In this article, the author talks about the rebuilding of the public school system in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. A group of local and state educators, community leaders, and business people, headed by Tulane University President Scott Cowen, recommended that New Orleans become a hybrid of traditional public schools and charter schools, trimming back the central office and giving principals the bulk of the decision-making authority. The 20-member group is a subcommittee of Mayor Ray Nagin's "Bring New Orleans Back" Commission, which was asked to make recommendations on how to rebuild the city. Equity was at the forefront of the committee's discussions about how the school system should look. One of the key recommendations is that the district operate under an educational network model in which schools are organized into small groups. The author talks about some assurances needed like those of the United Teachers of New Orleans, which wanted some assurance New Orleans teachers would be rehired first over teachers from other areas. Among other things, the author points out the eagerness of the committee to remake what has been one of the most dysfunctional school systems in the US.