An intrinsic problem to the DC charter system - admin becoming unresponsive?

[Anonymous]

I mean, who could have predicted that a business started largely by people with no experience running that kind of business might not be fully successful.

It's almost like education is a genuine skill set that requires training and mentorship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at lamb and the Board is widely considered to be a total joke. They’ve totally botched the child predator issue, the firing of Diane and Cristina, and seem to have botched the move to kingsbury too. Parents were complaining that they didn’t even know the location of school for the following year until a few days ago!!!! Lamb is lucky that the teaching and curriculum is so strong because the administration is straight up terrible.

I think there should be some oversight that prevents this sort of thing. Joining the Board at lamb is almost impossible as they keep it small (to avoid dissent) and don’t accept anyone really.

We are there too. I don't think it's as bad as all that, but, what I've learned is that if it is, there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it. That's what I think is a problem. Even if it does kind of come with the territory. What if the entire parent body had a vote of no confidence in the board chairperson or the ED or HoS of a school, what then? Nothing.

People were emailing back and forth demanding Exec Directors immediate resignation. That’s pretty damn bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, who could have predicted that a business started largely by people with no experience running that kind of business might not be fully successful.

It's almost like education is a genuine skill set that requires training and mentorship.

Um so what happened to dcps then? Why can’t it get it’s act together? There is not a single dcps school i would choose over lamb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a founding family, parents need to back up at some point and let the admin run the business. If you have a problem in class, that’s another issue.

-Same. It's always nice to be acknowledged and have ways to contribute that are valued--and charters are frankly not always the best with that kind of follow up, but at the end of the day the buck stops with the admin and faculty, and they don't want (nor should they) a bunch of parent back seat drivers. If you want to be that involved, get a job application I would say.

These are all very facile answers when your school hasn't either been subject to a child predator or lost 25% of its teaching staff or has parents leaving in droves due to intense bullying.

Right, that's when you vote with your feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a founding family, parents need to back up at some point and let the admin run the business. If you have a problem in class, that’s another issue.

-Same. It's always nice to be acknowledged and have ways to contribute that are valued--and charters are frankly not always the best with that kind of follow up, but at the end of the day the buck stops with the admin and faculty, and they don't want (nor should they) a bunch of parent back seat drivers. If you want to be that involved, get a job application I would say.

These are all very facile answers when your school hasn't either been subject to a child predator or lost 25% of its teaching staff or has parents leaving in droves due to intense bullying.

Right, that's when you vote with your feet.

And consider yourself lucky to not be tied there based on your home address. Folks who aren't happy with the administration at your school - I get it, but this is EXACTLY what school choice is. You chose it. You can un-choose it. If there are a million families on the waiting list eager to backfill your seat, there's not much you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a founding family, parents need to back up at some point and let the admin run the business. If you have a problem in class, that’s another issue.

-Same. It's always nice to be acknowledged and have ways to contribute that are valued--and charters are frankly not always the best with that kind of follow up, but at the end of the day the buck stops with the admin and faculty, and they don't want (nor should they) a bunch of parent back seat drivers. If you want to be that involved, get a job application I would say.

These are all very facile answers when your school hasn't either been subject to a child predator or lost 25% of its teaching staff or has parents leaving in droves due to intense bullying.

Right, that's when you vote with your feet.

And consider yourself lucky to not be tied there based on your home address. Folks who aren't happy with the administration at your school - I get it, but this is EXACTLY what school choice is. You chose it. You can un-choose it. If there are a million families on the waiting list eager to backfill your seat, there's not much you can do.

But I don't think that it should be so drastic of a choice. I do think that bad apples in the leadership or those who've simply outlasted their peak time should be subject to at least some form of questioning from the PCSB. There should be at least some form of public accountability for any school, even if it is constrained substantially to avoid some of the roadblocks often encountered in public systems...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a founding family, parents need to back up at some point and let the admin run the business. If you have a problem in class, that’s another issue.

-Same. It's always nice to be acknowledged and have ways to contribute that are valued--and charters are frankly not always the best with that kind of follow up, but at the end of the day the buck stops with the admin and faculty, and they don't want (nor should they) a bunch of parent back seat drivers. If you want to be that involved, get a job application I would say.

These are all very facile answers when your school hasn't either been subject to a child predator or lost 25% of its teaching staff or has parents leaving in droves due to intense bullying.

Right, that's when you vote with your feet.

And consider yourself lucky to not be tied there based on your home address. Folks who aren't happy with the administration at your school - I get it, but this is EXACTLY what school choice is. You chose it. You can un-choose it. If there are a million families on the waiting list eager to backfill your seat, there's not much you can do.

No if there is mismanagement at a charter or dcps parents should be able to complain to the public school charter board and get some sort of resolution.

But I don't think that it should be so drastic of a choice. I do think that bad apples in the leadership or those who've simply outlasted their peak time should be subject to at least some form of questioning from the PCSB. There should be at least some form of public accountability for any school, even if it is constrained substantially to avoid some of the roadblocks often encountered in public systems...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a founding family, parents need to back up at some point and let the admin run the business. If you have a problem in class, that’s another issue.

-Same. It's always nice to be acknowledged and have ways to contribute that are valued--and charters are frankly not always the best with that kind of follow up, but at the end of the day the buck stops with the admin and faculty, and they don't want (nor should they) a bunch of parent back seat drivers. If you want to be that involved, get a job application I would say.

