BASIS board meeting minutes: I Street elementary Location meets obstacles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im a former basis parent, and putting 5th grade with the younger kids makes sense. There is such a shift in curriculum after 5th grade

So at what point would they run off the kids who aren't as smart? Because right now that happens in 5th.

No, it happens in 6th and 7th.

Let's change this narrative - not all kids who "run off" after 5th, 6th, or 7th "aren't as smart." We took our "Honor Roll" kid out of BASIS because we wanted a different school experience. My "smart" kid is much happier with their new school, as are we. BASIS isn't just for "smart" kids. It's for kids/families that are ok with a school that has a very rigid curriculum, few electives and is very test heavy and/or don't have other options.

+1. We are at BASIS because my child loves the BASIS model, as do many of her friends. It's not that kids who are not that smart are run off. It's that kids that don't fit the BASIS model leave. I wish more parents would take the time to truly understand the BASIS model, because then the spots would go to those kids that would enjoy the model the best. Send your kid to shadow days! Take the tour! Take time to meet the HOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The way I read this is that DC PCSB recommended that BASIS to do a phased enrollment increase (so only adding a few grades a year), not just filling all the extra grades at once. However, BASIS can't afford the I ST building if they don't fill it completely from the start. Someone at the meeting probably asked if they could just move the high school over instead, but that was rejected because they have debt on the current building and the market value is probably awful right now (hello all those empty DC office spaces). So, I doin't read into this that they are planning to move the high school - sounds like BASIS is stuck with that office building they started with.

+1. Phased enrollment increase is a good idea. BASIS basically took 10 years to figure out how to work its middle school model in DC, and still haven't figured out how to do its high school properly. Why should anyone believe that it would know how to elementary school immediately?

Because they currently operate 20+ of them. Or was that rhetorical?

No, it wasn't rhetorical. If you've noticed, BASIS has had a tough time acclimating its charter AZ model in DC, primarily because the student landscape in the DC and the DMV area is very different from AZ.

Actually, they really haven't. The "acclimation" of which you speak was the high attrition when BASIS first started and then asked for expansion. PCSB had concerns about the attrition and a bunch of people argued that somehow DC was different than everywhere lese they operated. As if kids here couldn't learn? If you look at BASIS's response during that time they explained that attrition was high at all of their new schools at first because families didn't know what it was and selected it out of desperation. There was a disconnect between what the school was and what was good for some of those kids. BASIS said then that based on prior experience in other jurisdictions the attrition would settle out. Guess what...they were right.

No doubt DC is challenging due the presence of performative nonsense, SJW and people who think equity means lowering standards. But the model works here. Our facilities are not as nice (they suck) but that's not about the model.

But by all means, since you purport to know so very much about the BASIS model, tell us about how it hasn't worked here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im a former basis parent, and putting 5th grade with the younger kids makes sense. There is such a shift in curriculum after 5th grade

So at what point would they run off the kids who aren't as smart? Because right now that happens in 5th.

No, it happens in 6th and 7th.

Let's change this narrative - not all kids who "run off" after 5th, 6th, or 7th "aren't as smart." We took our "Honor Roll" kid out of BASIS because we wanted a different school experience. My "smart" kid is much happier with their new school, as are we. BASIS isn't just for "smart" kids. It's for kids/families that are ok with a school that has a very rigid curriculum, few electives and is very test heavy and/or don't have other options.

+1. We are at BASIS because my child loves the BASIS model, as do many of her friends. It's not that kids who are not that smart are run off. It's that kids that don't fit the BASIS model leave. I wish more parents would take the time to truly understand the BASIS model, because then the spots would go to those kids that would enjoy the model the best. Send your kid to shadow days! Take the tour! Take time to meet the HOS.

+11 My kids also love BASIS. When we get to HS we may still love it or we may decide there are better fits for our kids and finances. My guess is one will stay and one will leave. That is fine. It is how school choice works. I have a nephew who is looking at schools for 5th next year and I have begged my sister not to put BASIS on the list for him. It would be a disaster for who and what he is. That doesn't make BASIS bad or my nephew not smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's change the narrative. My BASIS student earned straight As for 5 years but we left anyway, fed up with teacher "experts" without scant background in the subjects they teach due. We also hit the wall with poor leadership, very limited elective and HS EC choices, the bad building, and the seriously stressful high school curriculum featuring few choices (10th grade, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Cal, want something different, shut up).

If you can afford better or are willing to move to Upper NW or the burbs, you get out of BASIS. Last year, a large parent pressure group formed to monitor board meetings and push for change. The group seems to be getting some results but their campaign has been little too late for us.

We are in our second year of BASIS with a straight A kid and may leave because of similar reasons.

[Anonymous]

It's funny how such a wonderful school with such brilliant, capable leadership, and a financially stable parent organization, has been struggling for so long to open an elementary school. Lots of other elementary schools have opened. Wonder why BASIS can't get it over the finish line despite trying since 2016 (or maybe earlier)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny how such a wonderful school with such brilliant, capable leadership, and a financially stable parent organization, has been struggling for so long to open an elementary school. Lots of other elementary schools have opened. Wonder why BASIS can't get it over the finish line despite trying since 2016 (or maybe earlier)?

