DC charters - which ones are open? hybrid model? plans of reopening?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enrolling in DCPS this fall unless something significant happens. They are the only ones making an effort to help the kids.

Sounds like your charter isn’t making an effort but some are as can seen in this thread.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:One advantage that ITDS has is a newly renovated basement area which will eventually allow for expansion. Since that expansion hasn't happened yet, it should permit them to open with social distancing AND accommodate more students than they could otherwise accommodate.

We are one of the lucky ITDS families who is currently sending their kids to do virtual learning at the school. We families AND the school are working out the kinks in how to manage the logistics of masks, figuring out how to avoid parents entering the building, getting nap stuff into the school carried by preschoolers. I know it seems silly to open with such a small number of children, but opening with a larger number would have been rocky. Every aspect of school, from arrival to lunch to dismissal involves more work and staffing, so I believe them when they say it takes time to work it out and they will open to more students soon.

It's natural to feel impatient, and until my family got the call we were feeling the same way. We were figuring out contingency plans for the fall if the school couldn't get it together.

But I have always had a great experience with the administration of ITDS (even if their communication with parents involves few all-school communications and always has.)

It’s obvious that above post is ITDS admin. chiming in because ITDS doesn’t listen to parents. It’s all for show and they do what they want to do.

Nope. I'm a parent. Not an admin, and it's my perspective.

So how come we haven't been told anything? Mundo has rolled out a detailed plan. DCPS kids have been back in CARES for a long time and had real school starting Monday. ITS is falling short and not even bothering to tell us anything. What's your perspective on that?

That they are bringing people into the classrooms little by little. Just like I said. ITS has parent forums. If you can't be bothered to participate and ask questions then you won't have the info. That's how the school works. That's how it's always worked. It is what it is. Find a way to accept it or move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One advantage that ITDS has is a newly renovated basement area which will eventually allow for expansion. Since that expansion hasn't happened yet, it should permit them to open with social distancing AND accommodate more students than they could otherwise accommodate.

We are one of the lucky ITDS families who is currently sending their kids to do virtual learning at the school. We families AND the school are working out the kinks in how to manage the logistics of masks, figuring out how to avoid parents entering the building, getting nap stuff into the school carried by preschoolers. I know it seems silly to open with such a small number of children, but opening with a larger number would have been rocky. Every aspect of school, from arrival to lunch to dismissal involves more work and staffing, so I believe them when they say it takes time to work it out and they will open to more students soon.

It's natural to feel impatient, and until my family got the call we were feeling the same way. We were figuring out contingency plans for the fall if the school couldn't get it together.

But I have always had a great experience with the administration of ITDS (even if their communication with parents involves few all-school communications and always has.)

It’s obvious that above post is ITDS admin. chiming in because ITDS doesn’t listen to parents. It’s all for show and they do what they want to do.

Nope. I'm a parent. Not an admin, and it's my perspective.

So how come we haven't been told anything? Mundo has rolled out a detailed plan. DCPS kids have been back in CARES for a long time and had real school starting Monday. ITS is falling short and not even bothering to tell us anything. What's your perspective on that?

That they are bringing people into the classrooms little by little. Just like I said. ITS has parent forums. If you can't be bothered to participate and ask questions then you won't have the info. That's how the school works. That's how it's always worked. It is what it is. Find a way to accept it or move on.

I do listen to the parent forums! And there isn't any information! I asked when older elementary kids could go back and she refused to tell me anything. Maybe this is satisfactory to you but I find it underwhelming. Other schools are publishing plans and bringing kids back right now. ITS is, apparently, sharing information only with a select few parents who can afford to miss work for long, rambly, un-informative calls. ITS is way behind the ball and it's pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One advantage that ITDS has is a newly renovated basement area which will eventually allow for expansion. Since that expansion hasn't happened yet, it should permit them to open with social distancing AND accommodate more students than they could otherwise accommodate.

