Two weeks after the governing board of Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans split over a controversial email from one member to another, school leaders will revisit that issue and the ongoing search for a general director at a special meeting at 8 p.m. Friday evening.
In the board’s regular monthly meeting May 14, board member Kenneth Charity sought to have Allen Kelly removed from the board, and when that motion failed for lack of a 2/3 majority, Charity resigned himself. Now, the agenda for Friday’s meeting includes a “motion to vote on the status of Mr. Allen Kelly as board member.”
Board president Jean Montes said Thursday afternoon that he hopes the issue and the unease that he and other school board members feel over it will be resolved with the vote.
“We’re trying to refine and clarify the membership of the board,” Montes said.
The agenda also includes an item “to ratify the hiring of the General Director of the school,” a source of lingering concern for parents after the departure of former principal Jill Otis. Jean-Jacques Grandiere was appointed interim general director as the board conducted a search for a permanent leader, and parents have voiced strong support for Grandiere, even as the board sought to reassure them that Grandiere is a strong candidate for the position and an important part of the future of the school.
Montes said he still has a “couple of calls” to make on the director search, and declined to state his recommendation prior to Friday’s board meeting.
Finally, the meeting will include Montes’ proposal for training for the board. The school is young, he said, so he plans to present several proposals for training for the board moving forward.
All those issues together, Montes said, created a compelling need to have a meeting as soon as possible.
“We have a lot of issues that need to be put in place so we can move toward the summer with our head very clear,” Montes said. “We want to do the things right away to alleviate every possible issue that we’ve had this year and end the year with a clean slate.”
The board will meet at its usual location, the First Presbyterian Church at 5401 S. Claiborne Avenue.
So much for the Board’s promised “transparency.” A special meeting scheduled at 8:00 pm on a Friday night? And a sign posted at a school that no one is currently attending? An Executive Session already built into the agenda? Me thinks they do not want parents to attend…and have figured out a way to talk privately about things that should be out in the open. Sure hope what y’all are doing is legal, cuz people are watching.
LFNO Parent – you know, a lot of school boards hold meetings in the middle of the week, mid-morning and I would think that kind of time frame would be even worse for parents who are working. At least parents can attend this meeting because 1 parent can stay home while the kids are in bed, etc. What time would be more convenient for you?
Come on, people. They have posted the meeting on the website according to the law, they have notified media (such as Uptown Messenger, who in turn, has posted about it) and it’s also up on their Facebook page. I feel like they have already begun to go above and beyond. What more would you like? Maybe you should make a suggestion to them, so they can know what will make parents happy. Have you made a suggestion to the board?
Zoo Parent, I’m not sure who thinks a meeting at 8pm on a Friday night is convenient. I wonder why you defend these practices…what do you have to gain? When I first saw the meeting posted on the school website, they had not, in fact, notified Uptown Messenger. Maybe they did after that, I don’t know. And they had not yet posted on FB. It was only posted on FB after this article came out. And yes, I have tried to communicate with the Board. I get no response. Maybe you have some special “in” with them that makes it easier for you? Or an email or phone # other than the school ones? — because that’s how we’ve been told to contact them.
This school, academically and socially, has provided more than I hoped for. It is because I see such promise in it that I am so upset by the Board’s actions. They’re indefensible and it’s likely their actions could continue to cause much havoc down the line (2nd grade, for example). Defending them and justifying their actions is allowing them to continue as they have been, which is unacceptable. As parents, we need to hold them accountable so that our school can be the best that it can be. I, too, have appreciated recent efforts at communication, but I want them to know it needs to continue.
Pretending there aren’t issues is irresponsible. Fact is, our principal has already left, and there seems to be a story behind that. Fact is, there are a lot of people upset about the 2nd grade issue, and it seems our fast track accreditation is now on hold. Fact is, Board members are at each other’s throats. Let’s not try to sweep this under the rug. Let’s face the facts, fix it and move on to better things.
