A three percent raise is in the works for Einstein Charter School faculty. “It is something that the teachers deserve,” James Pineda, the board’s newest member, said. “It will help with retention and morale.”

The raises, approved at the board’s monthly meeting, Dec. 6, will take effect in January. The staff has not had a raise in three years, Principal Shawn Toranto said.

Toranto told the board the administration would have approve the raises regardless of the board’s decision. While there was some question whether board approval was needed, members decided to vote as a show of support for the school’s employees.

Lauren Jacobsen, a member of the Governance Committee, raised concerns about the ongoing process of revising the board’s bylaws. She stressed the importance of finishing the months-long process so that the board and the school’s administration could better acquaint themselves with the bylaws.

In school updates, the debate team recently placed fourth out of 12 teams competing at Tulane. Toranto said the young men’s luncheon was a big success. She said she would
now like to start planning for Einstein’s fundraising gala to be held in the spring.

The roof renovation project is still in the bidding stage, board members were advised. The project will be completed in phases so as not to take too many classrooms out of service at any one time.

Ryan Bennett of the board’s Academic and School Excellence Committee said he and Ramona Perkins, the board president, will present a report at the January board
meeting.

The board approved November’s meeting minutes.

Members present in addition to Pineda, Bennett and Jacobsen were Roland Doucette, Susanna Evangelista and TK Tieu. .

The meeting began at 6 p.m. and ended at 6:50 p.m. The next board meeting will be Jan.
10.