We are one of the lucky ITDS families who is currently sending their kids to do virtual learning at the school. We families AND the school are working out the kinks in how to manage the logistics of masks, figuring out how to avoid parents entering the building, getting nap stuff into the school carried by preschoolers. I know it seems silly to open with such a small number of children, but opening with a larger number would have been rocky. Every aspect of school, from arrival to lunch to dismissal involves more work and staffing, so I believe them when they say it takes time to work it out and they will open to more students soon.

It's natural to feel impatient, and until my family got the call we were feeling the same way. We were figuring out contingency plans for the fall if the school couldn't get it together.

But I have always had a great experience with the administration of ITDS (even if their communication with parents involves few all-school communications and always has.)

It’s obvious that above post is ITDS admin. chiming in because ITDS doesn’t listen to parents. It’s all for show and they do what they want to do.

Nope. I'm a parent. Not an admin, and it's my perspective.

So how come we haven't been told anything? Mundo has rolled out a detailed plan. DCPS kids have been back in CARES for a long time and had real school starting Monday. ITS is falling short and not even bothering to tell us anything. What's your perspective on that?

That they are bringing people into the classrooms little by little. Just like I said. ITS has parent forums. If you can't be bothered to participate and ask questions then you won't have the info. That's how the school works. That's how it's always worked. It is what it is. Find a way to accept it or move on.

I do listen to the parent forums! And there isn't any information! I asked when older elementary kids could go back and she refused to tell me anything. Maybe this is satisfactory to you but I find it underwhelming. Other schools are publishing plans and bringing kids back right now. ITS is, apparently, sharing information only with a select few parents who can afford to miss work for long, rambly, un-informative calls. ITS is way behind the ball and it's pathetic.

This. 20 kids back and no in person for at least 8 weeks, if at all, is ridiculous. The 20 kids that they are bringing back, which is like starting 2 CARES classroom, should have been done months ago like DCPS, MV, and other schools.

The PP above who is apparently happy with this timeline and plan is an outlier, if she is really a parent. The majority of parents are NOT happy about the lack of communication or plan.

At this point and pace, it’s looking like the rest of the year is probably going to be a complete wash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One advantage that ITDS has is a newly renovated basement area which will eventually allow for expansion. Since that expansion hasn't happened yet, it should permit them to open with social distancing AND accommodate more students than they could otherwise accommodate.

We are one of the lucky ITDS families who is currently sending their kids to do virtual learning at the school. We families AND the school are working out the kinks in how to manage the logistics of masks, figuring out how to avoid parents entering the building, getting nap stuff into the school carried by preschoolers. I know it seems silly to open with such a small number of children, but opening with a larger number would have been rocky. Every aspect of school, from arrival to lunch to dismissal involves more work and staffing, so I believe them when they say it takes time to work it out and they will open to more students soon.

It's natural to feel impatient, and until my family got the call we were feeling the same way. We were figuring out contingency plans for the fall if the school couldn't get it together.

But I have always had a great experience with the administration of ITDS (even if their communication with parents involves few all-school communications and always has.)

It’s obvious that above post is ITDS admin. chiming in because ITDS doesn’t listen to parents. It’s all for show and they do what they want to do.

Nope. I'm a parent. Not an admin, and it's my perspective.

So how come we haven't been told anything? Mundo has rolled out a detailed plan. DCPS kids have been back in CARES for a long time and had real school starting Monday. ITS is falling short and not even bothering to tell us anything. What's your perspective on that?

That they are bringing people into the classrooms little by little. Just like I said. ITS has parent forums. If you can't be bothered to participate and ask questions then you won't have the info. That's how the school works. That's how it's always worked. It is what it is. Find a way to accept it or move on.

I do listen to the parent forums! And there isn't any information! I asked when older elementary kids could go back and she refused to tell me anything. Maybe this is satisfactory to you but I find it underwhelming. Other schools are publishing plans and bringing kids back right now. ITS is, apparently, sharing information only with a select few parents who can afford to miss work for long, rambly, un-informative calls. ITS is way behind the ball and it's pathetic.

