Lycee Francais moves forward with plan to add second grade, begins planning for move to new building

Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans will apply to expand to the second grade next year, one year ahead of schedule, as it begins planning to move into a new building on State Street over the summer.

The school opened this year with six classes, two sections each of three grade levels — kindergarten and pre-kindergarten for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds — and had planned to add a grade level each year until high school. Lycee also planned to add sections as needed and, after this year’s admissions process, is already preparing to more than double in size: three classes of pre-K3, four classes of pre-K4, four of kindergarten and three of first grade, for a total of 14 classes and an enrollment of around 300 students.

Last month, the Lycee board voted to apply to the state to add both a second and third grade next year, despite concerns from school administrators and some board members about the wisdom of adding a third grade in particular. On Monday night, board member Jean Montes said the focus of the “accelerated growth” efforts has shifted to second grade only, and the board voted 6-0 with two abstentions to modify the application to the state to only add a second grade.

After a recent walkthrough of the St. Francis of Assisi campus with school officials and faculty, the board has begun planning in earnest for its move there this summer. Board member Catherine MacPhaille will head up a team planning the numerous decisions that will have to be made about the new campus, such as the creation of a school lunch program and a traffic plan for pickup and dropoff, she said.

Among other business discussed Monday, the board made Hema Banangada the interim treasurer as Mignhon Tourne transitions out of that role, and the board also discussed preparations for the school’s annual Fete de la Musique fundraiser March 11.

To read our live coverage of the meeting, click in the box below.