Jefferson Parish public schools
Back to Main MenuReal Estate TransfersBack to Main MenuLocal Grocery AdsSpecial SectionsLocal AdsLagniappeWhen Hurricane Katrina ravaged the New Orleans area nine years ago Friday, most school age children had attended class for barely a week. Many families evpatagonia better sweater 1 4-zip men'sacuated, thinking they patagonia guided return within days to schools not much different from tpatagonia houdini full zip jackethose they d left.As history shows, they couldn t have been more wrongpatagonia shop zurich. Although the storm and its aftermath irrevocably changed New Orleans schools, Jefferson s public schools have also seen marked transformations. An enrollment surge is perhaps the most prevalpatagonia everlong review your teacher3ent, as new families enterepatagonia better sweater glowing emberd Jefferson from surrounding parishes and from out of the country.Leadership changes brought about radical moves that some say have shaped Jefferson s progress academically. And political climate changes meant that Jefferson s teachers union, one of most influential groups outside of the School Board itself, would be stripped of its collective bargaining contract.Here is an overview of Jefferson s changes since the 2004 05 school year.NOW: Largest system in the state; more than 9,400 Hispanic studentsBefore Katrina, the Orleans Parish School Board governed the largest public school system in Louisiana. Jefferson ranked second, with more than 51,000 children, and spent $490 million on their education.African American students made up the majority, anpatagonia lightweight guide pants women'sd non Hispanic white students were the next largest group. There were only 4,660 Hispanic American students, and even fewer of Asian and native American heritage.Now, Jefferson is the largest public school system in the state, with more than 46,000 students. It s budget for 2013 14 budget totals $423 million.Whipatagonia everlong review your teacher2le African American children still comprise the majority, Hispanic enrollment has spiked, while other populations have declined. More than 9,400 of the system s students are Hispanic. That reflects a parish wide shpatagonia everlong review your teacher1ift; Jefferson now has the lapatagonia jackets washing instructionsrgest Hispanic population in the New Orleans area, according to the Data Center.Hispanic families came to Jefferson for a number of reasons: for rebuilding jobs after the storm, to reunite with family here and to escape gang violence and a coffee plague in Central American countries.NOW: Individual teacher employment contractsJefferson business activists have long been interested in public education. In 2003, the business lobby pushed for appointed School Board members, charging that elected members acted in their specific districts interests instead of parishwide interests. Lawmakers nixed the appointment idea.The most striking political shifts occurred years after Katrina. In the 2010patagonia arizona ranch for sale elections, business leaders took a greater role, backing five candidates who largely unseated long time incumbents. The new board majority would go on to approve an unprecedented school closure plan, green light more charter schools and reject a pact with the Jefferson Federation of Teachers, a group that had bargained with the board for decades.Members of the board s new majority and business activists say the moves have fostered much of the academic improvements the system now sees. They say the union tied the hands of principals, and its main focus was not on student achievement. Union representatives counter that the system has made too many changes, too soon, and that the rejection of its collective bargaining contract stifled teachers voices.More change is afoot, as the entire School Board is up for re electionpatagonia everlong review your teacher this fall. Every incumbent candidate faces a challenger. Further, the union has become personally involved in the election; its president is challenging a business backed incumbent.NOW: James MezaIn 2005, schools Superintendent Diane Roussel wpatagonia guide jacket copyas two years into her job. She had introduced magnet and specialty schools, such as those offering International Baccalaureate classes and those focused on science and technology. She would go on to lead the system for six more years. While the system would see some academic growth during her tenure, it would not be enough to lift it from the 50s and 60s in the state s rankings. She did push for a controversial school closure plan, which the School Board at the time wouldn t back, and whichpatagonia everlong review your teacher0 her successor would pick up after she retired.In 2011, James Meza Jr. took the reins. The closure plan he implemented saved the system about $5.8 million. He also introduced more charter schools, and restructured Jefferson s central office, among other changes. Jefferson moved to 36th in the state rankings under his tenure.
