Katrina Corps

OK, so I just moved away from Tornado Alley and my best friend tells me about a sudden surge of tornadoes. We were roomies in Hays, although she still lives there. Apparently a tornado passed the small town but luckily they weren’t hit. After this I thought about Hurricane Katrina and I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps, nature is attempting to balance us out, even possibly to further our own evolution(I know my thoughts are a little out there sometimes). Although, global warming seems to bring out a lot of spiritual speech about people being punished. I, personally, have a difficult time believing that. Nature is not an ominous terrorist, and the problem that we are having seems to be rooted elsewhere, something much closer to home.
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This is an informative 3 part series by National Public Radio about the state of public education in New Orleans and it’s relationship to the greater post-Katrina recovery effort.

» Overview: Bringing Back New Orleans Schools

» Positive Outlook Aids New Orleans School Recovery

» Teachers Wanted as New Orleans Students Return

» For One New Orleans School, an Uncertain Future

Note: Links to all parts of the series as well as related stories exist on each of the pages linked to here.

Informative article from the Times-Picayune.

» “Demolish or Save”

Louisana Department of Education new release:

» PASTOREK NAMES PAUL VALLAS SUPERINTENDENT OF RSD

A Times-Picayune article discussing the new superintendent:

»New Orleans lands “top tier” school superintendent

New York Times article discussing the new superintendent:

» Prominent Education Reformer to Lead New Orleans Schools

Hey everyone, we now have our summer projects lined up and our Sign Up page activated. Please visit our FAQS page for travel and housing information among other things. Any further questions can be directed to info@katrinacorps.org

Summer session runs from June 3rd until September 1st.

Our projects:

• Helping the New Orleans Recovery School District open 25 more schools by the coming school year - everything from landscaping to painting to setting up classrooms and libraries.
• Continued home gutting with our partners at ACORN, LEAN and GNODRP.
• Other rebuilding and beautification projects in the city of New Orleans.

Also, if any of you have any ideas for fundraising in your city, let’s hear about them and get something going.  Or, if you prefer, you can Donate here.

Together we can do this, but we need your help!

Dear Organizers of Katrina Corps:

As a resident of New Orleans and one who gutted my own home with the assistance of family; I want to thank you for assisting so many others who were unable to garner the resources (human and otherwise) to do so. I have found some areas to assist in rebuilding our city but have not lent a hand in home gutting or rebuilding — still rather painful. I want to help. I think I can offer resources to volunteers — meals, passes to attractions during precious little time off, something that may boost your wonderful effort. Are there such opportunities?

Thank you from a New Orleans resident, rebuilding and wanting to assist others,
Ann

I was glued to the television for the weeks following the storm, but none of that prepared me for the first home we walked into.  The news broadcasters use the word “house”, but that is inaccurate.  Despite the molding walls and busted windows, the feelings of permanence and family lingered.  These were homes that people took the time and care to make their own, and having the privilege to help people take the steps toward having their own again was humbling.

More than the loads of rubble, what weighed on me while gutting and what does now is that idea of home.  It is easy to take for granted a space you can call your own because it is such an elemental part of all our lives.  What an amazing thing to help restore that essential part to someone else’s life.

This is an interesting blog about New Orleans and the current state of it’s healthcare system.

» MSNBC: Sick of New Orleans?

A note: This is a letter that Matt sent to his family and friends. He was gracious enough to let us post it here for you all to read. Thanks Matt!

Hey all,

If you have a few minutes, I wanted to tell you about my recent trip
to New Orleans. The story of my trip is below, but if you want to skip
to the flashy stuff, the pictures are available
here.

I decided a few weeks ago to take a new job, and I wanted to take a
week off before starting. When I was thinking about all the great
things I could do (aka, beaches to sleep on), I realized that unless I
acted fast, I’d either be spending a fortune, or sitting on my couch
all week seeing how many episodes of Growing Pains I could watch
before blinking (my guess was 1.8).

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As part of the rebuilding process of the New Orleans public schools, the contents of storm damaged schools is being removed and either destroyed or moved to a warehouse if the items are worth salvaging.

Papers and books, teaching aids, furniture, electronic equipment and other items will need to be destroyed as they were contaminated with mold, rusted or have become functionally obsolete. The RSD plans to work with FEMA to purchase new furniture and equipment for schools it reopens.

There are also various items that will be saved and stored, including furniture that is not damaged and can be thoroughly cleaned to remove any mold; historical items, such as painting, trophies, memorabilia, certain equipment from science labs, televisions, copiers, tools, public address and video conferencing equipment, weights and certain gym equipment, musical instruments and a variety of other things that will be determined on a school by school basis.

Safety is the paramount consideration and the only items that will be saved are ones where it is clear that they can be cleaned and restored so they do not pose any future health hazards.

This process has already begun with a number of schools. Click here for a complete schedule.

Anyone who was previously connected to one of these schools, who would like access to personal belongings left inside, can contact Troy Peloquin at the RSD at 504.872.0614 or troy.peloquin@rsdla.net .

Source: http://www.nolapublicschools.net/contentremoval.aspx