Caddo Transformation Partnership Agreement

Amended and Extended January 2016

Section 1: Parties
This agreement is entered into between the Caddo Parish School Board (CPSB) and the Louisiana Recovery
School District (RSD) for the purpose of defining the roles and responsibilities of each party in regard to a plan
to transform failing public schools in Caddo Parish. This agreement is being entered into in lieu of the RSD
requesting authority from BESE to transfer CPSB schools classified as AUS 4+ into the Recovery School District.
The parties agree that any CPSB schools that may become AUS 4+ during the term of this agreement will not be
recommended for transfer into the Recovery School District.
Section 2: Values
The Values used to govern this plan were predetermined in conjunction with the Recovery School District, Caddo
Parish School District staff and Caddo Parish School Board:

Academic student achievement: Improving student achievement is the highest priority of this
transformation plan. All aspects of the transformation plan and all decisions must contribute to the goal
of making substantial, measurable academic gains for students and raising schools out of failing status.

New solutions: In order to serve students well, we will create and apply new, innovative solutions to the
old problems that have been plaguing the Caddo Parish school system for years.

Respect for communities and families: We will implement the transformation plan in a way that honors
and respects communities and families through transparent and open communication.

Urgency: Incremental change is inadequate to produce the substantial gains in student academic
achievement that our students deserve. We will create solutions that are time-bound and implement
every aspect of the transformation plan with urgency.

Section 3: Term
The agreement shall begin in January 2016 and shall expire in May 2017, with a possible extension, upon mutual
agreement of the parties.
Section 4: Academic Goal
All failing Caddo Schools (schools with an F Letter grade) will earn 2016 Letter Grades of D or higher.
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Section 5: Specific Actions

Section 5.1: Developing System Change to accommodate reform in the lowest performing schools

CPSB shall continue their contract with the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program (UVA) as
outlined in their existing agreement. UVA has proven success working with traditional school districts to
turn around their lowest performing schools. The organization is a proven provider of services for
districts similar to Caddo Parish and has data-driven results in turning schools around in Louisiana.
o

UVA is responsible for assessing the needs of all failing schools within the Caddo Transformation
Zone and recommending changes for reorganizing and developing the central office to be able
to implement recommended change.

UVA is responsible for sustaining a design system for the central office that supports
autonomous schools and turns around the lowest performing schools academically.

The work of UVA includes, but is not limited to: talent development, financial planning and
sustainability, organizational redesign, school culture/curriculum assessment and redefinition,
and central office capacity building.

At a minimum, the following Caddo's schools earning a 2015 Letter Grade of F within the
Caddo Transformation Zone shall be supported by the work of UVA: Atkins Technology
Elementary School, Caddo Heights Math/Science Elementary, Fair Park College Preparatory
Academy, Caddo Middle Career and Technology, Queensborough Elementary School, Sunset
Acres Elementary, Werner Park Elementary, Woodlawn Leadership Academy, and Lakeshore
Middle School.

The Caddo Parish School Board shall hold the organization accountable for producing improved student
academic achievement outcomes and complying with federal and state law and policy.

The Caddo Parish School Board shall continue to authorize the Caddo Parish Superintendent to carry out
all school-level actions recommended by UVA without out requiring board approval. These school-level
actions include changes related to school budgets, school personnel, school programming, and school
curriculum.

Section 5.2: Developing School Level Reforms to meet the needs of students
The following describes the actions CPSB shall take for all Caddo schools earning a 2015 Letter Grade of F
within the Caddo Transformation Zone (Atkins Technology Elementary School, Caddo Heights Math/Science
Elementary, Fair Park College Preparatory Academy, Caddo Middle Career and Technology, Queensborough
Elementary School, Sunset Acres Elementary, Werner Park Elementary, Woodlawn Leadership Academy, and
Lakeshore Middle School) in order to sustain and build upon the transformation initiatives.
District leaders, the District Transformation Officer and transformation zone administrators and teachers will
continue the multiyear process of transforming the targeted schools. A summary of the major actions which will
continue throughout the term of this Agreement include:

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Continuation of District Transformation Office under the direction of the District Transformation Officer
and Transformation Specialists in each grade span

Continuation of the UVA Transformation Strategies

Continuation of Professional Development focused on the identified needs of:

o

Climate and Culture

Teacher Effectiveness

Response to Intervention

Data Driven Instruction

Continuation of Curriculum-based progress monitoring

Continuation of Implementation of Observation/Feedback Loop to insure continual growth in teachers

and students;

