Requests that the Orleans Parish School Board submit a written explanation and timeline to the House Committee on Education relative to the return of McDonogh #35 Senior High School to its pre-Katrina magnet status with selective admissions requirements
Impact
The resolution seeks to reinforce the historical reputation of McDonogh #35, which was founded as the first public high school for African American students in New Orleans. It aims to restore this school's legacy of academic excellence and community pride by returning it to a format that emphasizes selective admissions, which supporters argue is crucial for maintaining educational standards and community expectations. The push for reinstating the magnet status reflects broader issues within the educational landscape post-Hurricane Katrina.
Summary
House Resolution 151 urges the Orleans Parish School Board to produce a written report explaining the status of McDonogh #35 Senior High School's transition back to its pre-Katrina magnet status with selective admissions. The resolution calls for detailed timelines and plans for the school's re-establishment as a magnet school that incorporates a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum. This report is requested to be submitted by October 31, 2013.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding HR151 is notably supportive, as it receives backing from community members and alumni who stress the importance of maintaining the academic prestige associated with McDonogh #35. The resolution reflects a collective desire to see the school restored to its former glory, as many view the magnet status and the STEM focus as essential for student success and local identity.
Contention
While the resolution received significant community support, implicit contention arises from the broader context of educational reforms following Hurricane Katrina. It suggests an ongoing struggle to balance open enrollment policies that were adopted for logistical reasons against the desire for a specialized curriculum that selective admissions can provide. Opponents may argue that reverting to a selective admissions system could limit access for some students, making this an ongoing topic of discussion within the educational community.
Commends Veronica "Ms. V" Downs-Dorsey on 25 years of teaching vocal music at McDonogh 35 Senior High School and on 35 years as an educator in the Orleans Parish school system.
Creates the Local Schools Commission of Orleans to study the feasibility of returning control of all Recovery Schools District schools located in Orleans Parish back to the Orleans Parish School Board.
Requests that the Board of Regents study two-year colleges in Union, Claiborne, and Bienville parishes and submit a written report to the House Committee on Education by January 31, 2025
Requests that the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education reconsider its decision to close Benjamin E. Mays Preparatory School and that the Orleans Parish School Board and Recovery School District study working collaboratively to provide education services to this school's students
Requests that the Recovery School District rename Little Woods Elementary School in New Orleans East in honor of Dolores T. Aaron, a longtime educator who passed away in Jan. of 2012
Requests the Orleans Parish School Board and the New Orleans City Council to address blighted property near Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School in the Lower Ninth Ward prior to the 2015-16 school year