New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy Charter School Groundbreaking Ceremony at Federal City on April 8

WHO:       United States Senator Mary Landrieu will be joined by LtGen Steven A. Hummer, Commander, Marine Forces Reserve & Marine Forces North; Col. William Davis, NOMMA; Tom Arnold, Chair, Algiers Development Corporation; Rep. Jeff Arnold, Chair, Algiers Development District; Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer; Pat Forbes, Director for Disaster Recovery Unit of the Office of Community Development; Eddie Boettner, HRIECC and a rep. from the Mayor’s Office     

WHAT:     New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) Charter School Complex Groundbreaking Ceremony
 
WHEN:     Monday, April 8, 9am
 
WHERE:  425 O’Bannon Street, New Orleans, LA 70146 in Federal City in Algiers
 
WHY:      The new $17 million New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) Charter School Complex, which will include new construction as well as the renovation of existing historical buildings, is expected to be completed in January 2014. Students currently attend classes in the old Navy Exchange site, just steps away from the new construction.
             
NOMMA is the nation’s only open enrollment charter high school with a Marine Corps Junior ROTC focus. Though graduates are not required or expected to enroll in the military services, the school utilizes the discipline, problem-solving, communications and self-responsibility culture of the military to build academic success with its students.

NOMMA accepts high school students from throughout the 10-parish metro New Orleans area, offers a college-preparatory curriculum, features a Cyber Innovation Center to build tech skills in its students, and requires participation in the Junior ROTC cadet program.
                        
NOMMA welcomed its first class of students in 2011. There are currently 222 9th and 10th graders in the school, which will build towards all four high school grades by the time the new campus opens.