New Orleans Public Schools (NOPS) and Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) Description

The New Orleans Public School System is the largest district in the state composed of 140 school sites and support facilities. Student enrollment for fiscal year 2000-2001 is projected to be approximately 79,600 students in Orleans Parish. NOPS is divided into seven districts, each with its own representative that serves on the Orleans Parish School Board.

The Orleans Parish School Board is the legislative body that governs the NOPS. The School Board currently consists of seven single district members who serve four-year concurrent terms. The Board elects a president and vice-president from among its members each year. Individual board members serve on various board committees that review major administrative operations on an on-going basis. The committees are:

Budget and Finance

Strategic Planning

Capital Projects

Student Achievement

Labor Negotiations

Purchasing and Procurement

The Superintendent of NOPS, selected by the Board, functions as the chief executive officer for the school system and carries out board policy.

The OPSB is a legislative body created under Louisiana Revised Statute 17:51. The School Board has the power to make rules and regulations for its own government consistent with the laws of the State of Louisiana and the regulations of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Board is empowered by the state constitution to conduct elections for the issuance of bonds and to levy taxes.

The chief duties of the OPSB are to:

• Select the Chief Executive Officer/Superintendent of schools;
  

• Establish public schools as it deems necessary to provide adequate facilities;
  

• Determine the number of teachers to be employed and to determine local supplement to their salaries
  

• Formulate policy to safeguard the assets of the School District and ensure adequate administrative controls, and;
  

• Adopt a balanced annual budget.