LFNO Parent,
Your fast tract is not on hold. There is NO such thing as a fast tract, so the French Ministry of Ed. forced LFNo to take it of their website. Accreditation does not come easily as it takes many years. Putting that info about a fast tract was dilliberate and one to the first red flags that the other two accreditate schools caught and reported to the visiting French Senator. To say there is such a thing is a slap in the face to the actual process.
Maybe the board meeting info could be put the in a mass LFNO email list that gets the restaurant updates.
LFNO Parent – I agree that the board needs to be held accountable. As far as second grade, I actually haven’t personally encountered anyone who has been upset about the addition of second grade. Everyone I know (parents) are thrilled about it. I realize it will be more work, but I also realize more teachers are being hired, so it’s not like the same amount of teachers are doubling their workload. It’s a new school and I think staff probably realizes it’s going to be a hard job, but one that will be worth it. How can anyone argue with more children being educated as a bad thing?
As for the board meeting on the school website; I saw it posted under the “Meetings” section yesterday. I use the rss feed, so I know when it’s updated. It wasn’t on the front page till this morning, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t on the website. And I’m curious, because I don’t know what other schools do, is it customary for schools to post board meeting notices on their Facebook pages, or is Lycée just doing that to try to reach more people?
Contacting the board hasn’t been an issue for me or for another friend of mine who is also a parent. I sent a message via Facebook to the school and was contacted by Dr. Montes the same day. Same as my friend. If I were you, I would talk to the board about making it easier to get in touch with them and let them know the problems you have encountered with trying to get in touch with them. Tell them who you left messages with and also let Mr. Grandiere know. Obviously, whoever you left messages with isn’t passing them on, so they are not doing their job. Don’t take it out on the board if they aren’t aware there was a message left for them. They can’t fix it if they don’t know it’s broke.
In your first sentence above, you asked what do I have to gain by defending the school/board. Nothing. But I found there are a handful of parents at the school who are really negative people and it’s the same people over and over again who keep complaining about the board. I simply cannot stand the negativity because I find it doesn’t do anything to help. They just like to stand around around talking and complaining instead of doing something. They will complain about the board, but then I ask myself, have they actually tried to approach the board and find the right answer? Probably not. They just like to keep complaining.
Zoo Parent, there are many parents upset about the addition of second grade. I’ve also spoken to some who are not, and some who don’t care either way. Maybe we interact in different circles? For those who are upset, some of the reasons are that 1) 2nd graders mostly are being taken away from other schools in the community. I’m sure that these other schools aren’t happy about that, and I’ve heard rumors that the French government is also against it (although I can’t confirm this). The ones not being taken away from other schools do not have French language skills. How is that helpful to the teachers, the other students or to the school, when those kids will begin standardized testing that year — and haven’t been educated by LFNO? This could potentially harm us immensely. Tutoring over the summer will not catch those kids up to other 2nd graders who have been immersed for several years. 2) There is a lot on the table to accomplish next year with the move and the continued, and planned for, expansion of the school (lunch program, arts program, library, etc.). How is adding a 2nd grade helpful in meeting those goals? How is adding a 2nd grade helpful on any front? I truly don’t know the answer to this.
As for parents being “negative,” I think you should understand the difference between that and being “critical.” They are two different things. Thinking critically is a skill taught in institutions of higher learning, to teach people to examine a situation as it is, and to look for both the positives and the negatives — not for what you want it to be, or what you’ve been told it is. I’ve looked at the situation critically, not negatively, and found some real issues here, much as I wish they didn’t exist. Talking about it doesn’t make me, or anyone else, negative. And how do you know these parents aren’t doing something? You shouldn’t assume that, because they might be.
You are correct about the French Government and the second grade. Lycee was advised to not open this class on so many levels. There was an gemtleman’s agreement made in January at a group french school meeting that the second grade would not open. This agreement was clearly stuck at the table with the other the other schools, the consul, the french senator and some other french and American representatives. to show good faith and a way to move forward and work together. . it would prove tht that the intintion of Lycee was to grow with the rest of the schools and that they were not trying to take those kids already in great school ( to destoy the class) , who are not replacable at other schools or not take advantage ot the facility situation that Audubon has found itself in this year. The schools were trying to work together and communicate on how to do this, but as you can see that is not how LFNO board works…… This is not hearsay.
