BASIS McLean HOS resigned

[Anonymous]

When the next HOS comes in next fall, there will be a whole new wave of slogans and promises about turning the corner to a bright future. Though they still have the albatross of the multimillion-dollar lease on the half of the building that they don't use, don't need, and can't afford to build out like they originally promised. That's the 600-pound gorilla sitting over any HOS at BIM.

Just like the first four HOS burnouts. Good luck banking on anything really changing there.

[Anonymous]

The bottom line with BASIS is this - it will be frustrating at times, but your children will be exceptionally well-prepared for any level of elite education. And if they're the type of kid who enjoys learning, they're likely to have a lot of fun with it, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line with BASIS is this - it will be frustrating at times, but your children will be exceptionally well-prepared for any level of elite education. And if they're the type of kid who enjoys learning, they're likely to have a lot of fun with it, too.

As long as you don't need them to have any HS experience with sports, the arts, student government, grades with more than a couple of dozen students, etc. Grinding away on AP tests is not the same as getting ready to go to a campus with thousands of other students who come from real-sized schools.

BIM is a Potemkin village organization that puts up a nice facade. Pull back the curtain, however, and the gaping holes appear. We'll see this spring how many teachers think there is a long-term future there given the management chaos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line with BASIS is this - it will be frustrating at times, but your children will be exceptionally well-prepared for any level of elite education. And if they're the type of kid who enjoys learning, they're likely to have a lot of fun with it, too.

As long as you don't need them to have any HS experience with sports, the arts, student government, grades with more than a couple of dozen students, etc. Grinding away on AP tests is not the same as getting ready to go to a campus with thousands of other students who come from real-sized schools.

BIM is a Potemkin village organization that puts up a nice facade. Pull back the curtain, however, and the gaping holes appear. We'll see this spring how many teachers think there is a long-term future there given the management chaos.

Plenty of art student-led clubs and organizations at Basis. Sports are offered every single season but students are not interested. Is not a sports school, is not for everyone. Just don't send your kids here if you don't like it. Those of us who do, will.

[Anonymous]

jeez....people still pay for that crap...all the broken promises and insane incompetence? no head sticks around as no one can deal with the mess and they all know working there kills their reputation. I was told by a teacher that the new head was almost the only person who applied...the school is now so toxic. all the pe firm that owns it wants is to dump it as they lose so much money on the crazy lease. they have not invested a dime...remember that was their big pitch...

[Anonymous]

Why is it so toxic? What’s the big problem? They have a niche for which there is demand in this area and they’re in a convenient area where there is a dearth of private schools. What is the root cause for all the problems? I just don’t get it. It seems like it wouldn’t be a leadership challenge. But what am I missing?

[Anonymous]

I am in APS. I would do anything for a challenging curriculum for my children. That’s why I applied this year. I can’t see what more important than a solid education. Please tell us what the problem really is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The BIM dumpster fire rages on unchecked, sounds like. The Head of Operations has very little actual experience teaching or supervising teachers; she does the admin stuff at a minimally acceptable level. I can't imagine her in the actual HOS role, even for six months.

Have to say that BIM is consistent. They find a new way to blow up their disintegrating reputation further each and every year.

Is the Head Of School one of the management and consultant class that makes bank at charter schools, or one of the young peons they pay peanuts and cycle through yearly to make the business model work?

I thought the HOS was making big money like the execs at the charter management orgs. No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BIM dumpster fire rages on unchecked, sounds like. The Head of Operations has very little actual experience teaching or supervising teachers; she does the admin stuff at a minimally acceptable level. I can't imagine her in the actual HOS role, even for six months.

Have to say that BIM is consistent. They find a new way to blow up their disintegrating reputation further each and every year.

Is the Head Of School one of the management and consultant class that makes bank at charter schools, or one of the young peons they pay peanuts and cycle through yearly to make the business model work?

I thought the HOS was making big money like the execs at the charter management orgs. No?

Anything related to money or business is TOP SECRET in the Basis Independent universe. Apparently, the BIN CEO was finally eased out the door in June, but there was no PR about his replacements. You won't even find their names on the BIN website. So good luck figuring out who is in charge or what their plans are beyond all the bland cliches on the various corporate and school websites.

In addition to the sudden layoffs in October, two more teachers and one staff member have quit and not been replaced.

If people want to roll the dice and see what happens in the building under the fifth HOS next year (a long-term BASIS charter and independent school veteran) it might work out. The facilities are OK for middle schoolers, even if they are pathetic at the high school level. Depends how many teachers stick it out and roll the dice too for another year.

That's the big BASIS problem. You literally never know what's going to happen next. All you know is that it will be sudden, with no warning, and imposed on everyone from above. And increasingly unlikely that it will involve any significant new investment in the school barring some unexpected change of heart at the corporate level. This is a school that just stumbles along from year to year.

If that works for students and parents, good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in APS. I would do anything for a challenging curriculum for my children. That’s why I applied this year. I can’t see what more important than a solid education. Please tell us what the problem really is.

Why spend $3K/month subsidizing the for-profit company's senior management salaries when you could spend a fraction of that on independent tutors for your kids and get 1-1 instruction on any subject you like, tailored to your specific wants and needs?

That doesn't happen in classrooms. I have taught both ways and vastly prefer the results from the personal touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the next HOS comes in next fall, there will be a whole new wave of slogans and promises about turning the corner to a bright future. Though they still have the albatross of the multimillion-dollar lease on the half of the building that they don't use, don't need, and can't afford to build out like they originally promised. That's the 600-pound gorilla sitting over any HOS at BIM.

Just like the first four HOS burnouts. Good luck banking on anything really changing there.

