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Students and KIPP leaders back two consolidations; committee advances both to full board, audit resolution fails
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Summary
After students and KIPP officials urged support, the Orleans Parish School Board committee voted to send two KIPP consolidation requests to the full board. A separate resolution to audit the New Orleans Common Application failed for lack of a second.
KIPP New Orleans’ plans to consolidate multiple campuses drew strong public support and a divided but advancing committee vote at the Orleans Parish School Board Accountability and Charters Committee meeting on March 24.
Students, KIPP staff and community leaders addressed the committee during public comment on an action to consolidate Frederick Douglass High School and John F. Kennedy High School into one John F. Kennedy High School effective July 1, 2026. Speakers said the move is about preserving and strengthening academic and extracurricular opportunities rather than buildings.
“I’m on board. July 1, I’m on board,” Deidra Andrews told the committee, summing up a frequent message from students and parents that the education program — not the facility alone — matters. Student speakers including Anissa Bernie Allen and Micaiah Tanner described plans to keep program identities such as Bard and to build community across the merged campuses. KIPP leaders and school staff, including Rhonda Alouise and Danielle Willis, framed the consolidation as a response to citywide enrollment declines and facility quality issues and said it would move students into higher-quality buildings.
Board members asked for additional detail before a full-board decision. Board member Griffin asked several specific follow-ups to be provided by Thursday, including how many students from the Lower Ninth Ward attend Douglass, whether any high school would remain in the Lower Ninth Ward after the move, and whether the action had been properly noticed under open-meetings rules. Superintendent Fatima Fulmore and KIPP representatives said they would provide follow-up information and emphasized partnership to make the transition smooth.
The committee voted to advance the Douglass–Kennedy consolidation to the full board (motion carried; recorded as 16 ayes with one abstention by Vice President Parker, who said he would abstain because his wife is a KIPP principal). The committee also moved a separate KIPP consolidation — combining KIPP Central City Academy and KIPP Central City Primary into the Woodson Building, effective July 1, 2026 — to the full board; Vice President Parker recused himself from that item.
Votes at a glance - Item 4.3 (KIPP New Orleans: Frederick Douglass and John F. Kennedy consolidation): motion to move to full board carried; recorded vote: 16 ayes, 1 abstention (Vice President Parker). Outcome: advanced to full board for final consideration. - Item 4.2 (KIPP Central City Academy and KIPP Central City Primary consolidation to Woodson Building): motion to move to full board carried; Vice President Parker recused/abstained. Outcome: advanced to full board. - Item 4.1 (Resolution 05–26 requesting an external audit of the New Orleans Common Application and enrollment practices): motion to move the item failed for lack of a second at committee; item did not advance.
What’s next: Both KIPP consolidations will be considered by the full Orleans Parish School Board at its next business meeting. The failed NCAP audit resolution can be refiled or placed on a future committee agenda if a board member requests reconsideration.
