NAME: Cynthia Cade
YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE ADDRESS:
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: P.O. Box 870986 New Orleans, LA 70187
Phone: (504) 717-3106
FAX:
E-mail: Cade-cynthia@yahoo.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION: Educator
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION (if self-employed, what type of business)
Angel's Academy
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION (include graduation date):
Bachelor's Degree
APPLICABLE TRAINING:
Elementary Education/Early Childhood Development
Founder and owner of Angel's Academy for 28 years where I prepared, through education over 500 children. Recruited, trained and staffed Academy with qualified personnel. Partnered with the Department of Social Services to train clients to enter into the early childhood profession.
CIVIC EXPERIENCE:
Over 20 years of community work as an advocated for children. Member of the Orleans Parish School Board where I chaired the Policy Committee where I oversaw the rewriting of the Board policies and procedures. I also was the Chair of the Health & Wellness committee where we emphasized quality and nutritional food in schools. Was School Board Liaison to the New Orleans Health Department's efforts to establishing school clinics and assisting with obtaining funding for health programs.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS:
Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee--Former member.
Over 25 years experience working with various political organizations as part of their strategic and planning committees.
1. What experience have you had reviewing and /or approving large organizational budgets?
I owned and managed a successful early childhood development center "Angel's Academy" for over twenty-five years.
I have also served on the Orleans Parish School Board representing District 2 for the past 3 ½ years reviewing and approving its budgets.
2. How have you shown your support of public education in New Orleans in the past?
As an educator I've taught and prepared pre-school children for many years to enter into the public school system with an academic advantage, ready for the challenge. I have also implemented after-school enrichment programs, tutorial programs and computer programs for students and parents at Angel's Academy and many other child development centers.
3. What is your position on adequate funding for charter schools that would include costs of adequate special education services and renovation and/or construction of permanent facilities?
My position on adequate funding for charter schools is an issue of adequate and equitable funding for all students. The current legislation, as written for charter schools, does not provide for adequate and equitable funding for all students. This law provides for three (3) different funding calculations: one for the Charters, another for the Recovery School District and another for the Orleans Parish School Board, which yields the least amount and most inadequate funding of all.
State funds for special education services are currently included in the Minimum Foundation Program which funds all public education, including charter schools. As for the renovation and/or construction of permanent facilities, state law suggests that school boards may lease or sell vacant facilities to charter schools at a fair market value. Though each charter school contract may vary, Orleans Parish School Board in good faith did not require any of its charters to pay a lease for the use of its school buildings. Therefore, my position is that charter schools should pay for maintenance, renovations and minor construction in exchange for the use of the facilities.
4. What position will you take with the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Louisiana Legislature on the unification of the New Orleans Parish School Board and the New Orleans Recovery School District?
My position is that merger will be best for the salvation of the school district and the education of our children. The citizens of New Orleans elected the Orleans Parish School Board members as their voice, as the constitutional governing authority of their schools. Therefore, the State Superintendent and the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) should relieve the local board of the extra expense and burden of paying for another school district (Recovery School District) and return all public, non-chartered schools to the governance of the local school board. Then the local school board, BESE and the State Superintendent can work as a collaborative team to properly educate our children without the fiscal inefficiencies, duplicity, and confusion caused by the existence of separate systems.
5. What concrete, measurable goals will you propose to your fellow board members for the coming school year?
I will use the diagnostic test and summative test from the performance and achievement series along with the State-mandated ILEAP, LEAP and GEE test. Students' grades, along with attendance data, drop out data, and other measurable teacher materials will be included as well. Also, the collaboration, consolidation and use of shared services with the Recovery School District will be proposed.
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