BASIS DC shut down/abolished the school list serve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not "a million" nor etched into stone. They can add students, they can make it up next year, et cetera, et cetera.

And, just to point out....

They know what their numbers are, they know what their financials are, they know what their model is. They've been doing this for 20 years, they've successfully started and run at least a half dozen schools, I believe that's far more than anyone here on this thread ever has or ever will, I tend to think they know a thing or two more about how all of this works than any of us here does. This is what they do. And accordingly, if they aren't concerned, then neither am I.

But of course, if anyone here is so brilliant and has such deeper insights into how schools can and should be run, then I wonder why that person isn't out there starting and running an even better school than BASIS. Submit a charter document to the PCSB.

They cannot make up for those students, because we do not accept students after 6th.

If you want to take a cold hard look at the financials for every charter school, go ahead.

Guess what? Basis hasn't offered any. I kid you not. Look at the Charter records for all the schools in 2013. Basis DC has so little. Good luck after Options and Amos expanding at all if you continue to refuse to open your books

[Anonymous]

I like how PP say it is 2 or 3 posters. How is anyone supposed to know that. You people sound crazy. Down right crazy.

Charter schools go under all the time for finances. Any finance person can tell you that aborning a $250k loss is a lot. Maybe they can shift money from AZ? But charter schools don't typically prepare for that sort of lack of funding. As a parent I would worry about their future facility plans. But my kids aren't just academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not "a million" nor etched into stone. They can add students, they can make it up next year, et cetera, et cetera.

And, just to point out....

They know what their numbers are, they know what their financials are, they know what their model is. They've been doing this for 20 years, they've successfully started and run at least a half dozen schools, I believe that's far more than anyone here on this thread ever has or ever will, I tend to think they know a thing or two more about how all of this works than any of us here does. This is what they do. And accordingly, if they aren't concerned, then neither am I.

But of course, if anyone here is so brilliant and has such deeper insights into how schools can and should be run, then I wonder why that person isn't out there starting and running an even better school than BASIS. Submit a charter document to the PCSB.

They cannot make up for those students, because we do not accept students after 6th.

If you want to take a cold hard look at the financials for every charter school, go ahead.

Guess what? Basis hasn't offered any. I kid you not. Look at the Charter records for all the schools in 2013. Basis DC has so little. Good luck after Options and Amos expanding at all if you continue to refuse to open your books

1.) I don't think anyone on this message board knows for a fact that there are currently 25 open slots. At this point for all we know, it could be 24 slots. Could be 1 slot, could be 0 slots and back to a wait list. We've gone 11 pages now on speculation. Not useful or helpful.

2.) If there are open slots, the revenue is not gone for every year from 6th through 12th. They don't backfill upper grades even with attrition - that's not their model, I think their charter factors that in as well. They will plan and adjust within the charter scope to replenish their overall target numbers via 5th and 6th graders next year, just as they do with all of their other schools, and just as they have done for years.

3.) As for financials, bear in mind, the same goes for virtually any other school in DC - none of them are particularly transparent. Even the DCPS school budget sheets don't tell the whole story, they leave a lot of things out. If you want complete transparency, great - lobby council for a bill that would mandate complete financial transparency for all DC schools, that's what should really happen, and that's something I would get behind as well.

And again, where there's frustration, then why not make an appointment with school officials to discuss concerns? Does anyone really think that all this back and forth and navelgazing with some random group of strangers on an anonymous message board (none of which have any answers, and some of which are only here to troll) is really an appropriate or useful way to approach any of this? The last 11 pages and all of the previous threads should make it pretty clear that DCUM is not a particularly good venue for getting accurate or authoritative information or for resolving frustrations.

[Anonymous]

BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

Aren't you glad that you have a choice? That other people have choices (including BASIS)? It is difficult for me to understand how disparaging other people's choices can make things better or could make you feel better about your personal decision. Go figure....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

Aren't you glad that you have a choice? That other people have choices (including BASIS)? It is difficult for me to understand how disparaging other people's choices can make things better or could make you feel better about your personal decision. Go figure....