. There was also also a lot of concern with open admissions in both first and second as it will affect accredidation. The school cannot be accredited with this in place and they were already in deap trouble for posting the accredited stamp on their website when they first opened ( this had to be taken down) and then the fast tract lie ( that tool longer to get taken down, but now it is) But watch, those profiecient requirements be put back in after the start up money is used. Slick, probably legal, but moral no. They will claim that letting non french speakers cannot handle the program, but they have already gotten three year start up mondy in a manipulated way.
Kally – a “gentleman’s agreement?” Seriously? Oh that is SO New Orleans.
Well, I would like to know the name of the person who made such an agreement if they are on the board of Lycee (as you are implying because of your statement, “how LFNO board works…”). And did the board member (s) have the explicit votes of the rest of the board and was this something that was agreed to and voted on by the board. From the last board meeting that was posted, as I understood it, all decisions must be voted on by the board as a whole. Please tell us all who that person(s) was.
Secondly, since now the French government seems to have a say in how the school is being run (as implied by your above posting), is the French government helping Lycee financially? Is the French gov’t now in the business of running public charter schools in New Orleans? Does the French gov’t have any idea what the concept of a CHARTER school is? That’s it’s supposed to create choices for parents and competition among schools so they can better themselves for the sake of the children? I realize Audubon has been the only other public French curriculum school around here and now that they have competition, they don’t like it and they are running around complaining to people to try to say Lycee is at fault for something. They should be using that energy to do something positive and better themselves, make themselves more attractive in what has now become a competitive marketplace. I’m sorry, if they say Lycee is “stealing” their kids, isn’t it more of an issue that they should be making parents happy and putting measures in place for student retention? It sounds to me like they don’t want to accept accountability for their shortcomings and would rather blame the other guy.
I’m all about the schools working together and I would love to see them co-exist and put on festivals and fundraisers together. I think it would make them stronger and more attractive to families who are scared/ignorant of bilingual education. And maybe, at the end of the day, we can reach out and have the opportunity to educate even more children with a bilingual education.
Zoo Parent,
As a parent and native New Orleanian, I care much more about making the French government happy than any other agency we are beholden too. (I know we must, but let’s face it, BESE and DOE are products of Louisiana politics, which makes them suspect at best and generally something most of us wash our hands of!) I would think that most parents at Lycee, and I may be wrong, are Francophone and want what a French education brings to the cultural table. BESE brings LEAP, budget cuts and plastic cheeze to the table. Granted, I would like to see the French government financially support Lycee, but, let’s face it, they have been more supportive to the Lycee, excluding finances, than our own government. I’ve seen the French government at our school; BESE summons when the board acts up. In fact, for the BESE Board to support the second grade, shows that they are as clueless as the Lycee Board. I think most parents at other schools are happy, and a couple of rogue ones, who happen to be on the Lycee board, have pushed Lycee into being bad neighbors, poaching from other schools so they can have their own private/public school for their own kids. We were all informed last year that the school would grow slowly, but the board has gone against their own mandate to placate bully board members. I don’t know about a “gentleman’s agreement,” but I know what is ethically correct, and resorting to the language of business does not make it right. This board has a real image problem, and they need to address it. I believe Jean Montes is trying, but until further cleaning house is done, many parents and community members will be unhappy. Now, we all have to do damage control.
Ghost,
Your are right on the money. Its Funny, all the other immersion schools had to grow year by year. Why not Lycee? So what if it takes twelve years if it is down correctly. Lycee has board members who are may have good intientions of having a high school , but those intentions also include harming other french schools. Look at their past track records.
