The recipient entity's physical address:
           2001 Leon C. Simon Drive
New Orleans, LA 70122

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           2001 Leon C. Simon Drive
New Orleans, LA 70122

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Timothy Ryan, James Meza, Duris Holmes, Carl Indest, and Nancy Pierre

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  9970

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $2,000,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Ms. Krystal H. Allen 401 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 2A New Orleans LA 70130 334-413-2409 kallen@bfhsla.org
Mr. Sean A. Blondell, Esq. 7241 Thornley Drive New Orleans LA 70126-2129 832-407-4768 sblondell@bfhsla.org
Ms. Jill E. Condon 617 North Solomon Street New Orleans LA 70119-4613 504-430-8619 jillecondon@bfhsla.org Treasurer
Mrs. Charmaine Cooper Hussain 1310 Seville Drive New Orleans LA 70122-1943 214-868-6258 chussain@bfhsla.org Secretary
Ms. Alea M. Cot 2021 Octavia Street New Orleans LA 70115-5653 504-292-5347 acot@bfhsla.org Past President
Ms. Shaneika J. Dabney-Henderson 1711 General Pershing Street New Orleans LA 70115 504-495-6572 sdabney-henderson@bfhsla.org
Mrs. Diane D. Freedman 734 Florida Boulevard New Orleans LA 70124-2845 504-236-1978 dfreedman@bfhsla.org
Mr. Dana J. Henry 7600 Hansbrough Avenue New Orleans LA 70127-1217 504-261-7687 dhenry@bfhsla.org
Mrs. Jennifer J. Kottler 5902 Hurst Street New Orleans LA 70115-4251 504-296-4608 jkottler@bfhsla.org
Mr. Jonathan L. Levy 427 Millaudon Street New Orleans LA 70118 347-749-1251 jlevy@bfhsla.org
Ms. Dorothy A. Malik 4700 Marigny Street New Orleans LA 70122-5021 504-905-3170 dmalik@bfhsla.org
Dr. Alexis I. Parent-Ferrouillet, Ed.D. 7311 Springlake Drive New Orleans LA 70126 504-251-1230 aferrouillet@bfhsla.org President
Mr. Jeffrey Seymour 2227 Royal Street New Orleans LA 70117 914-584-3868 jseymour@bfhsla.org
Mr. Mitchell W. Turnbough 511 Marigny Street, No.317 New Orleans LA 70117-8631 201-994-9948 mturnbough@bfhsla.org

Mr. Alex Jarrell 1014 Third Street New Orleans LA 70130 504-598-6612 ajarrell@bfhsla.org CEO
Mr. Donald Jackson 2262 Lark Street New Orleans LA 70122 504-330-7560 djackson@bfhsla.org Assistant Principal of Operations
Mrs. Christy Read 1101 Monroe Street Gretna LA 70053 504-723-0783 cread@bfhsla.org Development Director
Ms. Tina Shariff 3720 Palmyra Street New Orleans LA 70119-6134 504-957-5308 tshariff@bfhsla.org Managing Director of Enrollment & Special Projects
Ms. Kate Youngblood 1751 Pressburg Street New Orleans LA 70122 504-330-6732 kyoungblood@bfhsla.org Communications Coordinator

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Benjamin Franklin High School Expansion to the Human Performance Center

Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS), a nationally recognized, high performing public charter school in New Orleans, seeks capital funding to renovate and repurpose the existing Human Performance Center (HPC) on the campus of Louisiana State University New Orleans. This transformational project will expand the school's instructional capacity, address critical overcrowding, and provide essential academic, athletic, and student support facilities to serve current and future generations of Louisiana students.

Since 2015, BFHS enrollment has increased by 26%, and the school currently operates at approximately 125% of its intended capacity. To accommodate this growth, BFHS has been forced to lease approximately 10 classrooms on the university campus, located nearly half a mile from its main building. This arrangement creates significant logistical, operational, and student safety challenges while limiting the school's ability to serve additional qualified applicants. With more than 1,000 applications received last year, demand for a Franklin education continues to exceed available space.

The proposed HPC renovation will increase BFHS's usable campus space by approximately 50%, providing 16 additional classrooms, 10 offices and student support spaces, a full size gymnasium, dedicated mental health and wellness facilities, and flexible collaborative learning areas. These improvements will consolidate academic programming, reduce dependence on remote classroom facilities, strengthen student services, and provide the infrastructure necessary to support continued enrollment growth.

The project is especially important to expanding equitable access to high quality public education. BFHS serves a diverse student population, including more than 350 students from economically disadvantaged households. Additional instructional and support space will allow the school to better meet students' academic, social, emotional, and physical needs while preserving the rigorous educational opportunities for which Franklin is known.

BFHS has secured a signed 30 year lease agreement with Louisiana State University New Orleans, establishing long term site control and positioning the project to move forward. By renovating an existing institutional facility rather than constructing an entirely new building, the project will maximize public resources, leverage existing infrastructure, and provide lasting educational benefits to the New Orleans community.

The estimated project cost is $9.5 million, with funding anticipated through a combination of private philanthropy, foundation support, and public investment. The project remains on schedule to begin construction in January 2027, with the renovated facility expected to open for the 2027 to 2028 academic year. This timeline is critical to addressing the school's immediate space constraints and ensuring that Franklin can continue serving its growing student population.

