Capital One-New Beginnings Charter School Network’s board of directors voted Wednesday evening to hire Sametta Brown as the new leader of the four-campus charter-management organization.

Brown was one of two finalists interviewed publicly Sept. 20 by the board.  As the new chief executive officer, she will oversee the network’s four schools as well as central office.  The schools enroll more than 1,800 students with a combined budget of $17 million.

The board authorized chairman Tim Ryan to begin contract negotiations with Brown.  Brown is the executive director of human resources for the Recovery School District.  She formerly served as the district’s coordinator the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. She also worked in the New Orleans Public Schools for many years.

Brown’s start date is contingent upon contract negotiations.

Brown said in her interview she has a data-driven, yet team-oriented management style.

“She impressed me very much with her responses, her honesty, her sense of humor and her grasp on the issues facing New Beginnings and schools in general,” Ryan said.

The board voted to add an agenda item regarding the selection of the CEO.  When The Lens asked why the hiring of a new system leader was not on the publicly released agenda, Ryan said the omission “was a mistake.”

The network’s four schools currently have 1,811 students, which the board learned Wednesday is 206 students shy of projections. This shortfall leaves the network about $1.5 million short on anticipated state funding, which is allocated per pupil.

Despite this shortfall, finance director Kendal Turner said the network is financially in good shape.