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August 17, 2006
Trying to help. . .
I've gotten a number of comments and emails about Abramson High School as a result of my posts on Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath. Some have made use of the comments sections here to reconnect with friends and family members displaced by the storm.
While I try to respond to emails I get and comments that ask for specific information, I thought that it would be more appropriate to make a separate post in response to this comment received today:
I am a coach at RL Turner High School in Dallas, Texas. I have a student from Abramson that plays football for me. I am having problems locating his transcripts and they are trying to make him take So. and Jr. level classes. Where can I track down this information? Please someone help, give me a number or something.
Unfortunately, the Louisiana Department of Education website has been down for some time and the traditional avenues that administrators and educators would use to acquire student transcripts are still not available. I've spoken with officials from the department and they hope to have the website and it's tools available soon.
I was able to get a direct contact person and phone number for those seeking student information.
For information regarding those students displaced by the storm and school transcripts from Louisiana public schools, contact Deidra Kibbe via email at deidre.kibbe@la.gov or via telephone at 877.453.2721 or 225.342.3730.
Please note that Ms. Kibbe is extremely busy as schools around the country open and requests for official transcripts pour in. Also, Ms. Kibbe can assist with any Louisiana public school system (not just Abramson), but unfortunately cannot help with private school transcripts. Those seeking private school transcripts will have to contact them directly. Let me know if you have problems contacting a specific private school and I'll do my best to help you find current contact information as many schools have been forced to change telephone numbers as service is restored and most have not been actively updating websites (they have bigger crawfish to boil at the moment). If you'd like my help with this matter, please use the following email: katrina_help@[REMOVE_THIS]jasoncoleman.com.
I hope this helps.
--Jason
UPDATE: Almost immediately after posting this, a reader emailed asking which New Orleans public schools are open in the city. The New Orleans Public School District opened four schools on Tuesday for the 06-07 school year. They are:
Bethune Elementary - 3649 Laurel St.
Franklin Elementary Math & Science - 1116 Jefferson Ave.
McMain Unified High School - 5712 S. Claiborne Ave.
McDonogh #35 High School - 1331 Kelerec St.
In addition, the Orleans PM School, where students can work during the day and receive credits in night classes is also open.
Note that these are schools operated by the New Orleans Public School district, there are approximately 18 to 20 schools that are opening in the New Orleans Metro area under state control and additional schools opening as "Charter Schools".
While the fate of Abramson High is debatable, it's my impression from the La. Department of Education that it probably will have to be destroyed and a new high school built or perhaps a combination school district created to cover the areas Abramson served.
-JC
Posted by JasonColeman at August 17, 2006 12:24 PM
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