Press Releases

September 7, 2005
NTHS Students Rush to the Aid of Hurricane Katrina Victims

Napa, CA – Staff and students at Napa’s New Technology High School are anxious to begin fundraising efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans, Louisiana. Thoughts and concerns are especially focused on staff, students and their families of three high schools that are affiliated with the New Technology Foundation – two of which are replications of Napa’s NTHS. Both schools -- Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy in Jefferson Parish, and New Orleans New Technology High School opened their doors as part of the New Technology Network of Schools just a week before the hurricane struck. St Charles Parish, the third partner in the greater New Orleans area, was just completing a multi-million dollar facility to house their career and technical Satellite Center with a proposed move-in date of October.

Napa New Tech High School service clubs including Key Club (Kiwanis) and Interact Club (Rotary) have already determined that Hurricane Katrina will be designated as their year long service project by raising funds for the relief effort. ASB, the student leadership group planned to hold a car wash on September 17, 2005 to raise money for operating expenses such as prom, movie night and field trips. Since Katrina, the group has determined that all proceeds from the car wash will go to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts instead. “Basically we wanted to provide all the help we can. We’re very concerned about our three sister schools in Louisiana and want them to know that we’re thinking about them as well.” said teacher and ASB Advisor John Hart. Christina Lee, Interact President stated that her club had recently signed up 17 members on club day. She plans to address the Hurricane relief effort in their first meeting. “As for our service projects, I just got notice that we have three schools affiliated with our school down in New Orleans, and we haven’t heard from them yet. Through a big fundraiser or some type of donation drive, I hope that we can raise money to send to those schools to help them out during a time of need.”

Susan Schilling, CEO of New Technology Foundation was in New Orleans for the new school openings and reported that students and faculty at all three schools demonstrated great potential for success in the project based learning environment modeled after Napa’s New Technology High School. Students, community, and business leaders were proud to have this unique learning opportunity in their communities and were showing interest in supporting their local New Technology high schools, which similar to the Napa School, rely on additional funding outside of what is provided by their school district, to support the one to one computer environment. Parents from New Orleans New Technology High school planned to gather over the weekend to paint the exterior of the school prior to the hurricane. Unfortunately, the extent of the damage to the school is unknown at this time and will certainly require more than paint.

"The state of affairs is such that there is no there, there,” said Schilling. “We don't know the physical condition or any of the sites. We do know that both Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish are in the area impacted by the levee breakdown. Satellite photos show water in the streets....who knows how deep. St. Charles is further out, but reports suggest they, too, are without water or power for weeks to come.

And while we are hearing from some of the teachers and doing our best to connect them with each other, none of them know what they are going to do in the future either. They all scattered to friends and relatives in Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, etc.. If they have no home to go back to and a school that is under water, they may decide to move on. As we come to know more about our specific sites and the decisions of the various administrations, faculty and staff, we may be able to organize something specific for them. But that may be months in the future. At this point, I suggest donations to the Red Cross or some other relief organization.”

Carolyn Ferris, Interim principal at New Technology Foundation shares Schilling’s concerns. “The devastation is unbelievable. It’s difficult to imagine what the victims of Katrina are going through. I’m not surprised at the concern and take charge attitude of our students here at New Tech. Community service is part of the culture here. I know they’ll do all they can, in the meantime donating to the Red Cross is the most efficient way to provide for those in immediate need.”

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New Technology Foundation, www.newtechfoundation.org, supports the creation of new small high schools based on the Napa New Technology High School Model, thereby offering a concrete model for how national education reform can be accomplished. NTF is creating an NTHS Network across the country with schools in California, Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois and Louisiana, with additional schools opening in North Carolina, Texas and New York over the next two years.. For more information, visit the website, or phone (707) 253-6951.

Contact:
Susan Lane, Director of Development (707) 259-8524
Susan Schilling, CEO (707) 253-4287