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Committee forwards Einstein Group charter surrenders, Alumni urge preservation of Sarah T. Reid name
Summary
The committee voted to forward multiple Einstein Charter Group voluntary surrenders and an operating-agreement amendment to the full board. Alumni and community groups urged preserving the Sarah T. Reid name and legacy as the operator relinquishes the charter; the superintendent said he will solicit interest from other operators.
The Orleans Parish School Board accountability and charters committee voted Nov. 18 to forward several Einstein Charter Group items to the full board, including voluntary surrenders for Village Delas Elementary, Einstein Middle School and Sarah T. Reid High School, and a charter amendment to return Sherwood Forest Elementary to K–8.
Board members praised Einstein Group’s decision to consolidate campuses. On action item 4.2, the committee agreed to move to the full board a recommendation to accept Einstein Group Inc.’s voluntary surrender of Village Delas Elementary (site code WBA) effective June 30, 2026. The committee later moved similar recommendations for Einstein Middle School and for Sara T. Reid High School; all three items were forwarded to the full board by voice vote.
Sarah T. Reid alumni and community representatives used the public-comment period to urge protection of the school’s identity. Gregory Lee Jr., identifying himself as “president of the Sarah T. Reid Alumni Association,” read a letter asking the superintendent and board to preserve the name, identity and legacy of Sarah T. Reid even if the campus location changes. “We respectfully ask the superintendent of the Orleans Parish School Board to open the door for qualified operators to adapt the Sarah T. Reid name, brand, and likeness,” he said.
Tiffany Delcore of New Schools for New Orleans told the board the organization supports Einstein Group’s decision to right-size capacity and commended the operator and district for steps to address enrollment and facility challenges.
A second alumni commenter (Arajan/Arajan Cooley) emphasized the school’s community legacy and cultural contributions and asked the district to honor the name going forward.
Superintendent Fillmore told the committee he would “put it out there for other operators to consider the namesake” and committed to supporting the transition process and enrollment work on behalf of families pending board action.
Action item 4.1—Resolution 28-25 to reevaluate and discontinue the 1App Enrollment NOLA program—failed to move to the full board after no member made a motion. The committee approved moving the Einstein Group surrenders and the Sherwood Forest amendment to the full board for final action.
The committee’s decisions were procedural—moving recommendations to the full board—and do not themselves effect charter closures. The full board will consider final acceptance of any charter surrenders and any operator proposals regarding the Sarah T. Reid name in a subsequent meeting.
