Kidnapping from aftercare at Rocketship

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

Many of the teachers at Rocketship are working two jobs. It would be difficult or impossible for them to be available to work before- or after-school hours, but providers of these services have my sympathy. They are in a bind since they really can only offer PT work so that doesn't always attract a great pool of applicants.

What? Why are they working two jobs? I thought Rocketship was one of the well-funded charters? Per pupil plus fundraising?

Plenty of teachers work to jobs in general and charters don't pay as much as publics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly the part I find most scary is that this individual was caught kidnapping a child in 2018, was able to plea bargain to lesser charges and is already out in public again. Crazy.

But now they're still in jail, right?

Yes that is crazy and upsetting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

Many of the teachers at Rocketship are working two jobs. It would be difficult or impossible for them to be available to work before- or after-school hours, but providers of these services have my sympathy. They are in a bind since they really can only offer PT work so that doesn't always attract a great pool of applicants.

What? Why are they working two jobs? I thought Rocketship was one of the well-funded charters? Per pupil plus fundraising?

Plenty of teachers work to jobs in general and charters don't pay as much as publics.

Yes, true but the poster said "many" do. I work at a school and out of a teaching staff of 40, only two work two jobs. About halfwork in the summer but not two jobs during the school year.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and wouldn’t stay after to do aftercare. I think it’s insane that it would be pushed on teachers if they don’t want to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and wouldn’t stay after to do aftercare. I think it’s insane that it would be pushed on teachers if they don’t want to do it.

Teaching is a professional job, and teachers are not paid commensurate with their training or responsibilities as it is. You can't ask or expect them to add another 15 hours to their workweek.

As for aftercare, it's glorified babysitting and the workers are have far fewer skills than teachers do. And people are unwilling to pay those workers a living wage and benefits.

[Anonymous]

This is one of the worst stories I've ever read. Thank goodness this predator was intercepted. The Post has picked up the story with a few more details and promises from the charter board and the deputy mayor for education to investigate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/after-alleged-attempted-abduction-of-two-brothers-from-a-dc-school-officials-reviews-safety-procedures/2019/10/31/c0d92f90-fbfa-11e9-8190-6be4deb56e01_story.html#comments-wrapper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the worst stories I've ever read. Thank goodness this predator was intercepted. The Post has picked up the story with a few more details and promises from the charter board and the deputy mayor for education to investigate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/after-alleged-attempted-abduction-of-two-brothers-from-a-dc-school-officials-reviews-safety-procedures/2019/10/31/c0d92f90-fbfa-11e9-8190-6be4deb56e01_story.html#comments-wrapper

Great but will they investigate why Rocketship tries to cover it up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and wouldn’t stay after to do aftercare. I think it’s insane that it would be pushed on teachers if they don’t want to do it.

Teaching is a professional job, and teachers are not paid commensurate with their training or responsibilities as it is. You can't ask or expect them to add another 15 hours to their workweek.

As for aftercare, it's glorified babysitting and the workers are have far fewer skills than teachers do. And people are unwilling to pay those workers a living wage and benefits.

I'm a teacher and a mom so I know the after care/before care struggle. However, it's not my job to worry about my students after care. I have my own kids to worry about. I feel very strongly that I educate kids for 7 hours a day, I am not responsible for extra time with them (I obviously stay to plan, assess data, and grade papers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

Point being that they figured it out and the students didn't suffer. There was a crisis and the school came together to find a workable solution that was very short term fortunately. I just don't see how any school could have kept Springboard employed after knowing what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how they could have continued to employ SpringBoard after the incident last year at CHML. Springboard was not conducting background checks and presumably lying about it....how were they even allowed to continue serving in this capacity? I don't know anything about Rocket ship, but shame on them for not finding a new provider. More importantly, I am glad the kids are safe...insanely scary.

Reading between the lines ... they couldn't find anyone else, and the families depend on that aftercare.

