Meridian Charter School Renovation and New Gymnasium off U St.

[Anonymous]

Or how many students arrive each morning from MD... Oh wait - baby daddy lives in DC somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, Banita Jacks - how long did it take Meridian to notice her daughters were truant....

Banita Jacks had her children in and out of several different public schools around 2007. From what I see, the children were enrolled and unenrolled from several public schools.

Once children are pulled out of a school, it's nearly impossible for that school to keep their parents or guardians from making tragic and even murderous choices. Then Mayor Adrian Fenty fired six DC Child and Protective Services people who were in the mix.

By chance, do you know one of Child and Protective Services people who were released for cause in this tragic case involving so many of our DC institutions?

[Anonymous]

I did not, but I did know a teacher at Meridian during that time and Banita your daughters were enrolled, but Meridian did not have a policy of reporting up the chain on truancy issues....and so, Meridian is one of the DC institutions that failed those girls. I have heard other stories from this teacher about young children slipping out of the building into traffic - granted this was at their former location, so I'm not sure what the PP was talking about - but I would NEVER send my chidren there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or how many students arrive each morning from MD... Oh wait - baby daddy lives in DC somewhere.

From everything I see, Meridian lacks nothing in the way of enrollment and has no need to allow non-DC residents to attend the school. There are provisions for their attendance but they must pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not, but I did know a teacher at Meridian during that time and Banita your daughters were enrolled, but Meridian did not have a policy of reporting up the chain on truancy issues....and so, Meridian is one of the DC institutions that failed those girls. I have heard other stories from this teacher about young children slipping out of the building into traffic - granted this was at their former location, so I'm not sure what the PP was talking about - but I would NEVER send my chidren there.

In DC, we have many choices now. NCS and Sidwell social networks and instruction are good but are you really getting value for the money you part with? Real estate prices around the handful of high-performing NW public schools are high and the schools are packed.

Charters increasingly offer the best choice for parents from all 8 Wards -- yes, some of these parents and guardians are neglectful and criminal in some instances. If your check the case, the schools all followed up after Jacks pulled the children out for home schooling.

As far as Meridian itself goes, I think the school, which has been in a very busy urban environment for 12 years, knows how to keep the children out of traffic and in the building.

I know that your stated concerns are not driven by simple snobbery toward children from outside of NW. I am giving Meridian a chance. Instructional quality, professional development, and the program improves steadily. Scores are up.

Watch this space for another urban education success story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not, but I did know a teacher at Meridian during that time and Banita your daughters were enrolled, but Meridian did not have a policy of reporting up the chain on truancy issues....and so, Meridian is one of the DC institutions that failed those girls. I have heard other stories from this teacher about young children slipping out of the building into traffic - granted this was at their former location, so I'm not sure what the PP was talking about - but I would NEVER send my chidren there.

PP, why are you trying to trash a perfectly good school? You sound like an outlier with a personal axe to grind, so why should anyone here take you seriously? If you have nothing specific or constructive to offer, quit trashing a school in a private forum. Concerns such as those you raise are best left to the proper authorities, unless you are a troll who likes hiding behind your anonymity, as I suspect you are. Now be quiet and go away.

[Anonymous]

This school has great staff. Never been to a school so great in every form!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not, but I did know a teacher at Meridian during that time and Banita your daughters were enrolled, but Meridian did not have a policy of reporting up the chain on truancy issues....and so, Meridian is one of the DC institutions that failed those girls. I have heard other stories from this teacher about young children slipping out of the building into traffic - granted this was at their former location, so I'm not sure what the PP was talking about - but I would NEVER send my chidren there.

In DC, we have many choices now. NCS and Sidwell social networks and instruction are good but are you really getting value for the money you part with? Real estate prices around the handful of high-performing NW public schools are high and the schools are packed.

Charters increasingly offer the best choice for parents from all 8 Wards -- yes, some of these parents and guardians are neglectful and criminal in some instances. If your check the case, the schools all followed up after Jacks pulled the children out for home schooling.

As far as Meridian itself goes, I think the school, which has been in a very busy urban environment for 12 years, knows how to keep the children out of traffic and in the building.

I know that your stated concerns are not driven by simple snobbery toward children from outside of NW. I am giving Meridian a chance. Instructional quality, professional development, and the program improves steadily. Scores are up.

Watch this space for another urban education success story.

Yeah, well, I would read those scores with an appropriate amount of skepticism. It's known that Meridian cheated; it's only uncertain how much and at what (schoolwide leadership?) levels.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/surprise-dc-admits-school-test-tampering-at-meridian-public-charter/2013/04/25/818ccb2e-ad66-11e2-a8b9-2a63d75b5459_blog.html