This. 20 kids back and no in person for at least 8 weeks, if at all, is ridiculous. The 20 kids that they are bringing back, which is like starting 2 CARES classroom, should have been done months ago like DCPS, MV, and other schools.

The PP above who is apparently happy with this timeline and plan is an outlier, if she is really a parent. The majority of parents are NOT happy about the lack of communication or plan.

At this point and pace, it’s looking like the rest of the year is probably going to be a complete wash.

It is baffling to me that anyone would be happy with ITS' communication style. Basically information is reserved for those who can take time away from work to listen to the director ramble on and on and on without actually saying anything. Then they might email the information out eventually, or not. Yes I understand that it has always been like this, but I still think it is a deplorable way to handle things. I will not be sad to see the last of this director and hope that the new person is much, much better.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:ITS is bringing back 20 kids for CARES type classrooms. No chance of in person school for anyone for 6-8 weeks at least.

We have been told IF they bring kids back things like specials, IEP services will stay virtual. It kind of makes since due to those teachers and service providers having too many interactions and opportunities for virus spread between groups. But also those are some of the most important services to have in-person not offering them in-person is not a equitable arrangement.
If ITDS is DL in the fall I imagine there will be more families leaving for DCPs, private or moving. I like the school but another year of this wouldn't be the best for our children. We would be better off having hiring tutor's or at dcps.

I am pretty conservative about in-person and support them having been distance learning thus far. I love ITDS. I think they are doing DL well, at least for my kid. But I. WILL. LOSE. IT. if they do not fully open in person for fall. There is NO REASON this can't be done. There is a vaccine, there is more than enough time to plan, and school in other states are managing to be open without spread even now. IT IS TIME. Kids can't be subjected to this indefinitely.

I am in a similar boat. I'm not pushing fo a fast re-opening. But it is hard to see so many schools rolling out their plans and ITS not even sending us an email with any sort of information at all. It feels like the HOS is just running out the clock. The lack of communication makes me question the entire board and magement of the school.

Not an ITS family but at another charter that has no plan. Who do charters answer to? Where is the PCSB? These schools can't stay closed next year.

no one knows what the restrictions will be for numbers of people allowed for indoor gatherings in the fall. I hope these schools are planning for all contingencies but no one can say for sure what it will look like

The PCSB will do nothing for you. They prioritize "flexibility", including the flexibility to suck and the flexibility to perform worse than DCPS, above actually serving children and families.

If you sent your kid to a charter and didn't understand the roles and responsibilities between the charter board and the DCPCSB then you are a bad parent. Ho on earth did you decide to send your kid to a charter without understanding the org structure. Own your ignorance.

In absence of PCSB having much, if any, sway. OSSE has a grant program for charters serving students in person. Ours didn't bother to apply it seems (because they didn't want to open, I'd guess).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ITS is bringing back 20 kids for CARES type classrooms. No chance of in person school for anyone for 6-8 weeks at least.

We have been told IF they bring kids back things like specials, IEP services will stay virtual. It kind of makes since due to those teachers and service providers having too many interactions and opportunities for virus spread between groups. But also those are some of the most important services to have in-person not offering them in-person is not a equitable arrangement.
If ITDS is DL in the fall I imagine there will be more families leaving for DCPs, private or moving. I like the school but another year of this wouldn't be the best for our children. We would be better off having hiring tutor's or at dcps.

I am pretty conservative about in-person and support them having been distance learning thus far. I love ITDS. I think they are doing DL well, at least for my kid. But I. WILL. LOSE. IT. if they do not fully open in person for fall. There is NO REASON this can't be done. There is a vaccine, there is more than enough time to plan, and school in other states are managing to be open without spread even now. IT IS TIME. Kids can't be subjected to this indefinitely.

I am in a similar boat. I'm not pushing fo a fast re-opening. But it is hard to see so many schools rolling out their plans and ITS not even sending us an email with any sort of information at all. It feels like the HOS is just running out the clock. The lack of communication makes me question the entire board and magement of the school.

