In a controversy echoing concerns about Western Kentucky University's secretive Naming and Symbols Task Force, New Orleans' Lusher Charter School "has temporarily suspended work on selecting a new name for the school after receiving 'a threat of litigation' regarding the group's activities, according to an unsigned email sent to Lusher families Thursday afternoon.

"Late Thursday afternoon, The Lens obtained a demand letter sent to Lusher's governing board on behalf of an unnamed 'group of diverse stakeholders in the LCS community,' including Lusher parents, alumni and students, from their attorney Scott Sternberg. The letter says that members of the group prefer to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation.

"The letter accuses the Lusher board of violating the state Open Meetings Law by handing over much of the renaming process to a 'study group' meeting in private. It demands that the Lusher board open up future meetings of the study group to the public. If it fails to, the letter says, the board will face legal action."