Einstein Academy officials will go before the Los Angeles County Board of Education in Dec. 11 at 3 p.m., in hopes of being granted a K-6 charter.

On Nov. 14, Albert Einstein Academy for Letters, Arts and Sciences appealed to the Los Angeles County Board of Education after being denied a K-6 charter by the Saugus Union School District.

“We’re feeling very positive and very confident,” Shapiro said. “We believe that our track record in every way demonstrates that our school should be approved,” he added, saying the school’s WASC and Hart district approvals, as well as API scores and track records, speaks for themselves.

Einstein Academy currently operates a high school in the Santa Clarita Valley through the William S. Hart Union High School District. The Hart District denied its request for a separate K-6 charter.

“The approval of a $6.4 million bond demonstrates the strength of our academic program and our financial health,” Shapiro said.

Saugus Union school board officials, who were reached while attending a California School Board Association meeting, said they will be attending the meeting, along with other local school board officials.

“There will be representation from other local school districts,” said Saugus Union School District board member Judy Umeck. Saugus Union has denied Einstein Academy’s charter petition three times due to concerns over the school’s finances.

“Our concerns were largely the financial plans and, in our minds, it did not satisfy the financial obligations (it needed to),” Umeck said.

Saugus Union Superintendent Joan Lucid said that in addition to financial concerns, she also was worried Einstein Academy’s student demographics don’t necessarily reflect Saugus Union’s, in respect to English language learners and students with disabilities.

“We open our doors to all kids and we do a darn good job of making sure all children – and I’m adamant about all children – have equal access to the American dream,” Lucid said.