Not an ITS family but at another charter that has no plan. Who do charters answer to? Where is the PCSB? These schools can't stay closed next year.

no one knows what the restrictions will be for numbers of people allowed for indoor gatherings in the fall. I hope these schools are planning for all contingencies but no one can say for sure what it will look like

The PCSB will do nothing for you. They prioritize "flexibility", including the flexibility to suck and the flexibility to perform worse than DCPS, above actually serving children and families.

If you sent your kid to a charter and didn't understand the roles and responsibilities between the charter board and the DCPCSB then you are a bad parent. Ho on earth did you decide to send your kid to a charter without understanding the org structure. Own your ignorance.

In absence of PCSB having much, if any, sway. OSSE has a grant program for charters serving students in person. Ours didn't bother to apply it seems (because they didn't want to open, I'd guess).

Is this referring to ITDS or a different charter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at ITDS and the meetings they have held are a whole lot of nothing really. They just keep saying "when it is safe" which is unclear and mean different things to different people. Other school in the area have safely opened to at least some students a few days a week or full-time and other have done nothing. I would be less frustrated if they stopped pushing through the learning as if it was a typical school year though it seems that is really out of the teachers control.
We loved the school before though we have only a couple years experience at ITDS. Now I am not loving it much at all. They have put in a lot of effort in a lot of ways but for me it falls short and expectations seem out of balance. Also, they really should have at risk kids in class rooms at least part of the week.
I still like most of the teams and teachers we have worked with. The principals, board members and who ever else is in charge of curriculum and policies.. I have lost a lot of faith in and respect for them.
I don't know if we should be playing the lottery or home school or what. I wouldn't have said that last fall or winter so idk.

We feel the exact same way! Poor communication from ITDS! Very frustrated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at ITDS and the meetings they have held are a whole lot of nothing really. They just keep saying "when it is safe" which is unclear and mean different things to different people. Other school in the area have safely opened to at least some students a few days a week or full-time and other have done nothing. I would be less frustrated if they stopped pushing through the learning as if it was a typical school year though it seems that is really out of the teachers control.
We loved the school before though we have only a couple years experience at ITDS. Now I am not loving it much at all. They have put in a lot of effort in a lot of ways but for me it falls short and expectations seem out of balance. Also, they really should have at risk kids in class rooms at least part of the week.
I still like most of the teams and teachers we have worked with. The principals, board members and who ever else is in charge of curriculum and policies.. I have lost a lot of faith in and respect for them.
I don't know if we should be playing the lottery or home school or what. I wouldn't have said that last fall or winter so idk.

We feel the exact same way! Poor communication from ITDS! Very frustrated!

Also it is ridiculously overstaffed. THREE principals plus a director really ought to be able to figure out how to keep parents up to date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They so clearly DGAF what we think, it's hard to motivate.

I'd be interested in understanding what parents at charters are doing to put pressure to offer some sort of in-person learning. I, for one, am so heartily disappointed in my school's approach that I certainly won't be giving to any PTO fundraisers for the foreseeable future. But I also doubt that the administrators and the board care about that.

Nice! Cutting off your nose, eyes and ears to spite your face. You aren't going to pull your kid out of school, just stopping support for the school. That'll teach'em!

Your sense of entitlement amuses me.

[Anonymous]

Haven’t heard a peep from Two River’s parents. Guess no CARES classes or plans for hybrid at all I’m assuming.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am a Stokes parent and did not get any email about a plan would anyone be willing to post the email? I f*ucking love that school but if they don't open in the fall I will lose all respect.

+1 at least hybrid. If other schools can figure it out so can Stokes. Once teachers are vaccinated DL shouldn’t be an option.

Stokes classrooms are very cluttered and the building is quite old so they might have more behind the scenes work to do that you aren’t aware of

Puhlease! You are going to use "clutter" as an excuse for not being able to offer hybrid? I will happily volunteer (and I know plenty of parents who will join me) to Marie Kondo the school so they can fit more students.

Not PP, but the Stokes building and classrooms are physically very small. That makes it harder to get the required amount of space around each human.

