Buffeted by the loss of several members as the school enters a second year filled with major changes, the Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans governing board is considering asking three of its long-time advisers to take on a much more active role on a one-year basis.
After a series of resignations, the Lycee board is down to six members — only four of whom attended two meetings this week. Board president Jean Montes had previously laid out a plan to create a series of committees that would handle some of the governance work as the new school grows, but said Tuesday night in effect that the board needs more hands on deck now even to get those committees rolling.
In the interim, Montes proposed asking three members of the school’s advisory board to join the board as full members with voting privileges for one year while those committees are in place.
“The idea would be to activate them for a year,” Montes said.
During that time, the committees could be created and filled, giving the current board members time to select more permanent members, Montes said. It would also give the board time to settle upon and begin participating in a governance-training program of its own, Montes said.
“If the committees are not in place, I don’t feel comfortable to bring in brand-new board members,” Montes said.
The proposal drew varied opinions from the other board members. Board member Paige Saleun said she strongly agreed with the idea, but was aware that some other board members were opposed to it, and wanted to hear their reasoning. Board member Catherine MacPhaille, however, said “opposition” mischaracterized her opinion.
“From my standpoint, I would like to meet them and get to know their vision for the school,” MacPhaille said, drawing agreement from board member Hema Banangada.
Montes said that he will schedule meetings between individual board members and those who might be added, and then call a special meeting in early August to vote on adding them.
Montes said after the meeting that the three advisory board members are: Jacqueline Simon, vice president of the Haitian Association for Human Development; Dan Henderson, a consultant with experience in technology and education; and Joel Vilmenay, president and general manager of WDSU. All three have been advising the school since its earliest stages, when the charter was being written, Saleun said.
Budget approved | The board also gave final approval to the 2012-13 budget presented the night before. There were no additional questions from the public about it, but Saleun revisited the food-service issue.
Based on her research overnight, school-lunch programs often operate at a loss of up to $30,000 or so, Saleun said. If that’s the norm, shouldn’t the school add some sort of line-item to the budget showing a loss for school lunches?
Without even having selected a food service or set costs, it’s impossible estimate a figure, replied Montes and Banangada. But Montes said what does seem clear is the school should begin working soon to encourage parents to use the program.
“The more that participate, the more we have a chance to break even,” Montes said.
The budget was approved unanimously.
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Are there only 4 board members now? Is that enough to approve a budget?
I believe that I read in an earlier report that on 2/3 of the board needed to be present to approve the budget. With only 6 board members & 4 were present I believe that covers the approval process. I could be wrong though.
The new and old board members are going to have to litterally be “hands on deck”.They will wear many hats this year, as their positions must now include: board duties/janitors/ lunch servers/and school nurse ,as they only budgeted about $16,000 toward janatorial services and$29,000 for grounds keeping. This number should be closer to $200,000 ( and that is low) There is no way that number can be correct. Even if you add the two together it would not cover one person to do daily cleaning and serving lunch at three schools for 350 kids.
Not sure Saluen’s “overnite ” research on a lunch program would make me feel confident about that part of the budget either. Is she just hoping that very few kids qualify for “free or reduced”lunch? Does she want a higher priced lunch program that the other public schools? When are school lunch programs money making services? Maybe at private schools.
And the reserve now is?