford, his board of directors, and his fresh-faced faculty of still-wet-behind-the-ears Ivy League "teachers" as they whoop it up at their end of the year party at Bacco, Thursday night from 6:30 on. Free dinner and open bar, all paid for with school money (how much of it is state and local funds? who can say). If you're not feeding at the public trough like the public servants from the charter school, bring your American Express because entrees at Bacco run from $17-$33.
While you're there, ask them how they can afford to party in such splendor when their kids' families certainly can't, and when their kids had to share books this year because there weren't enough books to go around for every child.
As Sly Stone once said, "there's a riot goin' on".
Posted by ray at June 2, 2008 9:41 PM | Permalink
Categories: [new orleans ]
Comments
I don't understand why they didn't go to Morton's.
Posted by: jeffrey at June 3, 2008 10:42 AM
Ve-ry interesting. Anyone know whether or where the challenges that students face at Langston Hughes are documented?
Posted by: e at June 3, 2008 11:08 AM
I got it straight from teachers mouths. (Teachers who are leaving the school in disgust.)
Posted by: Ray at June 3, 2008 11:10 AM
By point of comparison, the teachers at Ben Franklin get a party funded by PTA and parent donations, in the school cafeteria, booze-free.
Posted by: Ray at June 3, 2008 11:52 AM
And all the kids at Franklin have books.
Posted by: Ray at June 3, 2008 12:24 PM
hey! i had to pay for my end of the year party! i obviously chose the wrong charter school. hah!
Posted by: em at June 3, 2008 5:12 PM
dear ray, I am having trouble formatting this comment to be easily readable. please format this for me out of paragraph style. thanks!
http://www.nola180.org/mission.html
NOLA 180 is a local non-profit charter management organization designed to turn around failing schools. The organization’s flagship school, Langston Hughes Academy, opened in August 2007.
http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov/cgibin?rqstyp=crpdtlC&rqsdta=36304880N
Louisiana Secretary of State Detailed Record
Charter/Organization ID: 36304880N
Name: NOLA 180
Type Entity: Non-Profit Corporation
Status: Active
Annual Report Status: Not In Good Standing for failure to file current Annual Report
2007 Annual Report is required at this time Print Annual Report Form For Filing
Mailing Address: C/O JOHN ALFORD, 3826 CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Domicile Address: 3826 CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
File Date: 11/06/2006
Registered Agent (Appointed 11/06/2006): JOHN ALFORD, 3826 CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Director: CHRISTA MONTGOMERY, 1036 JEFFERSON AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Director: DR. ANTHONY RECASNER, 1929 UPPERLINE STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
http://page.thinknola.com/wiki/show/SJ+Green+Charter+School
SJ Green Charter School
The Basics
Grades: K-8
School Size: 350 (2006-2007)
Academic Focus: LA Comprehensive Curriculum
Principal: Anthony Recasner
School Government District: Louisiana Recovery School District [Louisiana Department of Education]
Charter Association: Middle School Advocates, Inc
Board Chair: Lawrence Kullman
http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov/cgibin?rqstyp=crpdtlC&rqsdta=34600823N
Louisiana Secretary of State Detailed Record
Charter/Organization ID: 34600823N
Name: MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVOCATES, INC.
Type Entity: Non-Profit Corporation
Status: Active
Annual Report Status: In Good Standing Add Certificate of Good Standing to Shopping Cart
Last Report Filed on 11/15/2007
Mailing Address: 2319 VALENCE ST., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Domicile Address: 2319 VALENCE ST., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
File Date: 12/03/1997
Registered Agent (Appointed 12/03/1997): ANTHONY RECASNER, 1929 UPPERLINE STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Treasurer: STEPHEN ROSENTHAL, 1421 SONIAT ST., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Secretary: CHARLEEN BLACHE, 13170 DUTCHTOWN PT. AVE. #532, GONZALES, LA 70737
President: LAWRENCE KULLMAN, 1838 STATE STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118
http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/product-management/6449363-1.html
“Stan H. Rosenthal founded the Rosenthal Agency in New Orleans in 1965. Leslie Rosenthal Jacobs and Stephen R. Rosenthal have been actively involved in the business since 1980 and have owned it since 1991.”
Posted by: anon at June 3, 2008 9:02 PM
So Recasner is principal of SJ Green, and yet still finds time to be on the boards of all of these other charter schools, PLUS president of the Louisiana Charter School Association, PLUS on the Board of Trustees of GNOF.
I always though principal was a full time job.
Posted by: Ray at June 3, 2008 11:15 PM
Wasn't the firing of Brian Reidlinger in Algiers attributed to too many jobs?
Posted by: Karen at June 4, 2008 8:50 AM
Aw, teachers don't exactly make a lot of money. The admins might, but teachers are generally taking on a low-paying and very tough job, and they get very little respect from American society at large. So if once or twice a year they take 'em out to "whoop it up" at one of New Orleans' fine upscale restaurants, well, I'm not going to begrudge it, know what I'm saying? It's a nice little reward. At least they're spending the money locally instead of going on a "retreat" to Disney World like Xy's school did last year. Now THAT was a waste.
Posted by: Editor B at June 4, 2008 3:12 PM
Hmmm... but then I note in your comment you say teachers are "leaving the school in disgust" so maybe it's not such a great reward after all. I definitely knew some teachers (like Xy) who thought the "retreat" idea was a bogus waste of resources. I'd have thought dinner at Bacco would be pretty appealing. Maybe I'm just jealous 'cause I wanna go there and can't afford it!
Posted by: Editor B at June 4, 2008 3:15 PM
yes tony's busy and Leslie Jacob's brother is his board treasurer.
Posted by: anon at June 4, 2008 10:19 PM
One of my friends is on the board of that school. Evidently, the dinner was paid for by individual board members and not school money.
Posted by: Heather Z at June 14, 2008 11:37 PM
After the fact, not initially. Was that the plan all along, or was it a "cleaning up" after the issue was raised by certain people?
Time will tell, I dearly hope. Tip of the iceberg at that place, though. Tip of the fucking iceberg.
Posted by: Ray at June 15, 2008 12:16 AM
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