Basis Mclean
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Anonymous
| The first phase of the construction is half of the build out. They don't want to risk their profit on the place not opening. But hey it's cool to be smart, right? |
Anonymous
AMA poster: yes, BASIS tends to have young staff. Sean Aiken, however, is pretty highly regarded in the organization. I think he's a good fit for the school and he'll do his best to make sure it's successful. |
Anonymous
| AMA poster: The staff based out of Brooklyn, however, well let's hope you never have to talk to them... |
Anonymous
What are the issues with the staff? Do you think this is unique to Brooklyn or is it something about the culture? Personally, I'm hesitant about the idea of a "network" of schools. Teachers and staff make or break a school and if the organization has a track record of turnover and/or transferring staff to other schools in the network how can I be confident that my child will have continuity in his education? Maybe year one isn't the best time to enroll. In anyone's experience, do these staffing issues tend to even out as the schools mature? |
Anonymous
AMA poster: it's definitely the for profit numbers driven culture. I know the head of schools tend to move around each year. For example, DC hasn't kept someone more than one year. Aiken was only there a year. |
Anonymous
| Is the turnover for teachers high? |
Anonymous
Yes |
Anonymous
You sound like you have way to many questions to enroll year one. Yes, we have experience with a first year charter and you need to be there for the long haul and enjoy the ride. It doesn't mean you can't have questions and critiques, but you can't nitpick or act surprised by every little thing. Also, staff turmoil is super common in beginning schools. Last, I am not a fan of the Basis model (is this the same Basis in DC?) but if you are a fan go for it. As long as you buy into a school's premise the good usually outweighs the bad. |
Anonymous
I appreciate the well wishes but this is a private school that costs 25,000 a year not a charter. |
Anonymous
| I wonder if they'll start having employees from their charter schools come over to the independent school and then try to sell as though it's worth 25,000. |
Anonymous
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My sister in law has her kids at BASIS DC, They love it. We are likely to send our oldest to McLean, and our youngest in a year or two. I am truly impressed by the curriculum.
Results matter, and BASIS schools get good results. |
Anonymous
| What's an AMA poster? |
Anonymous
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Hi all. One of my DC friends (whose son goesto Basis DC) just brought this thread to my attention, as she was asking about a question raised on the thread - about for profit.
My kids both graduated from BASIS Scottsdale, Arizona (one is in grad school now, and one is in college!) The "for profit" aspect has nothing to do with anything on the education front. The curriculum is the curriculum, and as you know it's a fantastic curriculum. (I taught in Arizona public schools for 15 years, and in New York for 10 years before that). I think it was 6 or 8 years ago, the management company called BASIS.ed was created, and it was set up as a "for profit" organization because it was the way to get its employees based in the state of Arizona the best possible benefits packages for their individual tax purposes. There were limits of some legal sort on benefits for non profit employees in Arizona at the time, and tax implications for the employees and their compensation, too. As I recall, BASIS teachers were technically employed by the BASIS.ed company when it formed, and not by the school itself anymore, so their benefits got much better overnight. We asked this question at a parent meeting at the time. We asked what the effect was on the school, the teachers, the curriculum, and what the difference would be when the management company was created. I will say that nothing at all changed when BASIS Scottsdale went from being a stand alone non profit charter school, to a non profit charter school managed by a new for profit entity, which managed all of the BASIS charter schools. Finally, I should mention that I have met the Blocks at graduations and events over the years. They are very nice people, very smart, and care deeply about education and academia for children. Dr. Block was a professor for many years and seems like he truly loves kids and their schooling, and loves teaching, education, and good classroom ideas. Very interesting man. I half expected him to announce that he would teach again. Hope that helps, even a little bit. Good luck! |
Anonymous
What about all the for profit colleges? Nothing to do with anything? Google the Blocks salary! |
Anonymous
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Here are some true stories about Basis schools instead of trolls posting -
Parent Horror Stories from Basis http://cloakinginequity.com/2014/06/08/parent-horror-stories-from-basis-corporate-charter-hurting-children/ Basis - Nepotism in Charters http://cloakinginequity.com/2013/04/19/what-basis-nepotism-and-aggrandizement-in-charters/ Deconstructing the Legend of Basis Charter Schools http://dianeravitch.net/2013/05/05/deconstructing-the-legend-of-basis-charter-schools/ A Basis Schools Horror Story http://ed2worlds.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-basis-schools-horror-story.html?m=1 Insiders Benefiting from Charters (The Real Reason they're For Profit) http://archive.azcentral.com/news/articles/20121016insiders-benefiting-charter-deals.html DC Request to Expand Rejected - Read Why https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-charter-board-rejects-request-from-basis-to-expand/2013/04/16/32a735ee-a69a-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html |