More salient question -- why can't the city work to provide care until 6 at our public schools? I'd happily pay for that from tax money, rather than work with a network of private providers.

As far as I know, DCPS severed ties with Springboard after the 'incident' and at least 4 schools had to, and did find alternate care. Seems like no one wanted to bother at RS as I am sure its a large undertaking. Sometimes, however, these things must be done.

Right -- but are 60 people going to lose their jobs in the meantime because they are abruptly stranded without childcare? Not an excuse -- but an explanation of the factors that go into these kind of subpar choices.

And my heart goes out to the family of this child. I can't imagine.

Yeah I am glad they were caught. Unfortunately bad people will plan to be bad... sorry this happened

I am a parent at CHML and our staff/teachers stayed to handle aftercare for the last 2 weeks of school last year. While I am sure they all understood, I am also sure that the teachers who stepped up weren't thrilled about it. BUT, this is what you do...of course aftercare needs to be in place but the school should ensure a safe environment for the kids, no matter what it takes.

Point being that they figured it out and the students didn't suffer. There was a crisis and the school came together to find a workable solution that was very short term fortunately. I just don't see how any school could have kept Springboard employed after knowing what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the worst stories I've ever read. Thank goodness this predator was intercepted. The Post has picked up the story with a few more details and promises from the charter board and the deputy mayor for education to investigate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/after-alleged-attempted-abduction-of-two-brothers-from-a-dc-school-officials-reviews-safety-procedures/2019/10/31/c0d92f90-fbfa-11e9-8190-6be4deb56e01_story.html#comments-wrapper

Kudos to the mom of these boys for pushing forward and testifying in front of the Charter Board. Just assuming that she's low-income and African American, she may not have had access to the social networks and media attention that others of us have.

[Anonymous]

I think this goes to show that DCPS and DC charters ought to start offering more wrap-around services for everyone, including aftercare until 6pm. Enriched aftercare could also help close the achievement gap, since it would give time for 1:1 tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the worst stories I've ever read. Thank goodness this predator was intercepted. The Post has picked up the story with a few more details and promises from the charter board and the deputy mayor for education to investigate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/after-alleged-attempted-abduction-of-two-brothers-from-a-dc-school-officials-reviews-safety-procedures/2019/10/31/c0d92f90-fbfa-11e9-8190-6be4deb56e01_story.html#comments-wrapper

Kudos to the mom of these boys for pushing forward and testifying in front of the Charter Board. Just assuming that she's low-income and African American, she may not have had access to the social networks and media attention that others of us have.

ITA. If two non-black kids in a different part of town had been walked out of school by a predator we all would have known it. The community around those kids would have lit up sites like this one and it would have gotten immediate attention. Thankfully the mom chose a forum where it got attention of a reporter. Interestingly enough, later in the same meeting when the PCSB approved Rocketship's expansion, they asked no substantial questions about the incident. You'd think after LAMB, they would have at least tried to look like the cared and were concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the worst stories I've ever read. Thank goodness this predator was intercepted. The Post has picked up the story with a few more details and promises from the charter board and the deputy mayor for education to investigate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/after-alleged-attempted-abduction-of-two-brothers-from-a-dc-school-officials-reviews-safety-procedures/2019/10/31/c0d92f90-fbfa-11e9-8190-6be4deb56e01_story.html#comments-wrapper

Kudos to the mom of these boys for pushing forward and testifying in front of the Charter Board. Just assuming that she's low-income and African American, she may not have had access to the social networks and media attention that others of us have.

Yes, she really did a great service to everyone. It's kind of sickening that Rocketship was immediately just approved to expand during that same meeting.

[Anonymous]

WTF?!? "But because the school was not in session Oct. 11, Burnside’s identification was not checked when he entered the campus. In the future, Smith said, the school will check IDs even when school is not in session."

Wait, so their excuse was parent-teacher conferences? That's not how it works. Either kids are allowed in the building or they are not. Period. This is not rocket science, Rocketship.