Today is one of the most in New Orleans history.

Yes, there are other in the life of the city this year. There are new Louisiana laws that went into effect January 1. There's a mayoral inauguration and the swearing in of a new City Council Monday. There's a new head football coach at LSU. There's a new QB1 making waves and causing excitement with his arm, eyes, vision and throws with the New Orleans Saints.

There will be new laws next year. The incoming mayor has a short honeymoon because city finances and the city deficit are so messed up. The LSU coach is making moves now with the goal of exciting Tiger fans this fall. The Saints had some tough decisions in the coming days, and we'll likely see some much beloved stars move on, retire or take on less significant roles.

But today is about the future of New Orleans education.

Tonight, the New Orleans School Board will decide the fate of the young Leah Chase School, the one and only non-charter, school district-run school in the entire city. Tonight the school board is expected to decide whether to close the school or to keep it open, and under what conditions if they do. Tonight, the school board is likely to make more than one decision. At this point, closing the school would cause a community and public backlash that I don't know that we're prepared to see. 

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Serenity Gaines, 6, holds up a sign in support of the Leah Chase School during a School Board meeting at the OPSB Central Office in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)

Today is historic, no matter what the school board does.

We started the first school independent of any charter management organizations that have run K-12 education since the pre-Katrina school system was dismantled, discarded and rebuilt with nothing but charter schools.

To be clear, this isn't simple a matter of charters and no charters. I'm okay with the charter school concept. I've seen some good charter education. We have D and failing charter schools, and we have A and B charter schools.

The Chase School isn't doing as well as a number of other city schools, but which of those high-performing schools were given one year -- only one year -- to show what they can do?

Low enrollment has been a reason to close the school. Money has been a reason to close the school. Limited community support has a reason to close the school.

Truth be told, if this school were the Jimmy Walker, Halle Berry, Steve Harvey or Will Sutton School, it would be closed. The district named it the Leah Chase School. You can't pick an accomplished, beloved, prominent woman like that and expect not to have emotions and feelings that go beyond a building.

Some said the district needs $750,000 to keep the school open.

I took a look at the board agenda and I see four particularly interesting items: (a) an item to suspend for 2025-2026 a board policy prohibiting donation and gifts; (b) an item about a $150 donation from the Committee to Elect KaTrina C. Griffin; (c) an item about a $225,000 donation from the Edgar "Dooky" Jr. and Leah Chase Family Foundation, and a $2 million personal donation from Karen Oser Edmunds, who has a grandchild attending the school.

All the donors want is to see the Chase School be given a chance to succeed. In one donor's desire, for at least two years.

Two years. If I were donating $2 million, I might be inclined to ask for at least five years.

These items need at least four of the seven board members to vote "yay." Leah Chase daughter Stella Chase Reese told me on WBOK 1230 AM this morning that she is "expecting seven votes tonight. That will be a victory not for our family, not for our many supporters, but for our entire community. That will be a gift to quality education if we have seven votes."

Four votes will do it. Seven votes would send a strong message that the board understands the legacy and the power of the Chase name -- and the deep desire that so many have to see this school continue and to see all other schools achieve A-level quality as well.

Leah Chase loved cooking and watching people enjoy her Creole cuisine. She loved children and watching them grow to become incredible adults. She loved teaching and the educators who taught to make a better New Orleans.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate.com.

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