OPSB Votes to Keep The Leah Chase School Open

Contingent on Fundraising Milestone

(New Orleans – January 9, 2026) — The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) voted today to keep The Leah Chase School (TLC School) open for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years, provided that a minimum of $865,000 is deposited in The Leah Chase School Sustainability Fund by January 15, 2026. This decision underscores the Board's commitment to preserving educational opportunities in the community while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

The vote comes amid significant community support, including the acceptance of substantial donations to bolster the school's operations. The Board approved the following contributions to the TLC School Sustainability Fund:

• A $2,000,000 donation from Mrs. Karen Oser Edmunds, with restrictions requiring the school to remain open for the specified years, funds to be used solely for operational costs such as salaries, utilities, and instructional materials, and annual public accounting reports due on May 31, 2026; May 31, 2027; and May 31, 2028.
• A $225,000 donation from the Edgar "Dooky", Jr. and Leah Chase Family Foundation, subject to the same restrictions on school operations, fund usage, and reporting.
• A $150 donation from the Committee to Elect KaTrina C. Griffin, OPSB member for District 4.

These donations bring the school's budget closer to its sustainability goals and reflect the deep-rooted legacy of Leah Chase in New Orleans' cultural and educational landscape. If the $865,000 threshold is not met by January 15, 2026, The Leah Chase School will close for the 2026-2027 school year. In such an event, all contributions will be refunded to donors, and affected students will receive Closing School Priority, with an extension of the NCAP deadline until January 31, 2026, to facilitate smooth transitions for families.

In addition, the Board voted to temporarily suspend, through June 30, 2026, the portion of Policy DFG related to the acceptance of unrestricted donations, subject to approval guidelines of the School Board. This suspension authorizes the Superintendent or her designee to accept, without further Board action, gifts, grants, and donations in the following categories:

• Unrestricted monetary and in-kind gifts, grants, and donations of up to $5,000 to The Leah Chase School and the TLC School Sustainability Fund.
• Unrestricted monetary and in-kind gifts, grants, and donations of up to $5,000 to the District that do not encumber a cost to the District.

"This decision balances our dedication to providing educational opportunities for our students with the practical realities of funding," said OPSB President Katie Baudouin. "We are grateful for the generous support from donors and the community, which will help sustain The Leah Chase School as a vital resource for our students."

"Thank you to the Chase and Edmonds families, our students, staff, parents, Board and community who have shown up and support the continued success of The Leah Chase School. Your investment will allow us to serve our children well. This is not the ceiling. I'm committed to implementing organizational efficiencies that will allow us to do more for The Leah Chase School," said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore. "As superintendent of NOLA Public Schools, I serve more than 40,000 students and I firmly believe in the excellent education they all deserve. I'm grateful for how our entire community supports NOLA Public Schools. Thank you."

The OPSB encourages continued community involvement to meet the fundraising goal and secure the school's future.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 66 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Fateama S. Fulmore.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.