Einstein CEO asks Board for new Transportation Provider

EINSTEIN CHARTER SCHOOL CEO ASKS BOARD TO HIRE NEW TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER

Responding to internal investigations as well as public reports about Einstein Charter Schools’ transportation provider Scholars First, Chief Executive Officer Michael McKenzie is requesting the school’s Board, Einstein Group Inc., immediately move to cancel services with the bus company and replace it with A & S Transportation.

The Einstein Charter Board meets Tuesday, April 9 at 6 p.m.

If approved, the new transportation provider will begin on Wednesday, April 17 servicing the charter school network that serves grades PK-12 at campuses in the Sherwood Forest and Versailles communities of east New Orleans.

According to a letter posted to the Einstein community by CEO McKenzie, Scholars First will assist A & S Transportation with assuming all responsibilities for bus service between April 9 to the 16th. CEO McKenzie said he and top administrators at the charter school network will ride the new bus system with students on April 17. A smartphone app is being provided by A & S Transportation to parents to track the route by GPS.

CEO McKenzie was hired to direct the charter school network of four schools after a contract had been signed with Scholars First for the 2018-2019 school year. He said he hopes this action will “shift the negative conversation from yellow buses to our amazing parents, awesome partners, student growth, college readiness, social-emotional development, arts, and extracurriculars.”
He further stated this decision puts students, parents and teachers first. CEO McKenzie will be hosting a coffee with the charter school community on Wednesday, April 10, 7:30 a.m. at Einstein High/Sarah T. Reed, 5316 Michoud Blvd.