Landrieu addresses education
Local News
.JPG) |
|
During his candidacy, Mitch Landrieu made it clear that his top three priorities if elected into office would be crime, jobs, and education. In the past three weeks, Landrieu has proved that he does not take this promise lightly with the creation of task forces to analyze and recommend suggestions on the new police chief, economic development, and now educational improvements.
“I’m going to be a champion for educational reform,” affirmed Landrieu as he announced the members of his new education task force Monday, March 9, 2010. In the 55 days left before he takes office, Landrieu hopes that this task force will provide insight into “the inequities in the city’s schools.”
The task force is co-chaired by Andre Perry, Associate Dean of University of New Orleans’ College of Education and Human Development and CEO of the Capital One-UNO Charter Network, and Sharon Clark, Principal of Sophie B. Wright Charter School.
The members of the task force are twenty of the city’s experts on education, representing Orleans Parish, charter, and private schools, as well as the local, federal, and state levels. They have been given the task to “create a blueprint for education,” said Landrieu, “to make citizens properly educated and informed.”
In the years following Katrina, many schools have made positive progressions in education. Landrieu and the task force hope that these models spread throughout all of the city’s schools. As Dr. Perry explained, “Schools are a direct reflection of how we are.” For this reason, he stated there is a need for “cross-pollination between schools and the institution.” They will measure their success by their ability to reach high educational standards, such as improved literacy rates, higher graduation rates, and lower dropout rates.
Among their other interests are accountability, making sure teachers have access to the appropriate resources, and 21st century educational buildings. “The outcome is how to educate the child,” affirmed Landrieu.
Landrieu further explained that although as mayor he will not have direct control over schools, he does not think that it is a good enough reason to withdraw from the situation. “We’re going to be involved in things that we don’t have direct control over,” explained Landrieu.
“People look to the mayor and the governor and it’s not good enough to say that’s not under my control.” This marks a change towards a collaborative government, one that works with the various institutions within the city. Among its other duties, the task force will determine the appropriate role of the mayor
|