Zoo parent, I ask you which board member are you? or are you the head of the PTA at the lycee? I also ask you, to ask your current Director and Jill Otis about the tri- school meeting and about the second grade addition. Ask them what was said. The meeting was when the senator was in town. Ask Damien Regnard about the outcome of the meeting. Maybe Jill Otis could not stand by and watch the poaching. Maybe she knew the true motive behind the some lycee board members, Maybe she cared about lycee and wanted to work together. Maybe she did not like what they were doing to Audubon, the school she helped create. Again ask them about the three French schools coming to the table to try to work together. Ask why two do and one does not.
Also you need to know that Charter schools were not started to be about competition. they were started to serve the children who were not being served. Those who need these schools the most, the special needs, the at risk, the free and reduce lunch. Where are those kids at Lycee. Joyous Van Burskirk wrote about this in an earlier post and I would love for her to chime in here.
Ask about the tactics of Lycee board Member Paige Saleun and her solicitation of Audubon Second graders ( and everyone else for that matter) Is it legal to solicit, yes, but is it ethical? If you think so, good luck lycee. I just went on an Audubon Field with her and the lycee should be apalled by the outright recruiting.
I wish Paige Saleun would recruit my child who is currently at Audubon with sub par facilities, a city hall administration, teachers copying books because they don’t have enough for the children, a disgusting lunch program, a board president who demeans parents at public meetings, I could go on and on…. Recruited??? How on earth could a parent be lured from a school if they were happy???
Kally- I’m guessing you aren’t an Audubon parent, but I am. I wish my child could attend Lycee. I have friends with children there, have seen the facilities, gone to an Open House and met the administration and was impressed by what I have seen. The parents at Audubon have begged the FAME board, administration, city hall and the French Government for years to listen to us and work with us regarding the many issues we have and we were told we could leave if we weren’t happy. Many of us poured our hearts, souls, time, and money into Audubon, only to be told that we could leave anytime we wanted to. And many have. Well, I don’t have that luxury.
The truth is, many schools were started by disgruntled Audubon parents: ISL, Ecole Bilingue, and now Lycee. Speaks volumes to me. And Kally, since you have all of this ‘inside information’, how is it that you know that Lycee intended to grow grade by grade. The website states that ‘grades’- yes plural- will be added each year. And I believe that their charter agreement with the state says that middle school will be introduced in year three or four.
I don’t know why Charter schools were started, I’m sure there are many different reasons. As a taxpayer I believe that all children are entitled to an excellent public education in a clean, safe facility. That includes those who are at risk and those who are not. Whether you agree with it or not competition is a good thing. I’ve seen some progress at Audubon since Lycee has opened. I believe that all of the immersion schools will be on their toes and work harder as a result. The children will surely benefit.
And no Kally and Ghost- I am not a board member, teacher, staff member or even a parent at Lycee- although I wish I were. Any information I have received is from public records requests and first hand information from parents or board members who have answered my questions at public meetings. I encourage you all to do the same.
And Ghost- you may want to wash your hands of BESE and the DOE but the charter schools cannot. They are the governing entities, like it or not. What on earth does the French government do for these school? Do your research.
Creole 65,
No, not an audubon board member but very involved because my kids are young. I felt I had to get more involved when all this craziness happened and did a lot of research and have gone to two of their open houses. I am very interested in a high school. French is my first language ( hence my typos and writing issues)and why the accredidation is so important to me. I have also witnessed first hand the destructive nature of paige saleun, so I have had reservations about Lycee.
Audubon Parent, the lycee charter is NOT on their website, but you can request it, as it is public record. I read that somewhere that by law , it should be on the website, but don’t know for sure.
Zoo parent, you must be a lycee board member, how are you privy to the fact that four second graders do not speak french and one is haitian. Why would you know such a thing?is this public knowledge. That alone puts huge red flags out there for me to consider Lycee until it is a solid high school ( hence the meaning of the name)
Well then going to an open house must make you an authority. And of course being French makes you smarter than three-fourth of the English speaking world.
If you’re not a parent board member, teacher, or staff member, then why are you questioning parents and board members at public meetings?