It's funny how people with an axe to grind are so willing to gaslight on an anonymous forum. They are trying now. They tried to expand in 2016. There were no efforts in between.

Serious question: Why do people like you behave this way? Are you merely misinformed by the trolls and BASIS haters on DCUM or do you knowingly just make things up? I really want to understand why people like you seem more concerned with one school that many people like than with either your own kids or the overall state of DC schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's change the narrative. My BASIS student earned straight As for 5 years but we left anyway, fed up with teacher "experts" without scant background in the subjects they teach due. We also hit the wall with poor leadership, very limited elective and HS EC choices, the bad building, and the seriously stressful high school curriculum featuring few choices (10th grade, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Cal, want something different, shut up).

If you can afford better or are willing to move to Upper NW or the burbs, you get out of BASIS. Last year, a large parent pressure group formed to monitor board meetings and push for change. The group seems to be getting some results but their campaign has been little too late for us.

Good point. I mean, we all know that DCPS is teeming with science teachers who gave up careers at NASA and former AU professors who left their dig sites in Egypt to teach history. And PhDs in Chemistry from JHU.

FFS, what does the bolded mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's funny how such a wonderful school with such brilliant, capable leadership, and a financially stable parent organization, has been struggling for so long to open an elementary school. Lots of other elementary schools have opened. Wonder why BASIS can't get it over the finish line despite trying since 2016 (or maybe earlier)?

It's funny how people with an axe to grind are so willing to gaslight on an anonymous forum. They are trying now. They tried to expand in 2016. There were no efforts in between.

Serious question: Why do people like you behave this way? Are you merely misinformed by the trolls and BASIS haters on DCUM or do you knowingly just make things up? I really want to understand why people like you seem more concerned with one school that many people like than with either your own kids or the overall state of DC schools.

I want people to know that BASIS isn't all that, and I think the state of DC schools will be improved if people have a realistic understanding of this. Every school impacts the functioning of the overall school system.

Serious question to you: Why can't BASIS make this happen? Other schools have done it. And I believe there was an attempt more recently than 2016 but was discontinued due to unfavorable feedback from the PCSB.

If BASIS creates their elementary by absorbing a "failing" school, are all those kids at the faiilng school going to be forced to repeat grades? How many grades? BASIS boosters, do tell, how will this wonderful plan be implemented?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's funny how such a wonderful school with such brilliant, capable leadership, and a financially stable parent organization, has been struggling for so long to open an elementary school. Lots of other elementary schools have opened. Wonder why BASIS can't get it over the finish line despite trying since 2016 (or maybe earlier)?

It's funny how people with an axe to grind are so willing to gaslight on an anonymous forum. They are trying now. They tried to expand in 2016. There were no efforts in between.

Serious question: Why do people like you behave this way? Are you merely misinformed by the trolls and BASIS haters on DCUM or do you knowingly just make things up? I really want to understand why people like you seem more concerned with one school that many people like than with either your own kids or the overall state of DC schools.

I want people to know that BASIS isn't all that, and I think the state of DC schools will be improved if people have a realistic understanding of this. Every school impacts the functioning of the overall school system.

Serious question to you: Why can't BASIS make this happen? Other schools have done it. And I believe there was an attempt more recently than 2016 but was discontinued due to unfavorable feedback from the PCSB.

If BASIS creates their elementary by absorbing a "failing" school, are all those kids at the faiilng school going to be forced to repeat grades? How many grades? BASIS boosters, do tell, how will this wonderful plan be implemented?

I don't think BASIS is proposing to absorb the kids at failing schools. I read that to mean that they will take the building, once that failing school closes. Kids will have to lottery in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im a former basis parent, and putting 5th grade with the younger kids makes sense. There is such a shift in curriculum after 5th grade

So at what point would they run off the kids who aren't as smart? Because right now that happens in 5th.

No, it happens in 6th and 7th.

Let's change this narrative - not all kids who "run off" after 5th, 6th, or 7th "aren't as smart." We took our "Honor Roll" kid out of BASIS because we wanted a different school experience. My "smart" kid is much happier with their new school, as are we. BASIS isn't just for "smart" kids. It's for kids/families that are ok with a school that has a very rigid curriculum, few electives and is very test heavy and/or don't have other options.

+1. We are at BASIS because my child loves the BASIS model, as do many of her friends. It's not that kids who are not that smart are run off. It's that kids that don't fit the BASIS model leave. I wish more parents would take the time to truly understand the BASIS model, because then the spots would go to those kids that would enjoy the model the best. Send your kid to shadow days! Take the tour! Take time to meet the HOS.

