Any charter schools confirm they are ending school year early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding part of the reason for the early closing is how the teachers contracts set up and the union. If dcps wants time to train teachers on even better distance learning practices they need those days. As, well as for a few other possible changes to class room school operations over the next 3-6-22 months.
They also need those day to have teacher take turns coming in and closing their respective class rooms.
All of which must be done within their contracted days.

This was my immediate thought and since I am a fan of starting early and of being more prepared, I’m glad. But we are at a charter so who knows what will happen.

It seems we would be be far enough off the curve IF we come down quickly verses plateau for a while. I think free touring programs for those that need is after school or weekends would make more sense.

Sorry I mean we would NOT be far enough along for a early August start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Yeah, this is no where near the same thing as snow days.

Many charters already didn't follow Dcps in changing spring break. So closing later or not is a independent choice. If schools feel like they are teaching their students well and it is working I see no reason to not keep teaching. This would allow them to have minimal changes if any for the next years calendar.

I am hoping for this. I know everything planned for the next year is tentatively planned and we will likely have some home learning next school year too. But staying a closely as possible to those date and having some stability and predictability as to what days we will be in school (be it at home or on a classroom) is will go a long way to mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

[Anonymous]

My assumption is that the closing early days will be made up in some way, whether by using them to plan better for early fall catch up distance learning or opening early. It’s not just whoops! Let’s just have teachers get lots of free days off!

I don’t understand at all why parents wouldn’t want that, but must go to show I’m not at all happy with our charter’s distance learning and I want it to stop.

[Anonymous]

Distance learning has be tough for my family; 3 kids and 2 teleworking adults.

Glad school is ending early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This decision seems more about money. The city is hemorrhaging money. To be able to start school early in August - they need to stop paying teachers ASAP. They work a 10-month year and there is no money to add more, even if teachers were able or willing to.

Charter teachers are on one-year contracts. They have to sort that through before whacking 3 years off the school year.

You can’t “stop paying teachers ASAP”. Teachers have already earned the money they get paid in the summer. A portion is taken out of their checks beginning in August to put aside for summer pay. Also this year’s contract is from August -end of June, DC can’t just ignore the contract.
You can’t ask teachers to work more days and not pay them for the additional services.

If next school year starts early it will most certainly end early as well to keep from having to pay teachers for additional days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

Admin can teach the classes themselves if they want it to continue. I’m stressed and at my limit. I need to prioritize my own family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This decision seems more about money. The city is hemorrhaging money. To be able to start school early in August - they need to stop paying teachers ASAP. They work a 10-month year and there is no money to add more, even if teachers were able or willing to.

Charter teachers are on one-year contracts. They have to sort that through before whacking 3 years off the school year.

They can’t stop paying teachers just because school ends early.

Also, not all charters have one-year contracts. It doesn’t matter though because they are all at will employees and can be let go at any moment.

Schools can furlough or layoff employees but none are doing so. My charter is paying all staff including hourly workers through the end of the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

Admin can teach the classes themselves if they want it to continue. I’m stressed and at my limit. I need to prioritize my own family.

I understand the stress, but oh how I hope you aren't one of my kids charter school teachers! We are ALL working our regular jobs and homeschooling. It stinks, but I don't see how it is any harder for teachers with families than it is for people in other professions with families. And I promise you, if I were to suggest admin do my job, I would not be paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

Admin can teach the classes themselves if they want it to continue. I’m stressed and at my limit. I need to prioritize my own family.

I understand the stress, but oh how I hope you aren't one of my kids charter school teachers! We are ALL working our regular jobs and homeschooling. It stinks, but I don't see how it is any harder for teachers with families than it is for people in other professions with families. And I promise you, if I were to suggest admin do my job, I would not be paid.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

Admin can teach the classes themselves if they want it to continue. I’m stressed and at my limit. I need to prioritize my own family.

I understand the stress, but oh how I hope you aren't one of my kids charter school teachers! We are ALL working our regular jobs and homeschooling. It stinks, but I don't see how it is any harder for teachers with families than it is for people in other professions with families. And I promise you, if I were to suggest admin do my job, I would not be paid.

You don’t know my particular situation, so it’s quite terrible of you to say something like that. YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

Admin can teach the classes themselves if they want it to continue. I’m stressed and at my limit. I need to prioritize my own family.

I understand the stress, but oh how I hope you aren't one of my kids charter school teachers! We are ALL working our regular jobs and homeschooling. It stinks, but I don't see how it is any harder for teachers with families than it is for people in other professions with families. And I promise you, if I were to suggest admin do my job, I would not be paid.

You don’t know my particular situation, so it’s quite terrible of you to say something like that. YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

Why would you expect strangers one a forum to know the details of your situation?? All you are telling us is you don't want to keep teaching for whatever professional and personal reasons.
Ok. I learned a long time ago there are always people that have it better than you and many that have it worse than you. And most of the time you actually have no clue what anyone else is really dealing with.
That still doesn't mean you get paid when you are not working or that a company is going to change policy because of one employee.
Hope you are able to find a better balance and a job you will enjoy more than not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My assumption is that the closing early days will be made up in some way, whether by using them to plan better for early fall catch up distance learning or opening early. It’s not just whoops! Let’s just have teachers get lots of free days off!

I don’t understand at all why parents wouldn’t want that, but must go to show I’m not at all happy with our charter’s distance learning and I want it to stop.

I would not assume says will be made up. Die to the 180 waiver no days actually have to be made up in any manner whatsoever.
Sure the Mayor mentioned making up the learning but that just sounds good. The Chancellor said they would tell families what students would be eligible for summer school nor the make up time. DCPS is not going to make up the days with everyone nor is a charter. With dcps and charters pretty much going to be if families don't like to they can lottery or leave to some where else.

I am happy enough with our charters distance learning that I hope we just keep going through the end of the year. I don't want the stress or worrying about making up or catching up independently on miss lessons. Though our charters program is a lot of work and we don't get it all done everyday. But that gives us small activities for weekends and breaks.
I would understand if they wanted to take a few days off or a week to prepare for all the changes coming next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as you all want distance learning to continue at charters, what do you expect will be the reaction from teachers if this is the one time they decide to NOT follow DCPS?

We are constantly told we can’t close early or open late for inclement weather because “we follow DCPS”. So now they’re just going to backtrack on the excuse they always use and what, teachers are just going to accept it? No.

Teachers do have to accept it if their charter decides to continue instruction. DCPS isn’t paying your salary. If you don’t want to continue to teach according to your contract, say goodbye to your paycheck. It’s a job, not an entitlement.

Admin can teach the classes themselves if they want it to continue. I’m stressed and at my limit. I need to prioritize my own family.

I understand the stress, but oh how I hope you aren't one of my kids charter school teachers! We are ALL working our regular jobs and homeschooling. It stinks, but I don't see how it is any harder for teachers with families than it is for people in other professions with families. And I promise you, if I were to suggest admin do my job, I would not be paid.

You don’t know my particular situation, so it’s quite terrible of you to say something like that. YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

This is a terrible time with many families in very stressful situates. Many people have lost their jobs outright so I'm grateful to have my charter job but I have considered taking leave. If you can't work at all, and your job is requiring you to do so, you have to consider taking leave or quitting.

[Anonymous]

LAMB just confirmed that they are staying with their original June 17 end date, restarting August 31. They stated that the move to Kingsbury played into the decision because any earlier start would be a challenging timeline with construction.