Basis families: talk to me about the building

[Anonymous]

Only it happens every spring with too many BASIS teachers. When spots open at Walls, JR, good suburban schools and privates, a few of the most experienced, capable and motivated BASIS educators jump on them for better pay, better working conditions and, yea, better buildings. Denying that it happens only gets you so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only it happens every spring with too many BASIS teachers. When spots open at Walls, JR, good suburban schools and privates, a few of the most experienced, capable and motivated BASIS educators jump on them for better pay, better working conditions and, yea, better buildings. Denying that it happens only gets you so far.

This has been addressed multiple times in the last few weeks alone. There is not a mass exodus to Walls and JR from BASIS. There's also the little problem of, if teaching positions are open at Walls and JR, does that also mean you need to indict those schools as well? Or does that logic only work at BASIS? You are trying too hard if you think teaching attrition only happens at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only it happens every spring with too many BASIS teachers. When spots open at Walls, JR, good suburban schools and privates, a few of the most experienced, capable and motivated BASIS educators jump on them for better pay, better working conditions and, yea, better buildings. Denying that it happens only gets you so far.

This has been addressed multiple times in the last few weeks alone. There is not a mass exodus to Walls and JR from BASIS. There's also the little problem of, if teaching positions are open at Walls and JR, does that also mean you need to indict those schools as well? Or does that logic only work at BASIS? You are trying too hard if you think teaching attrition only happens at BASIS.

+1. These BASIS haters are so predictable. Just read the posts re Walls and JR about all the problems there including teachers leaving, not being replaced for months, etc.

[Anonymous]

Well I'm not a BASIS hater. We've have teens at both schools. You're whitewashing the story in claiming that teacher turnover ISN'T more of a problem than at BASIS than it is at Walls. I don't know about JR. There's no denying that DCPS and the burbs pay much better and have nicer buildings (not exactly BASIS' fault because the franchise relies on charter funding). It's also hard not to notice that the current BASIS HoS drives out some of the better teachers. What's predictable is that you boosters downplay and rationalize inconvenient truths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I'm not a BASIS hater. We've have teens at both schools. You're whitewashing the story in claiming that teacher turnover ISN'T more of a problem than at BASIS than it is at Walls. I don't know about JR. There's no denying that DCPS and the burbs pay much better and have nicer buildings (not exactly BASIS' fault because the franchise relies on charter funding). It's also hard not to notice that the current BASIS HoS drives out some of the better teachers. What's predictable is that you boosters downplay and rationalize inconvenient truths.

You have a teen at Basis? I don't believe that for a second. And even if you did, then leave. No one is forcing you to stay.

Teacher pay/bonuses, etc. at Basis is partly performance based. So, of course, there is more turnover at Basis. That is not a bad thing. Poor teachers do get forced out. That is not true in DCPS. Walls, JR, and other DCPS schools have plenty of bad teachers who are essentially locked into the school and don't leave, given the relatively high salaries and benefits (for teachers) and strong union. Moreover, if a teacher does leave a DCPS school, the school takes months to replace the person given all the bureaucratic red tape required to hire; kids are often left in the lurch with an unqualified substitute and left to learn on their own. In contrast, Basis has been a lot more nimble, often hiring a new teacher in a few weeks.

I haven't seen any evidence that the Basis HoS is driving out "better" teachers. That is just your subjective viewpoint. In our view, there are plenty of good teachers at the school. And if fact some (not all) of the new hires in the past year or two seem very strong and intent on staying. And if they do decamp for greener pastures such as a top private or suburban school, good for them. It is sometimes hard to retain top talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I'm not a BASIS hater. We've have teens at both schools. You're whitewashing the story in claiming that teacher turnover ISN'T more of a problem than at BASIS than it is at Walls. I don't know about JR. There's no denying that DCPS and the burbs pay much better and have nicer buildings (not exactly BASIS' fault because the franchise relies on charter funding). It's also hard not to notice that the current BASIS HoS drives out some of the better teachers. What's predictable is that you boosters downplay and rationalize inconvenient truths.

You have a teen at Basis? I don't believe that for a second. And even if you did, then leave. No one is forcing you to stay.

Teacher pay/bonuses, etc. at Basis is partly performance based. So, of course, there is more turnover at Basis. That is not a bad thing. Poor teachers do get forced out. That is not true in DCPS. Walls, JR, and other DCPS schools have plenty of bad teachers who are essentially locked into the school and don't leave, given the relatively high salaries and benefits (for teachers) and strong union. Moreover, if a teacher does leave a DCPS school, the school takes months to replace the person given all the bureaucratic red tape required to hire; kids are often left in the lurch with an unqualified substitute and left to learn on their own. In contrast, Basis has been a lot more nimble, often hiring a new teacher in a few weeks.

