NOLA Public Schools has cited Bricolage Academy for failing to follow requirements in the state’s Open Meetings Law. It is the elementary school’s second such warning this year.
Bricolage’s board of directors met in September despite failing to publicly notice the meeting in accordance with Louisiana law. Because the charter group was cited previously for open meetings violations, district officials sent a more serious warning this time.
The district’s chief schools and accountability officer Kelli Jordan issued a “notice of breach” on Oct. 7 for “continued non-compliance with Louisiana Open Meetings Law.”
Bricolage Academy board chair Norman Brown has led the board for eight years. He did not respond to a request for comment.
The Open Meetings Law is designed to ensure the public can observe the deliberations and decisions of public officials, explained Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press attorney Virginia Hamrick.
“The (district’s) letter demonstrates that the Open Meetings Law is not simply best practices or suggestions—it is mandatory,” Hamrick said. “The board has an obligation to provide notice to the public and conduct its business in the sunshine.”
Transparency in a Decentralized System
The New Orleans school system consists of over 60 charter schools run by more than 20 nonprofit charter groups. The Orleans Parish School Board’s operating agreements require charter groups to follow state transparency laws.
In a traditional school district, the elected school board generally meets once a month. In New Orleans, the nonprofit charter operators also meet once a month, an added layer of governance for families, teachers and citizens to monitor.
In June, the district cited Bricolage after finding it “failed to follow” Open Meetings Law. That warning was “closed” after the charter group completed corrective actions, Jordan wrote. Those requirements included adopting a new open meetings policy — which was not publicly available at the meeting in which it was adopted.
The most recent warning, issued last week, includes new transparency concerns and a governance policy violation.
“A Notice of Breach is appropriate because this represents a recurring issue and an escalation of non-compliance following the corrective actions required under the previously resolved Level 1 Notice,” Jordan wrote, citing district policy for charter schools.
Hamrick, the sunshine law attorney, reviewed the letter.
“The actions undermine the express purpose of the Open Meetings Law—to allow citizens to evaluate public bodies and protect citizens from decisions without any public input,” she said. “The public is in the dark about the board’s decisions.”
On September 7, Lamplighter News observed there to be no agenda on the Esplanade Avenue school’s doors. The board met on September 8 with their attorney present. A district staff member was also present for the charter group’s board meeting.
Jordan said her staff observed “a repeat of prior areas of concern coupled with additional issues.”
The group failed to “make reasonable public comment rules and procedures known to the public,” and missed key requirements regarding the scheduled closed door session, Jordan wrote. “The subject to be discussed was not identified with reasonable specificity.”
Ongoing Governance Issues
In recent months, the school has faced complaints about leadership and the charter school board drew district scrutiny for its handling of staff grievances. Bricolage’s principal resigned unexpectedly in May, shortly after a board meeting that included a heated executive session.
In the district’s latest warning, Jordan said the board is operating with six members, one below the district’s required minimum of seven.
For the remainder of the school year, Bricolage must submit meeting notices and minutes to the school district. Board members must complete training on the Open Meetings Law by Dec. 1.
Additionally, Barnum must submit a signed certification after each meeting “attesting to compliance with all requirements of the Louisiana Open Meetings Law and Bricolage’s adopted governance procedures.”
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