The former principal of the school, Mary Laurie, was fired after probe’s completion.
Author Archives: Marta Jewson
Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned to New Orleans in the fall of 2014 after covering education for the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in journalism and social welfare and a concentration in educational policy studies.
Jewson has covered New Orleans schools for 15 years through the nation's largest education reform experiment. She was a founding member of the outlet's Charter School Reporting Corps and was instrumental in holding schools accountable to sunshine laws during the rapid expansion of charter schools in the city.
Posted inSchools
Lusher board ousts member who was accused of violating policy on union
Divisions over this spring’s union drive resurfaced in Saturday’s meeting.
Posted inSchools
New Beginnings approves $175,000 annual contract for new CEO
The three year contract is for significantly more than that of the previous CEO, who earned $140,000.
Posted inCharter Schools, Government & Politics, Investigations, Schools
How Lusher’s school board shut out the public in dealing with teachers’ union drive
State law says the public is entitled to observe how government bodies make decisions. But Lusher board members privately discussed how to respond to the union, using a boardwide email group. And they set up several private meetings that appear to have circumvented the Open Meetings Law.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Lusher Charter School drags feet on public-records requests
Three months later, we haven’t received emails from CEO Kathy Riedlinger.
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Emails reveal board’s struggle to guide Lusher Charter during unionization effort
They show deep divisions over the union and questions about CEO Kathy Riedlinger’s leadership.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Judge finds city violated Public Records Law in Lens responses
City missed legally required deadlines, failed to provide timelines on responses.
Posted inSchools
Teachers union files labor complaint against Lusher and International High
Organizers say handful of teachers involved in union activities weren’t asked to return.
Posted inSchools
New Beginnings charter network hires former Orleans Parish administrator
The board also extended the contract of a consultant hired to create its budget.
Posted inSchools
New Beginnings charter network likely to appoint CEO next week
Michelle Blouin-Williams was the lone recommended candidate from a hired search firm.