State Capital Outlay support will help ensure that Benjamin Franklin High School can continue meeting growing community demand, expand educational opportunity, and provide a safe, modern, and comprehensive learning environment for Louisiana students for decades to come.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $650,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $6,500,000
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $2,268,703

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. (AAEE) is a Louisiana nonprofit organization responsible for the governance and operation of Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS), a tuition free public charter school in New Orleans. AAEE is committed to providing an academically rigorous, inclusive educational environment that prepares students for success in higher education, their careers, and their communities.

The public purpose of the requested state funding is to strengthen Louisiana's public education infrastructure, improve student safety, and expand access to high quality educational opportunities by addressing critical space limitations at Benjamin Franklin High School. As a public charter school, BFHS serves Louisiana students without charging tuition, making investments in its educational facilities a direct benefit to the public.

Since 2015, BFHS enrollment has increased by 26%, and the school currently operates at approximately 125% of its intended capacity. To accommodate this growth, AAEE currently rents 10 classrooms in a building on the Louisiana State University New Orleans campus located more than half a mile from Franklin's main campus. This arrangement requires students and faculty to travel considerable distances between classes, creating student safety concerns, reducing instructional efficiency, and presenting significant logistical challenges.

The proposed renovation of the Human Performance Center (HPC), located less than a three minute walk from Franklin's existing campus, will address these challenges by providing additional instructional space, athletic facilities, mental health and wellness resources, and student support areas. The significantly shorter distance will improve student safety and supervision, reduce travel time between classes, and create a more connected and efficient educational environment.

This investment will also advance educational equity by strengthening access to rigorous public education for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, including the more than 350 economically disadvantaged students currently attending BFHS. Improved facilities and expanded student services will support academic achievement, physical and emotional well being, and the development of students prepared to contribute meaningfully to Louisiana's workforce and communities.

AAEE has secured a signed 30 year lease agreement for the HPC facility, ensuring long term use of the renovated building for public educational purposes. By repurposing an existing institutional facility, the project will maximize the value of existing infrastructure and provide responsible stewardship of public resources.

State Capital Outlay funding will help AAEE fulfill its public educational mission by providing a safer, more accessible, and comprehensive learning environment that meets growing community demand and strengthens educational opportunities for generations of Louisiana students.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The primary goal of Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. (AAEE) is to expand the instructional capacity, improve student safety, and enhance the educational resources of Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS) through the renovation and repurposing of the existing Human Performance Center (HPC) on the campus of Louisiana State University New Orleans. The project will address immediate overcrowding, improve campus efficiency, and provide the infrastructure necessary to meet growing demand for high quality public education.

AAEE has established the following objectives:

1. Expand Instructional Capacity: Increase the school's usable campus space by approximately 50% through the addition of 16 classrooms. This expansion will address the school's current operation at 125% of its intended capacity, reduce reliance on offsite classrooms, and provide opportunities to accommodate future enrollment growth.

2. Improve Student Safety and Campus Efficiency: Eliminate the need to rely on 10 rented classrooms located more than half a mile from Franklin's main campus by relocating instructional activities to the renovated HPC, situated less than a three minute walk from the existing school. This substantially shorter distance will reduce student travel time between classes, improve supervision and campus security, minimize disruptions to instructional schedules, and create a safer, more connected learning environment.

3. Strengthen Student Support Services: Create 10 offices and student support spaces, including dedicated mental health and wellness facilities. These improvements will enhance the school's capacity to provide academic guidance, counseling, and services that support students' social and emotional well being.

4. Enhance Physical Education and Student Wellness: Provide a full size gymnasium and improved spaces for physical education, athletics, and wellness programming. These facilities will support students' physical health, extracurricular participation, and overall development.

5. Support Innovative Teaching and Collaborative Learning: Develop flexible collaborative spaces that accommodate modern instructional practices, interdisciplinary learning, and student engagement. These improvements will strengthen the rigorous academic programming that distinguishes Benjamin Franklin High School.

6. Expand Educational Opportunity: Create the physical capacity necessary to better serve Louisiana students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, including the more than 350 economically disadvantaged students currently enrolled at BFHS. Increased capacity will help the school respond to continued demand, demonstrated by more than 1,000 applications received last year.

7. Complete the Project on Schedule: AAEE has secured a signed 30 year lease for the HPC facility and remains on track to begin construction in January 2027, with the goal of opening the renovated facility for the 2027 to 2028 academic year.

The total estimated project cost is $9,418,703, with funding anticipated from private philanthropy, foundation support, and public investment. State Capital Outlay funding will support the renovation and related capital improvements necessary to achieve these objectives.

Successful completion will be measured by the delivery of the planned instructional and support spaces, reduced dependence on remote classrooms, improved student safety and campus functionality, and expanded educational opportunities for Louisiana public school students.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           one year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 Not Applicable
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 Not Applicable

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 Not Applicable

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Not Applicable

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               Not Applicable

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               Not Applicable

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                Not Applicable

          What is the nature of the relationship?  Not Applicable

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Not Applicable

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Not Applicable


Contact Information
name:  Alex Jarrell 
                                       address:  2001 Leon C. Simon Drive
New Orleans, LA 70122
                                       phone:  504-598-6612
                                       fax:  Not Applicable
                                       e-mail:  ajarrell@bfhsla.org
                                       relationship to entity:  CEO