Yea, but guess what. I'm co-financing that choice as well as its mismanagement big time, and sick of it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

Aren't you glad that you have a choice? That other people have choices (including BASIS)? It is difficult for me to understand how disparaging other people's choices can make things better or could make you feel better about your personal decision. Go figure....

Yea, but guess what. I'm co-financing that choice as well as its mismanagement big time, and sick of it!

and the rest of DCPS doesn't concern you? or is this a rant against charter schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

Aren't you glad that you have a choice? That other people have choices (including BASIS)? It is difficult for me to understand how disparaging other people's choices can make things better or could make you feel better about your personal decision. Go figure....

Yea, but guess what. I'm co-financing that choice as well as its mismanagement big time, and sick of it!

Unless you're sending your kid(s) to private school, we are returning the favor and finance your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

Aren't you glad that you have a choice? That other people have choices (including BASIS)? It is difficult for me to understand how disparaging other people's choices can make things better or could make you feel better about your personal decision. Go figure....

Yea, but guess what. I'm co-financing that choice as well as its mismanagement big time, and sick of it!

and the rest of DCPS doesn't concern you? or is this a rant against charter schools?

Of course it does. But many (not all!) charter schools are at least twice removed from public accountability of tax dollars. Those that clamp down on communicating openly, more often than not, have something to hide. Contrast that with your ability to access every single DC school's detailed budget and staffing model along with enrollment projections online with the click of a button. Not to say all is rosy; budget transparency at DCPS still has a ways to go. But most charter schools are clearly not leading the way in that respect.

[Anonymous]

DCPCSB (or, better yet, OSSE) should develop a unified web based data management system and framework where schools can easily update and maintain that info if you want it at a click. Hardly seems like a worthwhile investment of school time and taxpayer money to have dozens and dozens of schools all doing it independently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who received a call about one of those 6th grade spots (at nearly 100 on waitlist) and turned it down, four words: totally dodged a bullet.

Indeed you did. And so did those who were able to get into Latin for their middle school for 6th, 7th and 8th grades during BASIS' inaugural year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not "a million" nor etched into stone. They can add students, they can make it up next year, et cetera, et cetera.

No they cannot. And I cannot believe that you are really that obtuse.

And, just to point out....

They know what their numbers are, they know what their financials are, they know what their model is. They've been doing this for 20 years, they've successfully started and run at least a half dozen schools, I believe that's far more than anyone here on this thread ever has or ever will, I tend to think they know a thing or two more about how all of this works than any of us here does. This is what they do. And accordingly, if they aren't concerned, then neither am I.

But of course, if anyone here is so brilliant and has such deeper insights into how schools can and should be run, then I wonder why that person isn't out there starting and running an even better school than BASIS. Submit a charter document to the PCSB.

Do you really think they are going to tell you they are concerned about their financial future? That would be the final nail in the proverbial coffin, especially since the DC Charter Board is now concerned about everyone, and Basis continues to refuse to open their books.

1.) I don't think anyone on this message board knows for a fact that there are currently 25 open slots. At this point for all we know, it could be 24 slots. Could be 1 slot, could be 0 slots and back to a wait list. We've gone 11 pages now on speculation. Not useful or helpful.

well then why do you think when it was brought up last time the HOS did not immediately say "oh we don't have 25 open slots any more, there is only one?" before he moved on to answer the other questions that person raised?" And why have all these people here trying to table the 25 slots issue because it is "in the past" not done it by saying that the numbers are off, as opposed to saying don't dwell on the past, or it does not matter? And why has someone insisted that the number 25 open seats in the 6th grade was communicated to parents in writing on six separate occasions? You are not making sense on this one.

2.) If there are open slots, the revenue is not gone for every year from 6th through 12th. They don't backfill upper grades even with attrition - that's not their model, I think their charter factors that in as well. They will plan and adjust within the charter scope to replenish their overall target numbers via 5th and 6th graders next year, just as they do with all of their other schools, and just as they have done for years.

