3520 General DeGaulle Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114

 

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Ms. Leslie Bouie, Chair

New Beginnings School Foundation
2045 Lakeshore Drive, #415

New Orleans, LA 70122

Ms. Bouie,

The purpose of this letter is to memorialize our conversation on July 1-"t regarding the current
status of organizational leadership at New Beginnings School Foundation, as well as specifically address
concerns regarding the stagnant academic performance at the organization's schools, including Pierre A.
Capdau ES.

I continue to maintain significant concerns regarding governance, its lack of stable and
permanent leadership, and especially the declining performance of the organization?s elementary
schools. As you are aware, several of your schools are subject to high-stakes renewal evaluations by
both OPSB and R50 in the next few years, and based on the school?s current performance and
trajectory, there exists uncertainty regarding the outcomes of those reviews. Further, Capdau is
currently slated to be assigned to the Avery Alexander ES building upon that facility's completion given
our district?s need to ensure the appropriate and full utilization of public assets, including our school
facilities, I am obligated to review this assignment to ensure that the appropriate actions are taken to
address the school?s persistent low enrollment and declining levels of academic performance.

Key organizational decisions regarding the continued operations of NBSF's current network of
schools need to be made in short order, to provide sufficient time to successfully implement operational
changes, to provide adequate notice to families, and to reflect any potential modifications in the
EnrollNOLA process for the 2017-18 school year, which will open in early fall. It is imperative on the
board of NBSF to take immediate and significant steps to address these concerns, and place the schools
it operates and the students they serve on a viable pathway to success.

Pursuant to our conversation, by this communication I am formally requesting that New
Beginnings School Foundation submit to me by no later than Thursday, July 215?, 2016

1. A plan and timeline for addressing the organization?s interim leadership, including the

appointment of a permanent CEO and any other structural or organizational changes, and

2. A plan and timeline for addressing and reversing the academic decline at Capdau, and for

ensuring the full utilization of the Avery Alexander building upon its completion.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my team directly should you have any questions or
concernsassistance in any way.

Sincerely, I
.

Henderson LEWIS, Jr., Ph. D.
Superintendent of Schools, Orleans Parish School Board

CC: Mr. Patrick Dobard, Superintendent, Louisiana Recovery School District
Ms. Mary Garton, Chief Portfolio Of?cer, Orleans Parish School Board