Katrina's silver lining: school reform

Even before hurricane Katrina hit, many New Orleans public schools were falling apart. Some of the oldest structures were physically crumbling. Others were collapsing from poor academic performance and rampant corruption.

For decades, the Orleans Parish public school system has been considered one of the worst in the country. So when the storm sunk most of the structures and dispersed all of the students, many here cheered. Now efforts are under way to create a new system - one that many hope will bear no resemblance to its former self.

"We are using this as an opportunity to take what was one of the worst school systems around and create one of the best and most competitive school systems in America," says Walter Isaacson, vice chairman of the governor's Louisiana Recovery Authority. "We can't afford to replicate the old dysfunctional school system."

It will be an enormous task, even though only about half of the 55,000 students enrolled at the start of this school year are expected to return in the next few years. Most of the public schools are damaged. While two charter schools reopened on Monday, a court order has stalled the restart of others. Most public schools won't reopen until next fall.

Initially, much of the emphasis will be on charter schools, Mr. Isaacson says. Both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature have overwhelmingly approved legislation proposed by the governor that allows the state to seize control of New Orleans' underperforming schools (102 of the city's 117 total). Under the plan, many of those will be turned into charter schools.

Earlier this month, the New Orleans school board chartered 20 schools, most of which will begin classes in January. As those reopen, traditional public schools will be added to the mix. "But I think it's possible that charter schools will fulfill most of the needs until next fall," says Isaacson.

One of those 20 is the New Orleans Charter School for Science & Math, formerly a half-day program. Now, it will also offer reading, history, and English.

"We are so jazzed about it we can hardly see straight," says Kris Pottharst, executive director of the school's fundraising arm. "It's time to be expansive in our thinking."

She is sitting outside the community college they were housed in prior to hurricane Katrina, sorting through papers that were just recovered from her office. The first floor, once swamped, emits a foul smell.

Since the building will be useless for many months, Ms. Pottharst has been approaching other city institutions about sharing space temporarily. The response has been overwhelming, she says. "The whole city is excited about the potential for New Orleans schools."

Officials expect the science and math charter school will have about 70 students in January and 100 by next fall.

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