To: John White, State Superintendent of Education, Patrick Dobard, Superintendent of the Recovery School District, and Kira Orange-Jones, BESE member, district 2
SAVE JOHN MCDONOGH HIGH SCHOOL
We, the undersigned members of the John McDonogh High School community, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, alumni, educators, activists and community member, respectfully request that John White, Patrick Dobard, and the members of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education commit to the following:
1. Securing all valuables in the John McDonogh building for the eventual reopening of the school, including but not limited to the library collection, band instruments and uniforms, current texts books, archival materials and memorabilia.
2. Reopen the school as a high school bearing the name John McDonogh after the re-construction process is complete.
3. In a fair, honest, and transparent process, include the John McDonogh community in all important decisions regarding the redesign, reconstruction and reopening of the school.
1. Securing all valuables in the John McDonogh building for the eventual reopening of the school, including but not limited to the library collection, band instruments and uniforms, current texts books, archival materials and memorabilia.
2. Reopen the school as a high school bearing the name John McDonogh after the re-construction process is complete.
3. In a fair, honest, and transparent process, include the John McDonogh community in all important decisions regarding the redesign, reconstruction and reopening of the school.
Why is this important?
The Recovery School District has had over 8 years to transform John McDonogh High School into a high performing high school. Instead, the RSD intentionally starved the school of needed leadership and resources. They tried to give the building to a local charter operator, then they tried to close the school, then they brought in the disastrous out-of-town charter operator Future is Now. Future is Now was so bad that they have abruptly closed the school. They are promising to redesign and rebuild the historic building, but they won't commit to ensuring that the school reopens as John McDonogh High School, and they won't meet with the community to provide answers about the closure of the school. We need your signature to let John White, Patrick Dobard, the RSD and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education know that the community is tired of broken promises and disrespect. We won't go away and we want answers now.