You are cute, but one dumb bunny. We cannot "backfill" those seats at all - and my assumption is that we could not have enlarged our 5th grade THIS year to compensate or we would have, ASAP. Because those kids still wanted to come. I seriously doubt that a single other Basis school has had this kind of debacle in its third year.

If we could have dodged and weaved to avoid a loss of $250k, and an ongoing loss of up to a million dollars by adding another 5th grade section, which is when most kids want to come, don't you think we would have?

I find it hard to believe that every Basis school budgets losing $250k because they cannot fill their 6th grade in their third year of operation. I do not believe that usually happens, and you cannot fill those slots ever because you don't accept students after 6th. As someone else said, this seems like a financial debacle of such magnitude that someone should be fired.

"Replenishing" means to fill to the brim something that has been depleted. You cannot "replenish" this sixth grade, ever. That loss of $250k is ongoing, and nothing can ever be done to replenish it

You can try not to make the same mistake in the future.

I am not sure the charter allows them to create another fifth grade section next year since obviously trying to fill the vacant sixth grade slots did not work this time. I think if they want to change the number of 5th graders, they may have to ask the Charter Board


3.) As for financials, bear in mind, the same goes for virtually any other school in DC - none of them are particularly transparent. Even the DCPS school budget sheets don't tell the whole story, they leave a lot of things out. If you want complete transparency, great - lobby council for a bill that would mandate complete financial transparency for all DC schools, that's what should really happen, and that's something I would get behind as well.[b]

THAT is called the rules of the Charter Board. Instead of rattling on about DCPS, look at any other charter school (besides Options and Amos schools), they reveal their finances, because one of the ways they are measured and ranked is their financial viability. No bill required. In terms of transparency, do yourself and every Basis parent a favor - look it up via the charter board. Compare Basis financials to any other charter school - Any Single One - where they list their financials. Options and Amos schools just got destroyed by the creation of a for profit company and what amounted to theft. The Charter Board is looking very carefully at financials right now, and we basically don't list any. The contrast is stark, the hubris is strong, and one of the two reasons given for the refusal of the Board to grant an expansion request was the refusal of Basis to open their books.

We don't say basic things like how many teachers we have, how much we pay them, who we have on staff.... We just say we forked over $2 million to the for profit management company, not for what.

Oh and it also shows that we are paying them rent for the building, with balloon payments and their dates. IF you care, take a look. If you just want to sound ignorant, keep prattling away...........

Right now, the Charter School Board does not like us very much. And THAT is a problem.

If you want to take a cold hard look at the financials for every charter school, go ahead.

Guess what? Basis hasn't offered any. I kid you not. Look at the Charter records for all the schools in 2013. Basis DC has so little. Good luck after Options and Amos expanding at all if you continue to refuse to open your books

And again, where there's frustration, then why not make an appointment with school officials to discuss concerns? Does anyone really think that all this back and forth and navelgazing with some random group of strangers on an anonymous message board (none of which have any answers, and some of which are only here to troll) is really an appropriate or useful way to approach any of this? The last 11 pages and all of the previous threads should make it pretty clear that DCUM is not a particularly good venue for getting accurate or authoritative information or for resolving frustrations.

you are the person who always says this. You make the appointment and come back and tell us the answers, because obviously some people are smart enough to realize that everyone should be concerned about this, and that only Craig B or Olga are going to provide answers about financial viability but they would not deign to talk to you.

Right now, the Charter School Board does not like us very much. And THAT is a problem.

In addition to everything else you don't list in your financials, you don't list how much you had to pay in "compensatory services" for all your violations of IDEA and the ADA in your first arrogant, ignorant year. And I bet it was a hefty sum. Maybe not $250K. But as others have noted, that loss is ongoing, and no dodging and weaving next year will cure it. But it certainly should not recur............


If you want to take a cold hard look at the financials for every charter school, go ahead.

Guess what? Basis hasn't offered any. I kid you not. Look at the Charter records for all the schools in 2013. Basis DC has so little. Good luck after Options and Amos expanding at all if you continue to refuse to open your books

If you want to take a cold hard look at the financials for every charter school, go ahead.