Concerned parent – in all honesty this is a public school & as a taxpayer we have all the right in the world to ask questions of any entity that received public monies to function. this is regardless of our actual involvement
So, to be fair, are you an Audubon board member ? You certain speak facts as if they are from someone thats on the inside of everything . I’m just curious ,but don’t you folks have anything else to do then trying to run one another in the ground . So PETTY. It must be a cultural thing.
LFNO Parent: 1) 2nd graders being taken away from other schools: let me ask you this, if they are happy at the other schools, then why are they leaving? Do you think parents deserve a choice? Do you lay blame on Lycee if Audubon or other french schools are complaining about their kids leaving? Or should blame be put on those schools for not trying to retain their students and make parents happy to stay? I’m curious, what is your proposal for a financially viable and sustainable solution to adding grades at Lycee? Do you think it should take 12 years to have its first graduating class? Do you think the school could sustain, financially, with a plan like that? What other charter school grows like that? None. Why? It’s not financially feasible. The school will fail and close. That’s the alternative. Do you think that’s what parents want? As for the French gov’t – since they seem to want to have a say in how the school grows, have they given Lycee a check to help? I’m guessing – NO. But they still want a say, right? I realize we have to play nice and I want to, playing nice doesn’t have to mean rolling over and being walked on. There can be a happy medium here – it just has to be found.
The students with no French in 2nd grade – I was worried about that, too. I spoke with Mr. Grandiere about it and he told me a story about a kid who came to his old school in CA, with no french and was immersed in 5th grade. He said that kid ended up graduating at the top of his class in 12th grade. He also informed me that he has met with the families of the non-French 2nd graders (I think he said there were 4 children total) and one of them already understands French because he has a Creole/Haitian background (just isn’t coming from a French program) and that all the families are extremely committed to this education. Mr. Grandiere told me he felt very confident they will succeed. That really reassured me.
As for the standardized tests – really? These kids are coming into 2nd grade. Doesn’t testing start in 3rd grade for the iLeap? And aren’t the tests toward the end of the 3rd year? That’s almost 2 full years of schooling before standardized testing begins. I’m guessing the kids coming in, probably already know how to read and write and will simply be continuing their education with Lycee and will do great on the testing. Unless you’re not confident those entering 2nd grade are proficient and/or at the 2nd grade level? Maybe you know something I don’t, so let me know if there is something we should be worried about as parents.
2) There is a lot to accomplish and I feel confident it will get done. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it. There was a lot to accomplish last year, and they got it done! I feel confident in this school’s leadership. These people seem like ambitious, go-getters. Not people who sit around complaining. They are making things happen and I know this will happen and be great. Not easy, but great. Can’t be afraid of hard work.
3) Critical thinking. I know the difference, but thanks for the explanation. I don’t mean to imply you’re being negative. There are certainly, alarmist, negative people out there. In my mind, what makes someone negative is the lack of seeing something positively and the constant trying to find something wrong with a situation. That’s just negative and those people will, unfortunately, never change. They simply live their lives liking to complain.
Zoo parent. You seem to know a lot about all of this. Are you a board member? It’s funny, most of the parents I have met who said they were switching from Audubon to Lycee said they didn’t want to drive to Gentilly for 2 years. That seems like opportunism to me (not school choice). The original charter called for the school to add one grade at a time. Were the folks that created the charter wrong? Did they agree to the one grade a year plan to get the charter approved and then seek to change it afterwards? Perhaps a more reasonably priced school building in another neighborhood (besides the heart of uptown) would have made it more feasible for the school to grow according to its charter and within budget..legally.
Standardized testing starts in 2nd grade now. Check the doe website if you don’t believe me. This 2nd grade will totally determine the school performance score.
I hope the BOD for the school starts to publish meeting minutes as they did for the first few meetings. They have to announce an executive session ahead of time so it seems that they are now putting one in each of the meetings , with and if needed clause.
I am very excited about Dr. Montes taking action to get the board training and moving forward quickly with all items of business.