The Warren Easton board of directors appears to have violated public meetings law at its October meeting, again revealing its ignorance of when it can and can’t exclude the public from its deliberations. This is the board’s fourth apparent violation of public meetings laws in a year. In this case, a lawyer told The Lens […]
Tag: Charter school transparency
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
After misstep, Lycee leads the way to full compliance with state law
Back in June, as the Lycee Francais Charter School board prepared to take a vote on the school’s 2012-13 school budget, a reporter from The Lens told board members that they had not given proper public notice that the vote was pending, a violation of state law. The board members promptly took action, and today […]
Posted inSchools
Charter board strategizes privately despite sunshine law
The board of New Orleans College Preparatory Academies held an unusual three-and-a-half hour closed session Saturday, in part to discuss matters that public bodies aren’t allowed to talk about privately. Further, members emerged from the closed-door session and approved two measures, neither of which were on the agenda and without providing a reason for doing […]
Posted inCharter Schools
Charter board meets in private, disregards open-meetings law to discuss strategy for new school
The board of New Orleans College Preparatory Academies held an unusual three-and-a-half hour closed session Saturday, emerging to announce that it was going to apply take action regarding its recent application to the state to run another charter school – a measure that wasn’t on the board’s agenda. Correction: School officials said Monday that the action […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Sophie B. Wright approved school budget months ago, apparently failed to make required public announcements
The Sophie B. Wright Board announced an 8-percent increase for its 2012-2013 operating budget.Despite state open meetings laws, which require public bodies to give ten days’ notice before presenting a budget and which require public discussion before a budget can be passed, the board of Sophie B. Wright apparently hastily approved a budget in a […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Lycee Francais charter school passes 2012-2013 budget without making it available for public previewC
While it was clear that the budget for the Lycee Francais charter school was going to pass on Monday night, June 11, it was unclear whether the board was acting in accordance with state laws. The board of directors for Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans unanimously passed the $3.1 million budget Monday night with […]
Posted inSchools
Algiers charter board meets in private building with little notice
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | The board of trustees for the Algiers Charter School Association met Monday night to discuss their chief executive officer’s departure – but it didn’t notify the news media of the meeting and they held it at a private office building in the Central Business District. Shortly after […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
New retirement plan and techno contract are under study; public presses for transparency
Over 50 parents, teachers, and community members attended the Algiers Charter School Association’s monthly board meeting, Jan. 31, many asking for additional transparency as board members took steps toward a new teacher retirement plan and technology services. Larry Hammond, the great-uncle of a student at Martin Behrman Elementary, asked why the board did not provide […]
Posted inInvestigations, Schools
Many charter schools say they weren't aware of open-budgeting law, promise to comply in the future
Only six of the 43 charter school boards in New Orleans could show that they even come close to complying with a state law designed to ensure public input in their budgeting process.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Louisiana charter schools group posts online library of applicable laws and regulations
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | The charter school community – and, no doubt, its critics as well – will benefit from an online compilation of laws regarding the operation of these schools. The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools has posted the law library on its website above all for the use […]