So, um, how did things go for you at Murch this am?

[Anonymous]

At a school I used to work at in Fairfax County, we always had a problem with late enrollments. So the principal organized staff to work one evening in the summer (can't remember exactly when the went but this was secretarial staff who worked 11 months of the year I think) to go over to the apartment complex where the kids lived who were slated for our school, and set up tables there. In this way parents didn't have to find transportation to the school (which was across a busy highway). The registration night was well publicised in an effort to get as many families as possible registered before the first day of school.

It was extra effort, but it really helped make things more smooth.

[Anonymous]

The problems with Murch are mostly the result of a lack of communication from the principal. They have any number of ways of reaching parents -- individual phone calls, blast "robo-calls," e-mail -- besides the US postal service. Lord knows they are able to reach us when they need something from the parents. I think she made a calculation that everything would shake out, kids would be fine once they were in their classrooms, etc. and didn't want to deal with the inevitable calls from parents. This is how she chooses to run the school. I don't particularly admine this style, but I know plenty of Murch parents do not seem to have a problem with her.

[Anonymous]

I think this all comes down to leadership ability. All organizations, whether they are schools or businesses, face challenges. The strength of an organization is in how they manage when they face them. How complicated would it have been to alert the school community that there were some issues being dealt with last minute. The August 19 robocall did not mention the problems that are now being used as excuses for the disorganized start. Even if all the changes that caused the problems occurred after the August 19 robocall, would it have been that difficult to send out another robocall update on (gasp!) the Sunday evening before school started. Also, Murch community is known for rolling up their sleeves to help. A call for help may have helped at least with furniture moving and possibly donated items for the pre-k class that did not have it's "stations". There may be issues here with control and inflexibility. Does anyone belive that the principal will own up to mistakes made this year? It may go a long way to patch things up . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: . . . didn't want to deal with the inevitable calls from parents.

In a nut shell.

[Anonymous]

So, maybe the Murch parent need to ratchet it down a bit? Just a thought?

[Anonymous]

Reading this string with interest. I agree that Murch parents are always willing to "roll up their sleeves" and help out. That is what we do. We pay for things, we volunteer. In return, it would be nice to have the administration show us the courtesy of not treating us like idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There may be issues here with control and inflexibility. Does anyone belive that the principal will own up to mistakes made this year? It may go a long way to patch things up . . .

Incompetence too! The class lists WERE done. I could be wrong but the numbers I've heard from several sources did not require adding a split class 1/2 class. Could have done 3 per grade and had sizes on par with Janney. In the past late enrollees were just added to the existing class lists, they weren't redone wholesale in the 4 days before school started. What about the 4th graders without a class assignment or who had it switched at the last minute, how did the 1/2 situation cause that?

Any parents with the kids in the 1/2 class on here? It's being pitched to the first grade parents like their kids are GT, what is the message to the 2nd grade parents, not to mention the kids themselves? How are they viewed by the other second graders?

Do not believe that she has any desire to "patch things up" unless forced to by the folks downtown. Parents can stay in Ellisland where they have no ability to influence things whatsoever or go private. All the same to her. Parents are unlikely to pull back on donations since it impacts the kids directly. Why didn't she ask for help? Dunno. Maybe she was hoping that the details of the chaos wouldn't become widely known. Perhaps it's part of a conflict with the staff? Maybe she wants parents to keep their distance? Opening smoothly was not a priority and as for the impact on several kids who found that their placement was switched as of MONDAY, she just did not care. It can't have been more than a manageable number to call or email over the weekend. She didn't bother. Put up or don't let the door hit you. Her take no prisoners style and the expectations of NW parents are destined to clash, but since her style is similar to Rhee's own, don't see her going anywhere any time soon. My kid is almost out, pretty happy about that.

