Brenda Mitchell is president of the United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO) and executive vice president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Like many other residents of New Orleans, she lost almost all of her possessions when her house was flooded after Hurricane Katrina. Currently working out of the LFT offices in Baton Rouge, Mitchell has been in contact with many of the local’s members and has been working with the New Orleans school district and state officials on plans to reopen the city’s schools. American Teacher asked Mitchell about the status of UTNO members and the reopening of schools in New Orleans.

What is UTNO advising its members to do regarding their employment with the New Orleans school district?

As long as employees do not submit a formal resignation, UTNO still considers them employees of the school district, with all the legal and contractual rights that come with their jobs. The district has placed all employees on what it calls “disaster leave,” a special leave without pay or benefits. We are taking a close look at exactly what that means, but one thing we are sure of is that members are not giving up their right to employment with the school district as it reopens. We are emphasizing that employees should not submit a resignation, as that would end their employment rights, including the right to recall.

At the same time, we are encouraging members to apply for jobs in other districts. There are two reasons for this: First, it is very likely that not all schools will reopen this school year. Second, when the district does completely reopen, it is anticipated that it will be much smaller, serving perhaps 30,000 to 35,000 students instead of the 65,000 before the hurricane. That means there will be fewer positions than before.

As our district reopens, there will be a process for recalling employees to the district, and UTNO will monitor that process. Employees who want to and are ready to return are being asked to register on the New Orleans Public Schools Web site, www.nops.k12.la.us.

Are you concerned that many New Orleans’ educators and support staff will never return to work in
New Orleans?

We know that most of our members are eager to return to the school district, and we want as many of them as possible to come back and be part of the renaissance of the New Orleans Public Schools. But I am concerned that some of our educators and support staff will either decide not to return or that there will not be enough positions available for those who want to return. That means we could lose veterans who have contributed so much over the years, as well as newer teachers who chose the New Orleans Public Schools because they wanted to make a difference. It takes a special person to choose to teach in a poor district that provides more challenges than incentives.

We understand that you have met with the Louisiana superintendent of schools and key state legislators. What issues did you raise on behalf of UTNO members?

The list grows every day. It started with making sure members were paid for the days they worked before the hurricane and that they would continue to have insurance coverage. Now we are discussing the process for reopening schools and recalling employees, and we’re still looking for an answer about insurance.

Most of the people we have met with believe in the importance of public schools and want New Orleans Public Schools to come back stronger than ever. At the same time, we recognize that the union has an unprecedented and indispensable role to play in making sure that members are treated fairly, and with dignity, compassion and appreciation for their years of service.

What information are you sharing with UTNO members you have met with in places like Baton Rouge and Houston?

Besides sharing with them all the information I’ve gathered from state and district leaders, I’ve been giving them hope that we will reopen. I have also let them know about the help they can get from our sister union locals representing teachers and other school employees in the districts where they find themselves—but I always let them know that UTNO is still there for them, too. I’ve also shared with them the story of my own personal losses, so they know that we are truly all in this together.

Apparently, some schools—mostly on the city’s West Bank—have not been damaged extensively and could possibly reopen between now and the first of the year. What is the union’s position on the reopening and staffing of these schools, and maybe others, this school year?

We want as many schools as possible to open as quickly as possible. The plans now are to open up to eight schools on the West Bank in November, depending on the number of students who return. We hope that some schools in the Uptown section will also reopen soon. These sections escaped the flooding that inundated most of the city, but they did suffer various degrees of damage from the wind and rain, so before they are reopened, they must be absolutely safe and healthy. On top of that, we also want them brought up to an acceptable condition for a modern American school, which most of them weren’t even before the hurricane.

It has been estimated that as many as half of the families who evacuated may never return to New Orleans. If that happens, what effect will it have on the schools and on UTNO members?

I am worried when I see stories about a “childless” New Orleans. Obviously, the fewer children there are, the greater the impact on teachers and school employees, as fewer would be employed. But I am also worried about the very idea of a city with as rich a heritage as New Orleans not having a new generation to pass our unique and valuable traditions to. For both of these reasons, I think it is important for the federal and state governments to do all they can to make sure that families return to New Orleans, and UTNO will be doing all we can, through our members, to get families back.

That said, there is good reason to be optimistic: If we can emerge from this disaster with the first-class schools we and district leaders envision, native families will want to return to New Orleans, and perhaps others will want to relocate there.

How do you see UTNO being involved in discussions on redesigning and rebuilding the city’s schools? What will the union and its members contribute?

Throughout our 33-year history, we have always been at the table to discuss more than the bread-and-butter issues, and that includes advancing reforms that the union believes would improve the quality of New Orleans’ schools. Now, everyone wants to have control over what schools in New Orleans will look like, and we’re fighting to make sure UTNO is at the table when those decisions are made.

Some see this situation as an opportunity for a grand experiment using an urban school system. But it is important for those who know the most about education to be involved in the redesign. This means teachers and school employees, along with all the education resources the union can offer.

It’s also important to remember that this is the New Orleans Public Schools, so the people of New Orleans, including parents, teachers and other citizens, must have the most say in any redesign.

This is an opportunity to rebuild the city’s schools in a way that will make it possible for all of the system’s students and staff to succeed. We need to take advantage of that.