Will Whittle be around next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you saying just go to a public school, who is actually sending their kids to a public? Most of the times, unless the school is a magnet STEM school, they have multiple problems related to student behavior, drugs, and violence. I have known a number of private school teachers teaching at private instead of public all because of student behavior. One teacher in my high school years said that he taught at a public school for 3 years, and the rudeness he faced from the students could last him his lifetime. There are a number of teachers at Whittle who would rather not go to a public school presumably for the same reasons. Also, there are instances of violence in and out of campus at public schools. I have heard of a student at one of the DC schools in the SE getting shot two times on two separate occasions.

Oh my. You are scared of the world. *Most* families — even in NW DC and southern MoCo — send their children to public schools. Most publics schools are not troubled like the ones in challenging neighborhoods in SE DC.

It’s funny that you think there are no drugs at private schools and that publics are uniquely vulnerable to violence. Oddly enough, the only mass shooting into a school in the area affected a private school across the street from Whittle.

Were there any student casualties or injuries at Edmund Burke? Or was the culprit a student there?Not that other people are less important.

I know, but the point is what % of high schools have gun violence? It’s not very common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

[Anonymous]

Kids who say they are happy at Whittle are happy because it is easy for them. Back when CW came out and said the school might not continue, quite a number of families transferred to other schools, primarily other privates. There was a kid who transferred to a different private school for a few days only to come back to Whittle.

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon / time wherever you happen to be,

I have been offered a job with Whittle in Suzhou, and have detected from my initial conversations with them that they have few (or maybe zero) people that know how to start up a school on the admin side. This is actually very normal in China, but not really the point here. I wanted to know more about the school, and have gotten bits and pieces of information from reading through this thread, but I haven't gotten a totally clear picture of what has happened with Whittle DC. Shenzhen campus seems to be running well (by China standards), but perhaps all is not as it seems?

I'd love to know more about your experiences and what specific things have gone wrong aside from the investment kerfuffle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good afternoon / time wherever you happen to be,

I have been offered a job with Whittle in Suzhou, and have detected from my initial conversations with them that they have few (or maybe zero) people that know how to start up a school on the admin side. This is actually very normal in China, but not really the point here. I wanted to know more about the school, and have gotten bits and pieces of information from reading through this thread, but I haven't gotten a totally clear picture of what has happened with Whittle DC. Shenzhen campus seems to be running well (by China standards), but perhaps all is not as it seems?

I'd love to know more about your experiences and what specific things have gone wrong aside from the investment kerfuffle.

What are you planning to teach at Suzhou? Or if that is too personal to ask, are you planning to teach LS or US? Is there an actual physical campus there? There are so many things I can talk about what went wrong that I don't even know where to start. I am just asking because when I first enrolled my child at the DC campus, the campus was still under construction and the students were attending the campus while construction was taking place. The admissions team back then, most of whom are gone, misrepresented so many things about what the school was going to be like. When I met with the admissions team at their model house inside of a department store, which was Neiman Marcus, I still remember being shown a replica model of the school campus aka Intelsat Building, and the person talked about how the building was designed to let in natural light, which is good for the students' concentration. I was lied to about how the cafeteria food was going to be good. Fast forward now, the day students are asked to bring their lunches. There has never been a curriculum at the school that worked out. Not to mention, the school has been a quickly revolving door for faculty and students alike. We are leaving after this year. It was one hell of a roller coaster. I thought the Shenzhen Campus was no longer affiliated with the DC campus. A

There is so much more that I can mention, but I am sure other people can chime in as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good afternoon / time wherever you happen to be,

I have been offered a job with Whittle in Suzhou, and have detected from my initial conversations with them that they have few (or maybe zero) people that know how to start up a school on the admin side. This is actually very normal in China, but not really the point here. I wanted to know more about the school, and have gotten bits and pieces of information from reading through this thread, but I haven't gotten a totally clear picture of what has happened with Whittle DC. Shenzhen campus seems to be running well (by China standards), but perhaps all is not as it seems?

I'd love to know more about your experiences and what specific things have gone wrong aside from the investment kerfuffle.

Perhaps some of the teachers who didn't get paid (until parents stepped in to cover their salaries) could give this person some useful insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

Hmmm. This e-mail reminds me of the e-mail families received in December/January saying that everything was moving along/finalizing and that it was reason to celebrate. Until it wasn’t…and then they asked for more money from parents. It seems to be same song and dance as before. One family paid the leadership team’s salaries. That also put a bad taste in our mouths. They claim to have gone months without being paid. Yet, we know the family that paid their salaries specifically. The dishonesty is very apparent once you start talking to the right people. Who knows how many other times that’s happened…or something like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

If they sublease to a charter school, so much for PP paying big money to avoid public school students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good afternoon / time wherever you happen to be,

I have been offered a job with Whittle in Suzhou, and have detected from my initial conversations with them that they have few (or maybe zero) people that know how to start up a school on the admin side. This is actually very normal in China, but not really the point here. I wanted to know more about the school, and have gotten bits and pieces of information from reading through this thread, but I haven't gotten a totally clear picture of what has happened with Whittle DC. Shenzhen campus seems to be running well (by China standards), but perhaps all is not as it seems?

I'd love to know more about your experiences and what specific things have gone wrong aside from the investment kerfuffle.

The Chinese Whittle campuses are doing very well and are now completely separated from the school discussed in this thread now. As long as you're okay giving your morals to the Chinese government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

Hmmm. This e-mail reminds me of the e-mail families received in December/January saying that everything was moving along/finalizing and that it was reason to celebrate. Until it wasn’t…and then they asked for more money from parents. It seems to be same song and dance as before. One family paid the leadership team’s salaries. That also put a bad taste in our mouths. They claim to have gone months without being paid. Yet, we know the family that paid their salaries specifically. The dishonesty is very apparent once you start talking to the right people. Who knows how many other times that’s happened…or something like it.

