Kidnapping from aftercare at Rocketship

[Anonymous]

Unless I misunderstood the coverage on News4 earlier today, there is a security guard or MPD officer stationed at the school for security. The perp got right past him or her.

And the school’s director kept focusing on how the teacher/staff member stopped the guy and “this demonstrates our strong relationship with our families.” Uh yeah, let’s just ignore the fact that the guy got into the school and reached the kids in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kidnapped by a *sex offender*. How are the school and aftercare provider still in operation? SHUT DOWN. YOU FAIL!

Because charters are not accountable to the public and want to keep it that way by fighting transparency at any cost.

Shutdown the charter board! No excuses, they failed too.

[Anonymous]

I'm not going to lie. I am bothered by how gleeful some people/orgs in DC have been about this as they see it as good evidence for the transparency fight. It seems really tasteless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to lie. I am bothered by how gleeful some people/orgs in DC have been about this as they see it as good evidence for the transparency fight. It seems really tasteless.

It took the parent of the kidnapped kids publicly protesting at the 10/28 charter board meeting before Rocketship informed the school community of what happened on 10/11. Parents need to be vigilant to keep DCPS working. It's even tougher - or impossible - for a charter parent.

The transparency people have my vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to lie. I am bothered by how gleeful some people/orgs in DC have been about this as they see it as good evidence for the transparency fight. It seems really tasteless.

It took the parent of the kidnapped kids publicly protesting at the 10/28 charter board meeting before Rocketship informed the school community of what happened on 10/11. Parents need to be vigilant to keep DCPS working. It's even tougher - or impossible - for a charter parent.

The transparency people have my vote.

This. If you were a parent at Rocketship, wouldn't you want to know? Schools will never be transparent unless they are required to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to lie. I am bothered by how gleeful some people/orgs in DC have been about this as they see it as good evidence for the transparency fight. It seems really tasteless.

Yeah, we should wait a while until things cool down so we’re not “taking advantage of a disaster”. And if something like this or worse happens in the meantime we’ll then at least we were being civil. Kind of like how fun control advocates should never speak up after a shooting. One has nothing to do with the other.

/s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

Many of the teachers at Rocketship are working two jobs. It would be difficult or impossible for them to be available to work before- or after-school hours, but providers of these services have my sympathy. They are in a bind since they really can only offer PT work so that doesn't always attract a great pool of applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless I misunderstood the coverage on News4 earlier today, there is a security guard or MPD officer stationed at the school for security. The perp got right past him or her.

And the school’s director kept focusing on how the teacher/staff member stopped the guy and “this demonstrates our strong relationship with our families.” Uh yeah, let’s just ignore the fact that the guy got into the school and reached the kids in the first place.

Wow yeah the spin on this, after they were clearly trying to avoid even disclosing it, is really the worst part.

[Anonymous]

Honestly the part I find most scary is that this individual was caught kidnapping a child in 2018, was able to plea bargain to lesser charges and is already out in public again. Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kidnapped by a *sex offender*. How are the school and aftercare provider still in operation? SHUT DOWN. YOU FAIL!

Because charters are not accountable to the public and want to keep it that way by fighting transparency at any cost.

You continue to try to make this an issue about charters. You do realize that a charter CAN be closed? If a child was kidnapped from a traditional DC Public School, should it be closed too? Would anyone even consider closing a traditional public school if this happened? Of course not but they have greater accountability right in your way of thinking?

IMO the school staff at Rocketship should be investigated and Springboard should be stopped from ever working in DC again. However, that should happen regardless of the type of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to lie. I am bothered by how gleeful some people/orgs in DC have been about this as they see it as good evidence for the transparency fight. It seems really tasteless.

It took the parent of the kidnapped kids publicly protesting at the 10/28 charter board meeting before Rocketship informed the school community of what happened on 10/11. Parents need to be vigilant to keep DCPS working. It's even tougher - or impossible - for a charter parent.

The transparency people have my vote.

Yup because it's all transparency and roses at DCPS
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/21092825/dc-schools-battle-requests-to-release-information-about-sex-misconduct

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

Many of the teachers at Rocketship are working two jobs. It would be difficult or impossible for them to be available to work before- or after-school hours, but providers of these services have my sympathy. They are in a bind since they really can only offer PT work so that doesn't always attract a great pool of applicants.

What? Why are they working two jobs? I thought Rocketship was one of the well-funded charters? Per pupil plus fundraising?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

I don’t expect a teacher to stay and work aftercare in any circumstances. The school system needs to solve emergency problems like that.