Yeah I know we go there. I was addressing the ridiculous comment about clutter. But none of the schools in DC have loads of extra space -- even big schools are overcrowded (700 kids in an ES) so on a per pupil basis they still have the same space constraints. How are they offering hybrid and more seats for CARES?

Stokes also has a LOT of access to outdoor space. 2 playgrounds, an outdoor garden classroom and a FULL block of forest one block away fr Brookland location. The east end campus is basically surrounded by a GIANT green space that is also fenced in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at ITDS and the meetings they have held are a whole lot of nothing really. They just keep saying "when it is safe" which is unclear and mean different things to different people. Other school in the area have safely opened to at least some students a few days a week or full-time and other have done nothing. I would be less frustrated if they stopped pushing through the learning as if it was a typical school year though it seems that is really out of the teachers control.
We loved the school before though we have only a couple years experience at ITDS. Now I am not loving it much at all. They have put in a lot of effort in a lot of ways but for me it falls short and expectations seem out of balance. Also, they really should have at risk kids in class rooms at least part of the week.
I still like most of the teams and teachers we have worked with. The principals, board members and who ever else is in charge of curriculum and policies.. I have lost a lot of faith in and respect for them.
I don't know if we should be playing the lottery or home school or what. I wouldn't have said that last fall or winter so idk.

We feel the exact same way! Poor communication from ITDS! Very frustrated!

Also it is ridiculously overstaffed. THREE principals plus a director really ought to be able to figure out how to keep parents up to date.

Do you think you are not up to date? Is there a secret plan in place that they’ve just decided not to prioritize communicating? I really doubt it.

The communication style is very much to say NOTHING until there is absolute CERTAINTY about a plan.

Is it annoying at times? Yes.

I’m almost certain they are in talks with staff about reopening plans. Until they complete staff surveys, etc etc etc we parents are not going to hear a darn peep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at ITDS and the meetings they have held are a whole lot of nothing really. They just keep saying "when it is safe" which is unclear and mean different things to different people. Other school in the area have safely opened to at least some students a few days a week or full-time and other have done nothing. I would be less frustrated if they stopped pushing through the learning as if it was a typical school year though it seems that is really out of the teachers control.
We loved the school before though we have only a couple years experience at ITDS. Now I am not loving it much at all. They have put in a lot of effort in a lot of ways but for me it falls short and expectations seem out of balance. Also, they really should have at risk kids in class rooms at least part of the week.
I still like most of the teams and teachers we have worked with. The principals, board members and who ever else is in charge of curriculum and policies.. I have lost a lot of faith in and respect for them.
I don't know if we should be playing the lottery or home school or what. I wouldn't have said that last fall or winter so idk.

We feel the exact same way! Poor communication from ITDS! Very frustrated!

Also it is ridiculously overstaffed. THREE principals plus a director really ought to be able to figure out how to keep parents up to date.

Do you think you are not up to date? Is there a secret plan in place that they’ve just decided not to prioritize communicating? I really doubt it.

The communication style is very much to say NOTHING until there is absolute CERTAINTY about a plan.

Is it annoying at times? Yes.

I’m almost certain they are in talks with staff about reopening plans. Until they complete staff surveys, etc etc etc we parents are not going to hear a darn peep.

I have heard that DDW described a plan on one of th parent calls, so yes, that is what I think. But then during parent-teacher conference I asked our teacher and she said she knew nothing. So I don't know that they are seeking staff approval at all.

[Anonymous]

DCB parent here - very minimal plans for any reopening (6 kids per class, now planned for March hopefully).

Slots will be for 6 kids that are not engaging in virtual learning or really struggling to meet goals.

There is some talk of getting to 12 kids per class, but no timeline.

If those 12 kids per class are offered, it will only be 2 days per week. There will be no prioritization of younger kids, no CARES classrooms or similar. When you ask school staff what you are supposed to do with your kids the other three days a week they have no answers other than that "school is not childcare".

Oh, teachers getting vaccinated is "irrelevant" to their plans - as in, although they are working with and encouraging teachers to get vax'd, it will not lead them to offer more in-person learning opportunities.