Alice Deal Middle School

[Anonymous]

I have a student that attends Deal and I am very unpleased by how the staff run things. Marijuana is constantly brought inside the school as well as contraband. Ms. Neal continues to sweep this stuff under the rug when it needs to be brought to light. I don't understand how some students get away with murder at that school. Such as students threatening staff and students, students constantly skipping classes and partaking in drugs within the school. The school as a whole is not what it used to be and the adults need to be held accountable. Kids get robbed of there belongings at this school, I mean it is ridiculous. I am sad that our Vikings have to endure this on a everyday basis. Its honestly sad that you have kids running in and out of classes which are not theirs and its sad that the school is just letting this foolishness happen.

[Anonymous]

It’s overdue for a change in leadership.

[Anonymous]

There are many kids who really seem to be struggling. As someone who was suspended as a middle schooler, I don’t think they should have out of school suspension but I definitely think in school suspension should be used. Kids should have intensive work and counseling during that week or two at school.

[Anonymous]

We’ll get “Alice Deal for All” the easy way.

[Anonymous]

It certainly doesn't help that almost all behavior that is merely 'disruptive' and not actually violent gets a pass under the Fair Access to Schools Act:

Beginning in school year 2019-2020, no student in grades kindergarten through 8 may be subject to an out-of-school suspension or disciplinary unenrollment, unless a school administrator determines, consistent with school policy, that the student has willfully caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause bodily injury or emotional distress to another person, including behavior that happens off school grounds;

Schools are short-staffed as-is and it becomes challenging to enforce in-school suspension, especially when behavior such as smoking involves even 10, 15 students. That may only be 1% of the student body at Deal but when no punishment is possible because they can't staff in school suspension for 15 students at a time, others see that they can get away with these behaviors and things snowball.

Steps towards restorative justice are great, but schools still need to set expectations with clear and enforceable consequences.

[Anonymous]

It is a microcosm for how DC is run at large. Make excuses for poor behavior and let the people who work hard and play by the rules pay the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It certainly doesn't help that almost all behavior that is merely 'disruptive' and not actually violent gets a pass under the Fair Access to Schools Act:

Beginning in school year 2019-2020, no student in grades kindergarten through 8 may be subject to an out-of-school suspension or disciplinary unenrollment, unless a school administrator determines, consistent with school policy, that the student has willfully caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause bodily injury or emotional distress to another person, including behavior that happens off school grounds;

Schools are short-staffed as-is and it becomes challenging to enforce in-school suspension, especially when behavior such as smoking involves even 10, 15 students. That may only be 1% of the student body at Deal but when no punishment is possible because they can't staff in school suspension for 15 students at a time, others see that they can get away with these behaviors and things snowball.

Steps towards restorative justice are great, but schools still need to set expectations with clear and enforceable consequences.

The issue seems to be that they are not actually enforcing the law as written, if students who are violent are not suspended. Focusing on that rather than “lifestyle” infractions like smoking seems like the critical step.

[Anonymous]

This has been the status quo at Deal for at least the past 5 years.

[Anonymous]

It only takes one student to completely disrupt teaching and learning. I had one a couple of years ago. This student would run around the classroom, jump on the furniture, grab other students' supplies, run in and out of the classroom yelling, grab personal items off my desk, invade my personal space, slap the back of my head, etc, etc, etc. I'm sure that this behavior was the manifestation of some profound adverse childhood experiences, but I have no idea whether he was getting the behavioral support he needed. I was unable to do my job and my other students were robbed of the educational experiences they deserved. Nobody wins in this environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s overdue for a change in leadership.

PREACH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overdue for a change in leadership.

PREACH!

I’m rather shocked by reading the Hardy thread. The behaviors described there are tame compared to Deal this year. Does Deal’s size keep parents from knowing all that is going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overdue for a change in leadership.

PREACH!

I’m rather shocked by reading the Hardy thread. The behaviors described there are tame compared to Deal this year. Does Deal’s size keep parents from knowing all that is going on?

Deal has had a very weak LSAT for the past few years; asleep at the wheel. This is part of the problem. The school needs capable parents to run for LSAT. LSAT needs to do a better job of sharing information with the larger parent community and to assist school leadership, while also holding them accountable for approaches that don't work. Deal also faces very large impending budget cuts from DCPS central over the next few years and LSAT needs to organize a lobbying effort to prevent these cuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overdue for a change in leadership.

PREACH!

I’m rather shocked by reading the Hardy thread. The behaviors described there are tame compared to Deal this year. Does Deal’s size keep parents from knowing all that is going on?

Yes. But also the parents at Hardy are much more involved though the PTA and LSAT. Plus Hardy had a good Principal and was honestly better run than Deal a couple years ago.

[Anonymous]

Here goes another witch hunt for the black school leader

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overdue for a change in leadership.

PREACH!

I’m rather shocked by reading the Hardy thread. The behaviors described there are tame compared to Deal this year. Does Deal’s size keep parents from knowing all that is going on?

Deal has had a very weak LSAT for the past few years; asleep at the wheel. This is part of the problem. The school needs capable parents to run for LSAT. LSAT needs to do a better job of sharing information with the larger parent community and to assist school leadership, while also holding them accountable for approaches that don't work. Deal also faces very large impending budget cuts from DCPS central over the next few years and LSAT needs to organize a lobbying effort to prevent these cuts.

What in the world do you think LSAT does? That is like saying the PTO should be responsible for covering any want, wish, or desire for the school or they aren't doing their job...and shame on you for blaming parent VOLUNTEERS for the mess of DCPS budgeting.

Question...what would you suggest when LSAT do when we did meet with DCPS central and tried to rally a number of parents and schools to discuss these very cuts, but were met with silence from most and bobble heads from Central Office? Curious, because that is exactly what we did two years ago. Several folks testified, we sent letters, we presented all of this at PTA meetings. We were left with an outgoing CM who didn't care about school funding, an outgoing SBOE member that never advocated for more funding/services in the schools in the name of creating equity across the city, and that is on top of every other school asking for more funds in a shrinking budget. But your thought is that 4-6 parents are going up against DCPS, SBOE, and DC Council expressing that W3 schools have what they needs attitude? As volunteers?

If you weren't on LSAT, maybe reach out to one of us and let us know how we could best involve you next time. I hope you have the time to run (remember, you can even join as a community member if you want). I know I don't, but I do it anyway because no one ever steps up to run or volunteer. Put up or shut up.