These are all very facile answers when your school hasn't either been subject to a child predator or lost 25% of its teaching staff or has parents leaving in droves due to intense bullying.

Right, that's when you vote with your feet.

And consider yourself lucky to not be tied there based on your home address. Folks who aren't happy with the administration at your school - I get it, but this is EXACTLY what school choice is. You chose it. You can un-choose it. If there are a million families on the waiting list eager to backfill your seat, there's not much you can do.

But I don't think that it should be so drastic of a choice. I do think that bad apples in the leadership or those who've simply outlasted their peak time should be subject to at least some form of questioning from the PCSB. There should be at least some form of public accountability for any school, even if it is constrained substantially to avoid some of the roadblocks often encountered in public systems...

Well then you need to get the charter to change the PCSB's mandate.

Right now they can jawbone (and they did -- see Darren Woodruff's public comments to the LAMB Board) about leadership issues and parent complaints.

But the only time they can act is if there is financial impropriety or if a school fails to make academic progress.

There were parents testifying before the Council a couple weeks ago about ways to improve accountability. But right now the system isn't built for it. The assumption was the Boards would be inclined to take stronger action than they have to date.

I think there should be requirements that most Board meetings be public (except perhaps personnel decisions/discussions), agendas and minutes being required to be posted publicly, and that the parents who sit on a charter board must be elected by the school's parents (not hand picked by the Board).

[Anonymous]

Eh, I think any of the HRCS schools are under a microscope, so the long wait list isn't an opportunity to cop out, but provides additional pressure. I also think these schools usually have very involved parents.

Our HRCS has excellent administration (Inspired Teaching) -long wait lists and great administration aren't mutually exclusive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a founding family, parents need to back up at some point and let the admin run the business. If you have a problem in class, that’s another issue.

-Same. It's always nice to be acknowledged and have ways to contribute that are valued--and charters are frankly not always the best with that kind of follow up, but at the end of the day the buck stops with the admin and faculty, and they don't want (nor should they) a bunch of parent back seat drivers. If you want to be that involved, get a job application I would say.

These are all very facile answers when your school hasn't either been subject to a child predator or lost 25% of its teaching staff or has parents leaving in droves due to intense bullying.

Right, that's when you vote with your feet.

And consider yourself lucky to not be tied there based on your home address. Folks who aren't happy with the administration at your school - I get it, but this is EXACTLY what school choice is. You chose it. You can un-choose it. If there are a million families on the waiting list eager to backfill your seat, there's not much you can do.

But I don't think that it should be so drastic of a choice. I do think that bad apples in the leadership or those who've simply outlasted their peak time should be subject to at least some form of questioning from the PCSB. There should be at least some form of public accountability for any school, even if it is constrained substantially to avoid some of the roadblocks often encountered in public systems...

Well then you need to get the charter to change the PCSB's mandate.

Right now they can jawbone (and they did -- see Darren Woodruff's public comments to the LAMB Board) about leadership issues and parent complaints.

But the only time they can act is if there is financial impropriety or if a school fails to make academic progress.

There were parents testifying before the Council a couple weeks ago about ways to improve accountability. But right now the system isn't built for it. The assumption was the Boards would be inclined to take stronger action than they have to date.

I think there should be requirements that most Board meetings be public (except perhaps personnel decisions/discussions), agendas and minutes being required to be posted publicly, and that the parents who sit on a charter board must be elected by the school's parents (not hand picked by the Board).

Yes. Or like if a certain percentage of parents sign a petition it triggers a DCPCSB review or hearing. Some sort of way to give parents some leverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh, I think any of the HRCS schools are under a microscope, so the long wait list isn't an opportunity to cop out, but provides additional pressure. I also think these schools usually have very involved parents.

Our HRCS has excellent administration (Inspired Teaching) -long wait lists and great administration aren't mutually exclusive!

Inspired teaching was a tier two school until it BARELY squeaked into tier one status this year. Let’s be honest with ourselves- it’s a great school for parents without a great alternative.

[Anonymous]

The answer to OP is yes. In my experience the admin of our HRCs does not care about current parents. It is their way or the highway. The mandate of the charter board is to create more sought after charter seats. As a result, charters with long wait lists have no accountability to current parents or their “oversight.”

[Anonymous]

We were at a high-demand charter before Brent (moved in-boundary). Thrilled to be out of the charter sector.

At the charter, when we raised a couple issues of serious concern to our family (including that our kid had grown really bored in ELA) we were advised to find another DC public school the following year. At Brent, our kid gets the challenge and other help he needs without admins giving us grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a feature, not a bug. If you want true autonomy for the school leadership then you give up accountability.

I think poster raises a good point. Charters are essentially set up to be their own fiefdoms paid for with taxpayer dollars. I am at MV and while my kids have had generally good experiences so far, I am starting to find it disconcerting that if I ever have a problem there is essentially no where to go since school leadership is pretty useless. I am considering moving to the suburbs to be part of a functional school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a feature, not a bug. If you want true autonomy for the school leadership then you give up accountability.

I think poster raises a good point. Charters are essentially set up to be their own fiefdoms paid for with taxpayer dollars. I am at MV and while my kids have had generally good experiences so far, I am starting to find it disconcerting that if I ever have a problem there is essentially no where to go since school leadership is pretty useless. I am considering moving to the suburbs to be part of a functional school system.

PP here. It's one of the reasons I've avoided charter schools so far.
What's your neighborhood school?