The building being mortgaged for a 4th time--doesn't solve a problem for Whittle School and Studios,  it's insolvent tenant that's refused to pay all of its debtors, lenders and contractors. 
Friendship coming in to lease some studio space they got a free trial of last summer might help a bit..but it doesn't finance the school..it just takes the pressure off some of the building's operating cost..

Donald Hense the head of Friendship was totally played by Chris-by allowing him to be on the Board for years while it was a glaring conflict of interest. Then CW targets him, offers free space last summer and now has his hands on the budget..something he and MR are deeply experienced at..they know how to skim funds from charter budgets..see their history... it's been a glaring conflict of interest for years for Whittle to have been on the Friendship Board ...minutes from a recent meeting on this indicate that Hense felt it was just fine for Whittle to sit on the Board of both entities making a deal with each other because hey, he didn't vote when it came up for approval..he just worked it from behind..DC at its best...Whittle at it's best...except...... they are still bankrupt...and can't pay for toilet paper..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

Hmmm. This e-mail reminds me of the e-mail families received in December/January saying that everything was moving along/finalizing and that it was reason to celebrate. Until it wasn’t…and then they asked for more money from parents. It seems to be same song and dance as before. One family paid the leadership team’s salaries. That also put a bad taste in our mouths. They claim to have gone months without being paid. Yet, we know the family that paid their salaries specifically. The dishonesty is very apparent once you start talking to the right people. Who knows how many other times that’s happened…or something like it.

The building being mortgaged for a 4th time--doesn't solve a problem for Whittle School and Studios,  it's insolvent tenant that's refused to pay all of its debtors, lenders and contractors. 
Friendship coming in to lease some studio space they got a free trial of last summer might help a bit..but it doesn't finance the school..it just takes the pressure off some of the building's operating cost..

Donald Hense the head of Friendship was totally played by Chris-by allowing him to be on the Board for years while it was a glaring conflict of interest. Then CW targets him, offers free space last summer and now has his hands on the budget..something he and MR are deeply experienced at..they know how to skim funds from charter budgets..see their history... it's been a glaring conflict of interest for years for Whittle to have been on the Friendship Board ...minutes from a recent meeting on this indicate that Hense felt it was just fine for Whittle to sit on the Board of both entities making a deal with each other because hey, he didn't vote when it came up for approval..he just worked it from behind..DC at its best...Whittle at it's best...except...... they are still bankrupt...and can't pay for toilet paper..

I looked up Donald Hense, and it seems like he retired from Friendship several years ago, so not sure if he has anything to do with the space leasing at Whittle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you saying just go to a public school, who is actually sending their kids to a public? Most of the times, unless the school is a magnet STEM school, they have multiple problems related to student behavior, drugs, and violence. I have known a number of private school teachers teaching at private instead of public all because of student behavior. One teacher in my high school years said that he taught at a public school for 3 years, and the rudeness he faced from the students could last him his lifetime. There are a number of teachers at Whittle who would rather not go to a public school presumably for the same reasons. Also, there are instances of violence in and out of campus at public schools. I have heard of a student at one of the DC schools in the SE getting shot two times on two separate occasions.

Oh my. You are scared of the world. *Most* families — even in NW DC and southern MoCo — send their children to public schools. Most publics schools are not troubled like the ones in challenging neighborhoods in SE DC.

It’s funny that you think there are no drugs at private schools and that publics are uniquely vulnerable to violence. Oddly enough, the only mass shooting into a school in the area affected a private school across the street from Whittle.

Were there any student casualties or injuries at Edmund Burke? Or was the culprit a student there?Not that other people are less important.

I know, but the point is what % of high schools have gun violence? It’s not very common.

Student, parent and staff injuries. If you did even a cursory Google search or search on this site you would know the shooter wasn’t a Burke student. It was a 23 yo Wheaton HS grad who rented an apartment behind Burke in addition to his apartment in Fairfax. Ongoing investigation into where he got the money for 2 apartments and all those weapons.

Is Whittle doing anything about security given how much of the building is glass?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

Is there more text to this email?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that a charter school was in negotiation to use that space next year. Not sure if it's all or some, it didn't sound like a done deal.

Judging from a "Confidential" email sent by MR, it is not a done deal and is ongoing. CW and company keep stuff like this like a suspense thriller. There really is nothing going on or something is moving at a slow pace, but CW and minions just are like 'wait for the next episode and TBC...'

Could you post the email? Very curious about what their current scheme is. We are former parents. Left because of many reasons, but mainly that whenever we donated money, it was never the end. One staff member told us there were people on the payroll list they had never talked to or seen in the building. Our kid was happy, but we had to do what was best for them academically.

I posted part of this so-called email from MR a few pages ago, but here is the full version below. You seem to have more info about what is going on and the inner workings of the school than I do, so if you can comment on this email, that would be great!

Dear Whittle Families:



As Chris noted in our Parent Forum last week, we expected a major part of the larger capital transaction (the refinancing of the building’s debt) to close at any moment. Chris just called me to let me know the closing has just been completed! Though frustratingly long in the making, this is WONDERFUL NEWS that we should all celebrate. As we discussed in the forum, the other two parts of the transaction with Whittle and Friendship Charter can now move forward. We expect these to move quickly and will keep you posted when they close as well.

Is there more text to this email?

No this was it other than some Confidential/Your Eyes Only/Don't Forward before this email.