City officials are holding a news conference Thursday morning to address supporting the Orleans Parish School Board after she backed out of a funding deal that would address the board’s funding crisis. The New Orleans City Council is now intervening, joining a lawsuit against the city. Cantrell’s administration is expected to address ways the city and school board can approach the funding crisis with a unified response. That news conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously last week to join OPSB’s lawsuit against the city after tempers flared over the botched settlement. The settlement was reached with the city’s Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano, the city council, and OPSB in November 2024. The settlement outlined how the city would pay the OPSB $20 million to help with a financial deficit and fund some long-term programs for children and families within OPSB.The first payment was due before the end of 2024, with a second due in March. WDSU first told you about the plan back in November when school board leaders held a press conference outside City Hall highlighting the terms of the agreement that they said the mayor had allegedly reneged on.The mayor’s administration said last week that it could not afford the negotiated settlement but looked forward to working with the school board to secure a settlement that was financially feasible for the city.An accounting error left the district with a $36 million deficit.The error was found last year; however, the district’s financial struggles date much longer than that.The school board approached the city of New Orleans in 2018 regarding money they believed the district was owed through taxes.In 2019, the school board sued the city for those funds, and the agreement was the beginning of reaching terms for a settlement.The matter is expected to be addressed in Civil District Court Thursday after OPSB filed a motion to enforce the settlement. The city council is also considering banning city employee travel through April due to the financial problem the city claims is keeping them from upholding the school board deal. That ordinance is set to be presented on Tuesday.
City officials are holding a news conference Thursday morning to address supporting the Orleans Parish School Board after she backed out of a funding deal that would address the board’s funding crisis.
The New Orleans City Council is now intervening, joining a lawsuit against the city.
Cantrell’s administration is expected to address ways the city and school board can approach the funding crisis with a unified response. That news conference is scheduled for 9 a.m.
The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously last week to join OPSB’s lawsuit against the city after tempers flared over the botched settlement.
The settlement was reached with the city’s Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano, the city council, and OPSB in November 2024.
The settlement outlined how the city would pay the OPSB $20 million to help with a financial deficit and fund some long-term programs for children and families within OPSB.
The first payment was due before the end of 2024, with a second due in March.
WDSU first told you about the plan back in November when school board leaders held a press conference outside City Hall highlighting the terms of the agreement that they said the mayor had allegedly reneged on.
The mayor’s administration said last week that it could not afford the negotiated settlement but looked forward to working with the school board to secure a settlement that was financially feasible for the city.
An accounting error left the district with a $36 million deficit.
The error was found last year; however, the district’s financial struggles date much longer than that.
The school board approached the city of New Orleans in 2018 regarding money they believed the district was owed through taxes.
In 2019, the school board sued the city for those funds, and the agreement was the beginning of reaching terms for a settlement.
The matter is expected to be addressed in Civil District Court Thursday after OPSB filed a motion to enforce the settlement.
The city council is also considering banning city employee travel through April due to the financial problem the city claims is keeping them from upholding the school board deal. That ordinance is set to be presented on Tuesday.
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