As you know, our high school campus has occupied the former Clark High School facility for the past 4 years, knowing that we needed a larger and renovated space for our students and staff. While we fully honor and appreciate the Clark location, the school has paid extraordinary costs for upkeep and repairs of HVAC, roof, flooring, window, restroom repairs, etc. We moved to that site with the understanding that the location was temporary.
When Morris Jeff was not assigned to the Cohen facility, Dr. Williams promised us she would do her best to provide for our students’ needs. Last night she assigned our high school to the historic William Frantz school (currently Akili Academy), effective this upcoming school year.
I am excited for this opportunity and appreciative of the beautiful facility that occupies that campus. The facility is a lovely blend of historic, preserved architecture and modern new design. It includes:
- Beautiful and ample renovated space with larger classrooms
- More office spaces
- High ceilings and wide hallways
- Interior temperature controls
- Lots of natural sunlight streams throughout
- Band room/black box theatre
- State-of-the-art sound system in a modern gym
- Concession stand
- More restrooms for students and staff
- Outside eating area off of cafeteria, and more
Many of you know that Ruby Bridges was the first African American student to attend the Frantz school and it is fitting for our school to occupy the space that was the inaugural site for school desegregation in New Orleans. The Frantz building is less than one mile from the Drew campus where our middle school is located, which will allow for more coordinated arrival and dismissal times for both campuses.
I have worked closely with the CEO of Crescent City Schools who currently operates Akili Academy at Frantz for the past 13 years. She and her operations team have shared with me their contacts in the neighborhood and have assured me that they will help us with transitions, student and staff safety precautions and procedures, student arrival and dismissal procedures that work best for buses and carpool, and any other assistance they can provide as we navigate a new neighborhood.
I am confident that we will once again be able to have a positive impact on a new neighborhood by bringing a vibrant educational program and building relationships with our neighbors. I am also thrilled to have this new space for our students and staff as it will lift our spirits and better provide for our high school needs.
I hope you’ll join me at the Community Gala this Saturday to celebrate this new space in person together – you can still get tickets here.
With gratitude and hope for a bright high school future,
Patricia Perkins
Head of School