It is a PE firm....the goal is cut all costs to make the balance sheet look great when you exit. Maybe the CEO was not actually replaced...they just banked the money? No good educator with options will work there. Badly managed. When you go for your next job interview working at Basis McLean will be a problem you have to explain. Why would any manager who is even just ok put up with the chaos and orders from Basis leaders who never have to talk to parents. At least the old CEO would meet us. The Heads leave because they take all the heat. That simple people. Heads are like the rest of us...they leave to escape the boss. The only question parents and teachers and the new head should be asking the PE firm is how much do they plan to invest in the school beyond what they have to add to operating expenses to cover the rent and low enrollment that just keeps the doors open. How do they plan to invest to grow the school in size and quality? Does anyone have any doubts on the answer? If the new head comes in and just talks without telling teachers and parents what the plan is and how much is going to be spent...nothing will change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BIM dumpster fire rages on unchecked, sounds like. The Head of Operations has very little actual experience teaching or supervising teachers; she does the admin stuff at a minimally acceptable level. I can't imagine her in the actual HOS role, even for six months.

Have to say that BIM is consistent. They find a new way to blow up their disintegrating reputation further each and every year.

Is the Head Of School one of the management and consultant class that makes bank at charter schools, or one of the young peons they pay peanuts and cycle through yearly to make the business model work?

I thought the HOS was making big money like the execs at the charter management orgs. No?

Anything related to money or business is TOP SECRET in the Basis Independent universe. Apparently, the BIN CEO was finally eased out the door in June, but there was no PR about his replacements. You won't even find their names on the BIN website. So good luck figuring out who is in charge or what their plans are beyond all the bland cliches on the various corporate and school websites.

In addition to the sudden layoffs in October, two more teachers and one staff member have quit and not been replaced.

If people want to roll the dice and see what happens in the building under the fifth HOS next year (a long-term BASIS charter and independent school veteran) it might work out. The facilities are OK for middle schoolers, even if they are pathetic at the high school level. Depends how many teachers stick it out and roll the dice too for another year.

That's the big BASIS problem. You literally never know what's going to happen next. All you know is that it will be sudden, with no warning, and imposed on everyone from above. And increasingly unlikely that it will involve any significant new investment in the school barring some unexpected change of heart at the corporate level. This is a school that just stumbles along from year to year.

If that works for students and parents, good luck

a guy called Matt Dick is in charge. He is listed as their president on the PR about a new school they are opening in NYC. Looks like he is an accountant. Makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the next HOS comes in next fall, there will be a whole new wave of slogans and promises about turning the corner to a bright future. Though they still have the albatross of the multimillion-dollar lease on the half of the building that they don't use, don't need, and can't afford to build out like they originally promised. That's the 600-pound gorilla sitting over any HOS at BIM.

Just like the first four HOS burnouts. Good luck banking on anything really changing there.

It is a PE firm....the goal is cut all costs to make the balance sheet look great when you exit. Maybe the CEO was not actually replaced...they just banked the money? No good educator with options will work there. Badly managed. When you go for your next job interview working at Basis McLean will be a problem you have to explain. Why would any manager who is even just ok put up with the chaos and orders from Basis leaders who never have to talk to parents. At least the old CEO would meet us. The Heads leave because they take all the heat. That simple people. Heads are like the rest of us...they leave to escape the boss. The only question parents and teachers and the new head should be asking the PE firm is how much do they plan to invest in the school beyond what they have to add to operating expenses to cover the rent and low enrollment that just keeps the doors open. How do they plan to invest to grow the school in size and quality? Does anyone have any doubts on the answer? If the new head comes in and just talks without telling teachers and parents what the plan is and how much is going to be spent...nothing will change.

The outgoing HOS tried very hard to create a strategic vision/goal/plan during his tenure, but it never seemed to amount to much beyond a mascot and a school anthem. Whatever the vision is for BIM, it is hidden in the corporate managers' files along with all the other relevant info about the school. They don't even disclose their annual enrollment to outsiders.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]At this pony even we are considering this school since our local schools can’t get it together [/quote]

Be careful what you wish for. Right now, comprehensive exams in middle school make up 40% of the kids grades in the 2nd semester and 60% in the 3rd semester. Kids are super stressed and having to get tutors since they are only getting 2-3 days of teacher led instruction and 2 days of self driven instruction. And parents feel ashamed their kids can’t hack it so they put more pressure on the kids or give them additional work to get ahead. It’s a pressure cooker situation.

Some of the teachers are amazing and some should be replaced by the janitor. And once again, the HOS left early (5 in 5 years!) and the temp replacement is the front desk clerk from a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]At this pony even we are considering this school since our local schools can’t get it together [/quote]

Be careful what you wish for. Right now, comprehensive exams in middle school make up 40% of the kids grades in the 2nd semester and 60% in the 3rd semester. Kids are super stressed and having to get tutors since they are only getting 2-3 days of teacher led instruction and 2 days of self driven instruction. And parents feel ashamed their kids can’t hack it so they put more pressure on the kids or give them additional work to get ahead. It’s a pressure cooker situation.

Some of the teachers are amazing and some should be replaced by the janitor. And once again, the HOS left early (5 in 5 years!) and the temp replacement is the front desk clerk from a few years ago.

[/quote]

Not that most people here care about fact but... My child is currently at basis and not experiencing this at all. She is preparing for Pre-comps as she should and it's getting the appropriate support from her teachers. There is a HOS in place who has been having more than enough communication with parents and in the meantime, the Head of Operations is the interim HOS. Not a clerk, the Head of Operations that has been working with the school for several years and will be working along the side the new HOS. I have been in several of his meetings and I'm very excited for next year. I think he's going to be a great addition to the school.

If anyone has questions about the school, reach out to the school. Try to connect with parents who still have kids at the school so they can offer current information and a fresh perspective.