I haven't seen any evidence that the Basis HoS is driving out "better" teachers. That is just your subjective viewpoint. In our view, there are plenty of good teachers at the school. And if fact some (not all) of the new hires in the past year or two seem very strong and intent on staying. And if they do decamp for greener pastures such as a top private or suburban school, good for them. It is sometimes hard to retain top talent.

+1 million.

Also:

1) It makes zero sense that the HoS would push out "better" teachers. What, he wants to hurt the school and just retain bad teachers? In fact, teachers whose students perform well are rewarded and encouraged to stay.

2) A "better" teacher who left last year returned to the school this year. PP, how does that fit the narrative you are selling?

[Anonymous]

Believe what you want. We consider the guy a jerk and a bully. His predecessor was great.

We would have left for Walls for our younger kid if had been admitted (despite a high GPA). We stay because we don't have a better option and the friend situation is good. You must know that even with the performance bonuses, BASIS can't match DCPS pay.

[Anonymous]

The head of school himself said during a recent tour that the teacher turnover rate last year for 30 percent, and that he acknowledged it was a problem. that number is stunning and is high above the norm.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately not high above the norm in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Believe what you want. We consider the guy a jerk and a bully. His predecessor was great.

We would have left for Walls for our younger kid if had been admitted (despite a high GPA). We stay because we don't have a better option and the friend situation is good. You must know that even with the performance bonuses, BASIS can't match DCPS pay.

Whatever. The HoS gets very high ratings in parent surveys. So, you are in a small minority.

Pay isn't everything. That is why DC has the highest urban teacher turnover rate in the entire United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The head of school himself said during a recent tour that the teacher turnover rate last year for 30 percent, and that he acknowledged it was a problem. that number is stunning and is high above the norm.

I have no idea if that is accurate but that is certainly not "stunning or "high above the norm."

Between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, DC had a citywide teacher turnover rate of 26%, with some wards averaging 30%. That is the highest teacher turnover rate of any urban area in the United States.

DCPS teachers can easily earn in the six figures annually and the new collective bargaining agreement gives them a 12% pay raise with pay bumps applying retroactively to cover the three-year-long negotiating process. In comparison, DC charters can barely compete on salary and schools like BASIS have to rely upon parent donations to try to make up some of the difference.

Yet, still, teachers leave DCPS in droves, around 25-30% every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The head of school himself said during a recent tour that the teacher turnover rate last year for 30 percent, and that he acknowledged it was a problem. that number is stunning and is high above the norm.

He did say turnover was 30%. Then he put it in context of the numbers across DC that were recently published. Did you miss that part? Retention is an issue at BASIS. It is an issue across DCPS and public education. I am happy to have a conversation about retention and what BASIS could do to improve. But I am unwilling to have it with someone who just shouts "SHINY OBJECT" without thinking for a moment about context.

To all of the people who complain about pay at BASIS I want to suggest a thought experiment. BASIS pays less than DCPS. Yet they attract and retain some amazing teachers that could be making more money elsewhere. Isn't that at once an endorsement of BASIS and an indictment of DCPS that teachers choose BASIS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Believe what you want. We consider the guy a jerk and a bully. His predecessor was great.

We would have left for Walls for our younger kid if had been admitted (despite a high GPA). We stay because we don't have a better option and the friend situation is good. You must know that even with the performance bonuses, BASIS can't match DCPS pay.

Whatever. The HoS gets very high ratings in parent surveys. So, you are in a small minority.

Pay isn't everything. That is why DC has the highest urban teacher turnover rate in the entire United States.

Good pay doesn't hurt.

Source for his very high ratings? Please post a link to a parent survey where high school parents rate him highly.

Many of the 11th and 12th grade parents can't stand him (we are indeed a minority at BASIS). MS is essentially all laid out for BASIS families: there are hardly any choices. Dealing with him when the choices are more plentiful and higher stakes can be a real drag. He's a control freak and not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[Anonymous]

not necessarily. schools have generally post-pandemic faced retention problems. but im going to guess basis attracts a lot of relatively younger fresh out of school first teaching job types and that can be a mixed bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The head of school himself said during a recent tour that the teacher turnover rate last year for 30 percent, and that he acknowledged it was a problem. that number is stunning and is high above the norm.

He did say turnover was 30%. Then he put it in context of the numbers across DC that were recently published. Did you miss that part? Retention is an issue at BASIS. It is an issue across DCPS and public education. I am happy to have a conversation about retention and what BASIS could do to improve. But I am unwilling to have it with someone who just shouts "SHINY OBJECT" without thinking for a moment about context.

To all of the people who complain about pay at BASIS I want to suggest a thought experiment. BASIS pays less than DCPS. Yet they attract and retain some amazing teachers that could be making more money elsewhere. Isn't that at once an endorsement of BASIS and an indictment of DCPS that teachers choose BASIS?

You said, "[T]hat number is stunning and is high above the norm."

Did you miss the part where I said that you were incorrect?