Shake Up at SSMA?
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Anonymous
I don't know that I would trust the school to tell parents that a particular guide is there on an interim basis, honestly. |
Anonymous
The Spanish-language guide for the immersion program, along with an assistant guide, has not arrived by Colombia yet. But the English-language guides are at least here. |
Anonymous
We are new to the school but our guide was an assistant last year and was promoted this year. It didn't seem particularly organized today overall at the school but the overall environment still seemed very warm and lovely. |
Anonymous
| curious to know how are things coming along at SSMA? |
Anonymous
Bad. Bad. Bad. |
Anonymous
From what I hear, they haven't had working air conditioning all week. The ED is claiming that Howard University came overnight and shut it off which Howard University emphatically denies. Meanwhile, the ED is maintaining her general unresponsiveness. Sounds like more of the same at SSMA this year. |
Anonymous
We are new to SSMA. My child's guide is away for the first full week of school, and they have been holding class in the basement hallway the past few days, because the classroom was too hot. It's not the start I was hoping for, to say the least, but DC seems happy enough. |
Anonymous
| On Twitter people are complaining that a neighbor is making the school shut off the AC overnight because it is too loud? |
Anonymous
| My heart really goes out to the families that discovered all the issues but really had no recourse. The timing was after the lottery and private school applications. |
Anonymous
Is that why they postponed BTS night? Waiting until the weather outside is cooler? |
Anonymous
| Parent of a current student chiming in on the latest news. The letter from the ED went out to parents earlier this week asking them to contact a long list of officials to help encourage the landlord of the school (Howard University) to fix the broken HVAC. I won't go into all the details, but basically... it seems like the outpouring of parents worked with Howard University committing to make the needed replacements by mid-Sept whether it is/was truly their responsibility or not as part of the lease agreement. Some parents are reporting that the AC is on and working much better today on the main floor. This has been really disruptive though to classrooms. My child is happy with her teachers and classmates, but as a parent... it is concerning how many issues continue to come up. I think we all want SSMA to be the school we hope it can become and stabilize. New principal, new aftercare, new lunch service, and now a pilot dual-immersion program while dealing with AC issues... lots of changes since last year. |
Anonymous
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The AC is back on; I have to say, that whole email was nuts but I glad, for once, to have full communication on something; I had been blaming the administration for failing to follow through on the promised maintenance contract, so I’m glad it wasn’t that.
Other than that it’s the same as it’s ever been (at SSMA or anywhere): if your kids’ teacher is good the school is a great place; if they’re not as good it’s a frustrating place. I’m liking the new aftercare so far. |
Anonymous
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Regarding the AC—nearby neighbor here. Your AC unit is indeed broken, and trust me, has not been shut off overnight recently or ever. It is a significant noise violation that multiple city agencies have engaged the ED and Howard on since 2016, with no action on her part (surprise). Thankfully Howard finally has contractors replacing the entire system, which should solve both the climate control problems at the school and the ongoing nuisance to the surrounding homes. Both schools dragged their feet for a long time.
As a side note, you should also know that there are multiple open cases with the Department of Public Works and Department of Health regarding SSMA’s broken dumpsters and rodents on site, and open inquiries with the charter school board regarding safety standards—or lack thereof—in the parking lot where they have the students play. It’s a bad scene over there and its part of why we don’t send our own kids there. |
Anonymous
| You’re a crazy person who forced 200 kids to go to school in a hot building because Howard University is afraid you’ll sue them. Congratulations on your accomplishment. Congratulations also to Howard University for not maintaining capital equipment in building they own and presumably rent for a profit. Congratulations to everyone for somehow making the SSMA administration look like the reasonable party here. |
Anonymous
I thought the lease made the tenant (SSMA) responsible for all costs or maintenance upkeep and replacement and we make shame Howard publicly? Shady AF |