[Anonymous]

This parent is absolutely willing to pull back on donations/personnel fees, got to start saving for private school. I believe I have heard that Rhee is trying to attract upper middle class families back to dcps so she should be worried about alienating Murch families, many of whom fit that description. If Rhee is paying attention to this, I would think she would be concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This parent is absolutely willing to pull back on donations/personnel fees, got to start saving for private school. I believe I have heard that Rhee is trying to attract upper middle class families back to dcps so she should be worried about alienating Murch families, many of whom fit that description. If Rhee is paying attention to this, I would think she would be concerned.

Ah, whatever. Go to private, and a dozen other middle class OOB families are waiting to take your spot. Murch is already an established "brand". Meanwhile, our DD's "up-and-coming" ES' on the Hill was absolutely seamless. Concentrating on building a constituency for these schools on the cusp (if that's what's happening) is actually quite smart.

[Anonymous]

Not as easy as "ah whatever" PP. Murch is a tightknit community and parents feel like their volunteer time and lots of donations makes them stakeholders. To be given the feeling that you, and the kids, not to mention the teachers are disposable cogs is upsetting to people. Many schools had seamless openings. Glad you did. A principal with this much experience should have been able to pull one off too. For example, had she either hired movers or left teachers in their prior location when rooms hadn't been moved on Friday, gone with the existing class lists, etc. it would obviously have gone more smoothly. If your principal created chaos on every organizational level at the last possible minute (and did not seem to give a rat's ass about the fallout on kids, not even giving a bs story to parents over a robocall) it would not have been so smooth and you'd likely be feeling alientated too. The real facts don't bear out her choices, something else must be at play.

And the take away message to teachers and parents? "You have no power here."

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry for the trouble some of the kids and parents at Murch had yesterday morning, but in response to the original question, my child's first morning/day there went really smoothly. I attribute it to the teacher's excellent preparation. And we were fortunate to receive our class assignment and packet last week, before school started.

[Anonymous]

I am so confused by this thread. I have heard nothing but overwhelmingly positive things about Murch, but now it seems that there are many complaints about leadership. It also sounds like Murch is a bit overcrowded (like the other upper NW DCPS). Are there complaints about quality of teaching, though? Sometimes we can't affect the admin but as long as the actual school experience is good that can be overlooked, IMO. Current parents care to weigh in here?

[Anonymous]

Murch teachers are pretty good and will do well for our kids. The problem is that the principal is not adding much to the equation. We could be so much better if the principal would step up and lead!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problems with Murch are mostly the result of a lack of communication from the principal. They have any number of ways of reaching parents -- individual phone calls, blast "robo-calls," e-mail -- besides the US postal service. Lord knows they are able to reach us when they need something from the parents. I think she made a calculation that everything would shake out, kids would be fine once they were in their classrooms, etc. and didn't want to deal with the inevitable calls from parents. This is how she chooses to run the school. I don't particularly admine this style, but I know plenty of Murch parents do not seem to have a problem with her.

As a PP speculated, it may be because they have not needed to have any interaction with her thus far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused by this thread. I have heard nothing but overwhelmingly positive things about Murch, but now it seems that there are many complaints about leadership. It also sounds like Murch is a bit overcrowded (like the other upper NW DCPS). Are there complaints about quality of teaching, though? Sometimes we can't affect the admin but as long as the actual school experience is good that can be overlooked, IMO. Current parents care to weigh in here?

Until this year that was ther rep at Murch. The fairly new principal seems to be trying to undo it. Having teachers spend the Friday before school starts moving furniture that was supposed to be moved by a moving company in June keeps them from focusing on getting ready for the year. The classes could have remained in their current location at that point. Many teachers were moving heavy stuff to another floor of the building. They could act as movers at the last second, or what, choose to leave their jobs? Throwing out class lists that were created incorporating teacher input at the last possible minute does not signal that their input is valued. Teachers needing to comfort children who had their class assignments changed the day school started are not getting the rest of the kids off to the best start. The principal is a disaster. She is barely civil to parents and seems to hold her staff in contempt. Many parents would have gladly helped with whatever was needed to get the year off to the best start. Their help was not welcome. The teachers will do their best to keep things from impacting the kids but the principal seems determined to make that that a challenge.