May 13, 2005
Contact: Keith G.C. Twitchell, (504) 561-0537
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CBNO/MAC CHALLENGES SCHOOL BOARD, COMMUNITY
TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO IMPROVE SCHOOLS

All Reform Proposals Should Be Considered;
Focus Must Be Foremost On Students’ Needs

The Committee for a Better New Orleans/Metropolitan Area Committee (CBNO/MAC) recognizes that hard choices and possibly controversial actions will be necessary to build an outstanding public school system in New Orleans. Every meaningful proposal for education reform must be considered. However, the organization feels strongly that every action that is considered or taken must be viewed in the context of what best addresses the needs of the students.

“With any action taken by any party that impacts any aspect of the school system, the first priority must be ensuring that the interests of the children are protected and advanced,” stated Kim M. Boyle, CBNO/MAC Co-Chair. “No decisions should be made on business or financial grounds unless those decisions meet this requirement as well. We cannot make good financial decisions that are bad educational decisions. Obviously we must clear up the financial situation, but we can never do it at the expense of students and their education.”

CBNO/MAC believes strongly that the New Orleans Public Schools need extensive support from the community and all stakeholders, including the State of Louisiana. In this light, CBNO/MAC applauds the collaborative relationship between the school system and the State Department of Education involving the outsourcing of the financial and business affairs, and encourages all parties to the arrangement to work together respectfully and cooperatively so that resources can again be focused on educating the students.

“We call on everyone from the state on down to contribute the best way they can,” added Ms. Boyle. “The whole community must come together in support of the schools and the students, and we hope that the Board and the Interim Superintendent will be receptive to all legitimate offers of assistance.”

CBNO/MAC issued dual challenges to the School Board and to the community. Said CBNO/MAC Education Task Force member Brian Riedlinger, “We challenge the School Board to take the lead in looking at all reform proposals, including but not limited to the following: implementing national best practices and proven academic programs; considering new system governance options; entering into collaborative relationships with state, city and other local leaders; building citizen participation at every level; demanding high standards of performance and accountability from all system personnel; and taking decisive action to install new, strong leadership for the system.”

To the community, the CBNO/MAC challenge is also to give serious consideration to all reform proposals, and to commit to active engagement in building strong schools. “It’s easy to be against every idea that comes along,” Mr. Riedlinger noted. “We must be receptive to change, even when it makes us uncomfortable, if it can be demonstrated that such changes will help our young people get a better education. We ourselves must be a resource for our schools and our children.”

The organization included itself in the challenge to the community. “We will be involved and engaged,” stated Ms. Boyle. “We will contribute to the reform efforts. We will monitor the programs that are implemented, and report the results to the community. We will hold ourselves as accountable as we hold the School Board and the system administration. Everyone in this community must contribute to the goal of making sure that every child in the New Orleans Public Schools learns and grows every day.”

-- 30 --