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Posted inCharter Schools, Schools

Exceptional emphasis on extra-curriculars, community involvement

In her monthly “School Culture and Climate” updates, Principal Early showcases the numerous clubs and events that students are engaged in, on top of their already rigorous studies. She sees this as a necessary part of shaping well-rounded students. “They understand that you, as a productive citizen, have to support your community,” Mrs. Early said […]

Posted inCharter Schools, Schools

School board member-elect Sarah Usdin visits Warren Easton

Warren Easton’s board of directors hosted school board member-elect Sarah Newell Usdin at its board meeting Wednesday night. “I’d love to know when you’re going to replicate Warren Easton,” said Usdin. Board member Billy Hatchett said the group would like to charter a Pre-K through eighth grade school before taking on another high school. Board […]

Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools

Ethics Board faults Moton principal for hiring kin

The principal of Robert Moton Charter Elementary School employed and promoted two of her daughters-in-law, in violation of ethics laws, state officials contend. The Louisiana Board of Ethics filed charges against Moton principal Paulette Bruno on Nov. 19. The charges were posted Monday on the board’s website. The Division of Administrative Law’s Ethics Adjudicatory Board, […]

Posted inCharter Schools, Schools

Board resists OneApp process, saying prospective students need to visit school

The Military and Maritime Academy’s leadership is concerned about discussions between the state and local Type 2 charters that could lead to mandatory use of the centralized OneApp enrollment process. At the board meeting Tuesday night, members discussed ways to avoid participating in the process. Currently in Orleans Parish, Type 5 charters—those that answer to […]

Posted inCharter Schools, Schools

Joseph irked by shared leadership; enrollment gap triggers staff cuts

At its monthly meeting Monday night, the Miller-McCoy board faced staff and administrators frustrated by a recent restructuring of school leadership and academics. With a $500,000 budget gap caused by lower-than-anticipated enrollment, consultant Andrea Thomas-Reynolds has been working with interim principal Brian Joseph and newly appointed achievement director Janice Bailey-Walker to cut unnecessary staff and […]

Posted inSchools

Primer: How private retirement plans are different than state pensions

Most Orleans Parish charter schools favor 403(b) retirement plans over the state’s public pension plan. Here’s the difference between the two. Like a 401(k), a 403(b) is a private, defined-contribution plan. An employee contributes pre-tax income and chooses how to invest the money. What she gets back depends on how well those investments perform. An […]

Posted inInvestigations, Schools

Teachers face tough choices as charter schools drop pensions

Teachers protest at an October meeting of the Algiers Charter School Association after the charter group announced that it would end pension benefits for more than 400 of its teachers. Soon after, Algiers reversed the decision. Photo by Jessica Williams Daunted by the high cost of the state teachers pension system, charter schools are switching […]