Разрешите процитировать стаью из Washington Post (20 апреля 2005) про то, как в Новом Орлеане обстояли дела со школами. Упоминавшаяся в моем LJ знакомая, сбежавшая из Нового Орлеана год назад, плакала, когда рассказывала, в каком состоянии там образование. По-моему, предположить, что защита от наводнений тоже была не в лучшем состоянии, будет логично.

(Она послала мне эту статью по e-mail'у, а искать оригинал мне сейчас облом)

New Orleans School Superintendent Resigns

NEW ORLEANS - The city's school superintendent announced his resignation
Tuesday after more than two stormy years in the post, during which the
school system lost millions of dollars, federal officials investigated
allegations of corruption and test scores remained among the worst in the
state.

The New Orleans school board, feeling pressure from state education
officials who want to take over the failing school system, accepted Anthony
Amato's resignation, effective June 30.

Amato, who was credited with turning around failing school systems in New
York and Connecticut before coming to New Orleans, said his departure was
part of a "mutually agreeable separation" and that it was "in the best
interest of the children I came to serve."

Last year, the state Legislature passed a law extending the
superintendent's authority and limiting the board's in order to try to turn
around the school system. Despite the new authority, however, Amato seemed
unable to get the system's problems under control.

....<skipping some local political stuff...>

Financial problems existed long before Amato's hiring in January 2003. He
had been on the job less than three months when a state audit estimated the
system's deficit at $31 million.

Corruption was also rampant. Numerous kickback schemes and fraudulent
payroll practices were uncovered by federal investigators, leading to the
conviction of one teacher's aide and the indictment of 11 others, including
teachers and secretaries.

Amato's success in academics was hard to measure. Results were mixed on the
2004 standardized tests, with some schools improving and others declining.
Results from 2005 tests, given in March are not yet available.

The system consistently finishes last in the state's rankings of 66 school
systems. In one low point, a would-be valedictorian had the honor snatched
away when she couldn't pass the state graduation test.

On Monday, the school board voted to let outside consultants take over
management of school finances and borrow $50 million to get through a cash
crunch.