It's not always that easy. I don't think a tour and a shadow day paint a full picture. We didn't know what we didn't know until we went through it. Also, some kids really don't have better options, and so they have to make do with BASIS, even though it's not a great fit. That's not dismissing that BASIS is a great fit for some, and some families and kids are happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im a former basis parent, and putting 5th grade with the younger kids makes sense. There is such a shift in curriculum after 5th grade

So at what point would they run off the kids who aren't as smart? Because right now that happens in 5th.

No, it happens in 6th and 7th.

Let's change this narrative - not all kids who "run off" after 5th, 6th, or 7th "aren't as smart." We took our "Honor Roll" kid out of BASIS because we wanted a different school experience. My "smart" kid is much happier with their new school, as are we. BASIS isn't just for "smart" kids. It's for kids/families that are ok with a school that has a very rigid curriculum, few electives and is very test heavy and/or don't have other options.

+1. We are at BASIS because my child loves the BASIS model, as do many of her friends. It's not that kids who are not that smart are run off. It's that kids that don't fit the BASIS model leave. I wish more parents would take the time to truly understand the BASIS model, because then the spots would go to those kids that would enjoy the model the best. Send your kid to shadow days! Take the tour! Take time to meet the HOS.

It's not always that easy. I don't think a tour and a shadow day paint a full picture. We didn't know what we didn't know until we went through it. Also, some kids really don't have better options, and so they have to make do with BASIS, even though it's not a great fit. That's not dismissing that BASIS is a great fit for some, and some families and kids are happy there.

That's life. You do the best you can. That being said, I think it is very, very obvious that BASIS has a model that fits certain types of students. This has nothing to do with how smart a kid is. Many many brilliant kids won't fit this model. Know your child! Ask other BASIS parents about whether they think your kid would be a good fit there! Most parents I know are willing to be frank about what their experience has been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's funny how such a wonderful school with such brilliant, capable leadership, and a financially stable parent organization, has been struggling for so long to open an elementary school. Lots of other elementary schools have opened. Wonder why BASIS can't get it over the finish line despite trying since 2016 (or maybe earlier)?

It's funny how people with an axe to grind are so willing to gaslight on an anonymous forum. They are trying now. They tried to expand in 2016. There were no efforts in between.

Serious question: Why do people like you behave this way? Are you merely misinformed by the trolls and BASIS haters on DCUM or do you knowingly just make things up? I really want to understand why people like you seem more concerned with one school that many people like than with either your own kids or the overall state of DC schools.

I want people to know that BASIS isn't all that, and I think the state of DC schools will be improved if people have a realistic understanding of this. Every school impacts the functioning of the overall school system.

Serious question to you: Why can't BASIS make this happen? Other schools have done it. And I believe there was an attempt more recently than 2016 but was discontinued due to unfavorable feedback from the PCSB.

If BASIS creates their elementary by absorbing a "failing" school, are all those kids at the faiilng school going to be forced to repeat grades? How many grades? BASIS boosters, do tell, how will this wonderful plan be implemented?

I don't think BASIS is proposing to absorb the kids at failing schools. I read that to mean that they will take the building, once that failing school closes. Kids will have to lottery in.

"C--- requested the exploration of a merger with or acquisition of an existing primary school as a Plan B." It doesn't say "requested that the board prepare to bid on buildings after the PCSB closes other schools".

[Anonymous]

The thing is, waiting until another school actually closes means you might be too late. Schools that are likely to close receive offers from other schools before they actually close, and they're likely to want to look out for their kids by guaranteeing them a seat in the building where they already attend.

I'm sad that BASIS doesn't want to help these kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's change the narrative. My BASIS student earned straight As for 5 years but we left anyway, fed up with teacher "experts" without scant background in the subjects they teach due. We also hit the wall with poor leadership, very limited elective and HS EC choices, the bad building, and the seriously stressful high school curriculum featuring few choices (10th grade, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Cal, want something different, shut up).

If you can afford better or are willing to move to Upper NW or the burbs, you get out of BASIS. Last year, a large parent pressure group formed to monitor board meetings and push for change. The group seems to be getting some results but their campaign has been little too late for us.

Wait, kids at Basis are not taking AP Bio, AP Chem and AP Physics all together in 10th grade, are they?
My kid could definitely not handle that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's change the narrative. My BASIS student earned straight As for 5 years but we left anyway, fed up with teacher "experts" without scant background in the subjects they teach due. We also hit the wall with poor leadership, very limited elective and HS EC choices, the bad building, and the seriously stressful high school curriculum featuring few choices (10th grade, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Cal, want something different, shut up).

If you can afford better or are willing to move to Upper NW or the burbs, you get out of BASIS. Last year, a large parent pressure group formed to monitor board meetings and push for change. The group seems to be getting some results but their campaign has been little too late for us.

Good point. I mean, we all know that DCPS is teeming with science teachers who gave up careers at NASA and former AU professors who left their dig sites in Egypt to teach history. And PhDs in Chemistry from JHU.

FFS, what does the bolded mean?

“Subject Expert Teacher” is Basis jargon. The PP is mocking the term.