Continuation of Weekly PLC Data Meetings

Continuation of Individual Teacher Data Analysis Meetings after 3-week Focus Quizzes and at the end of
nine-week Interim

Section 7: Accountability
For any Caddo schools that are AUS 4+ during the term of the agreement, any school closures, site code
changes, or grade reconfigurations CPSB requests must first be approved by the RSD.
All other schools specified in this agreement shall retain their current site codes, unless otherwise approved by
the RSD.
Section 8: Oversight
Throughout the term of the agreement, Caddo Parish School Board shall provide the RSD with progress updates
as follows:

Caddo Parish School Board shall submit quarterly written reports to Network 1 outlining the
implementation and progress toward achieving each of the goals and required actions specified in the
agreement.

The Caddo Parish school officials shall meet quarterly with RSD and/or Network 1 to review the
quarterly report, review progress, and discuss other issues relevant to the agreement.

Caddo Parish School Board shall share interim assessment data and focus quiz data with the RSD and/or
Network 1 for each of the schools specified in the agreement.

Any other progress tracking or oversight activities agreed to by CPSB and the RSD.

The agreement shall expire in May 2017, with a possible extension, upon mutual agreement of the parties.
Upon the expiration or termination of the agreement, the RSD shall make a recommendation to BESE for the
operation of the schools for the following school year.
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At the expiration or termination of the agreement, the RSD shall have the option to transfer to the RSD any
school in Caddo that is labeled AUS 4+ at that time.
Section 9: Amendments
Upon mutual agreement, the RSD and CPSB may amend any portion of this agreement or any of its exhibits at any
time throughout the term of this agreement. Such amendments shall be incorporated herein and made effective
only upon written approval by both the RSD and CPSB.
Section 10: Termination
Termination for Cause. Either RSD or CPSB may terminate this agreement for cause based upon the failure of the
other party to comply with the terms and/or conditions of the agreement, provided that the party seeking to
terminate shall give the offending party written notice specifying the failure. If within thirty (30) days after receipt
of such notice, the offending party shall not have either corrected such failure or, in the case which cannot be
corrected in thirty (30) days, begun in good faith to correct said failure and thereafter proceeded diligently to
complete such correction, then the party seeking termination may, at its option, place the offending party in
default and the agreement shall terminate on the date specified in such notice.
Termination for Convenience. The RSD and CPSB may terminate this agreement at any time by mutual agreement
with (30) days written notice.
Section 11: Jurisdiction, Venue, and Governing Law
Exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any and all suits between the RSD and CPSB arising out of, or related to, this
agreement shall be in the 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, in the State of Louisiana. The
laws of the State of Louisiana, without regard to Louisiana law on conflicts of law, shall govern this contract. This
agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of
Louisiana and all applicable federal laws of the United States.
The parties intend that they be bound by, and that this agreement be subject to, any and all applicable future
amendments or additions to the state law, regulations, or BESE policy. CPSB and the RSD hereby agree to comply
with any such change as if it were specifically set forth herein. Any such change shall supersede any provision
within this agreement that conflicts with it.
The parties intend that where this agreement references federal or state laws, state regulations and BESE policy,
that they be bound by any amendments to such laws, regulations and policies upon the effective date of such
amendments.
Section 12: Severability
The provisions of this agreement are severable. Any term or condition deemed illegal or invalid shall not affect
any other term or condition, and the remainder of the agreement shall remain in effect unless otherwise
terminated by one or both of the parties.
Section 13: No Third Party Beneficiary

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The enforcement of the terms and conditions of this agreement, and all rights of action relating to such
enforcement, shall be strictly reserved to the RSD and CPSB. Nothing contained in this agreement shall give or
allow any claim or right of action whatsoever by any other or third person. It is the express intent of the parties
to this agreement that any person receiving services or benefits hereunder shall be deemed an incidental
beneficiary only.

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Section 14: Entire Agreement

This Agreement, (together with any addenda, appendix, exhibits, or other agreements specifically incorporated
herein by reference) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the day, month and year first written below.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this agreement as of this ____ day of January 2016.

_____________________________________________________
Patrick Dobard, Superintendent
Date
Recovery School District

_____________________________________________________
Dr. Lamar Goree, Superintendent
Date
Caddo Parish School System

_____________________________________________________
Mary Trammel, Board President
Date
Caddo Parish School Board

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