Guess what? Basis hasn't offered any. I kid you not. Look at the Charter records for all the schools in 2013. Basis DC has so little. Good luck after Options and Amos expanding at all if you continue to refuse to open your books

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who received a call about one of those 6th grade spots (at nearly 100 on waitlist) and turned it down, four words: totally dodged a bullet.

Indeed you did. And so did those who were able to get into Latin for their middle school for 6th, 7th and 8th grades during BASIS' inaugural year.

......and we are back to the bashing......I guess it is inevitable. And then we complain that we can't do better as people. What do you expect with this stock....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who received a call about one of those 6th grade spots (at nearly 100 on waitlist) and turned it down, four words: totally dodged a bullet.

Indeed you did. And so did those who were able to get into Latin for their middle school for 6th, 7th and 8th grades during BASIS' inaugural year.

We got into Latin through the lottery and chose to go to BASIS for its inaugural instead. Our DS is now a 7th grader and we're still happy with our choice. Our friends who sent their kids to Latin are also happy. Isn't it great to have good options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is not a good fit for DC and tenor of parents vs parents on display is the beginning of it's unraveling. Too pretentious for words, the whole concept--any thing that sounds too good to be true usually is. And the OP has my sympathy.

OP here, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your post and the post of one other who pointed out we lost $250k just this year due to our mismanagement of our 6th grade wait list, and that ultimately that loss might add up to a cool million, so for our survival it is not something to be ignored, the question has never been both asked and answered, and it matters.

Because at a certain point, no matter how politically incorrect it might appear, the Blocks are going to give up on Basis DC. Will they have a PC explanation? NO. Do they care? No! Maybe for the next couple of years while they are continuing to expand their empire, but after that, if a DCPS charter school folds while they have numerous other public and private schools succeeding, they will basically blame it on us. And they will not be wrong in one sense - every post everyone makes here, as with the "Why did you leave" threads, and "why did the Dean of Students threaten the grades of an entire element over the misconduct of one student", is tearing us apart.

Thank you both for trying to penetrate the brain membranes of these BOOSTERS and blockheads, because I have 4 kids (2 already there) and graduating from Basis well would be their golden ticket to college. So to me it matters. Enormously.


But of course according to the BOOSTERS we should not dwell on (read learn from) our mistakes. Have any single one of you learned the SELA lesson, or do you think it does not apply?

IMO you have a lot to apologize for citing AZ stats implying that they would automatically be relevant to DC, and your initial arrogance, and your subsequent refusal to admit that there are problems in paradise, justifies all the stones that are being thrown your way. I would never say it in any other arena, but you asked for it.

That being said, Basis DC was third our first year on the DC CAS (Deal and Latin ahead), and last year they beat everyone but Deal, hardly having studied for it. They beat Latin in their Certamen (Latin contests) with consistency, and have achieved national recognition for a number of things (remember the student from Eritrea who won some writing contest and got a hug from Obama?)

So by many metrics Basis DC is doing well, and I would not let anything in this thread or the others dissuade you from listing it as your first choice in the 5th grade lottery, if and only if, your kid likes and seems to have a knack for math and science.

If they get in, I would strongly urge you to do everything in your power to prepare them for Algebra I their first year. This year there is more than half an Element in Algebra I, and it makes the critical difference to their educational experience. sets the tone, keeps the focus. They have to put all the academically advanced (in maths) kids together in the same section. Our first year there were four. Last year maybe there was one? This year is a banner year and if parents of kids who are capable get the message it will alter their entire Basis experience for those particular children, whom by default will be attracted strongly to Basis in the first place. THEY would not be making a mistake.

As another poster said on a previous thread, whether we have the [public school] population to weather the financial storm is an issue, and not one that should be ignored. But these kids are treated so well that if we could get the kids from privates who have the same talents to come to Basis, we would be set. Thanks to the lot of you, I feel you have set us back at least a year.