"Autonomous status", what is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI that Stoddert just achieved this status. Go Wolves

so did Murch!

Oh my, Murch parent here, it scares me a little that Murch may have less oversight . . .

[Anonymous]

Eaton was just granted autonomy as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI that Stoddert just achieved this status. Go Wolves

so did Murch!

Oh my, Murch parent here, it scares me a little that Murch may have less oversight . . .

I'm a new Murch parent...could you expound, please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI that Stoddert just achieved this status. Go Wolves

so did Murch!

Oh my, Murch parent here, it scares me a little that Murch may have less oversight . . .

I'm a new Murch parent...could you expound, please?

New principal seems to be a bit of a numbers jockey, not surprising given the emphasis on test scores in evaluating teachers. If your child is typical in all ways, they should be fine and you will likely be very happy with Murch. However this parent has found her unhelpful in one to one conversations and generally difficult to approach. If one is looking at Murch as a business that is aiming for certain results (DC CAS scores, AYP status and autonomy), she would be considered great! But there are smaller segments of the student population (and their parents) that seem to be a thorn in her side. These are the most vulnerable students and I worry about her support of them and worry that autonomous status may make this situation worse. Principal aside, Murch is filled with good people, most especially the AP and many teachers who have been there for years. I hope they all survived this latest round of firings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does a DCPS school "threaten to go charter"? It is not as if they could take the physical property charter is it? DC needs a public high school to serve the in boundary students. Would the principal and teachers just quit? This could not come out of the blue, there is a process, no?

There is a precedent. Paul Junior High School converted to charter. Here's a link to the obituary for Cecile Middleton, who led the conversion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703722.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does a DCPS school "threaten to go charter"? It is not as if they could take the physical property charter is it? DC needs a public high school to serve the in boundary students. Would the principal and teachers just quit? This could not come out of the blue, there is a process, no?

There is a precedent. Paul Junior High School converted to charter. Here's a link to the obituary for Cecile Middleton, who led the conversion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703722.html

Wow. Now THAT'S the kind of individual who should be doing Rhee's job!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
New principal seems to be a bit of a numbers jockey, not surprising given the emphasis on test scores in evaluating teachers. If your child is typical in all ways, they should be fine and you will likely be very happy with Murch. However this parent has found her unhelpful in one to one conversations and generally difficult to approach. If one is looking at Murch as a business that is aiming for certain results (DC CAS scores, AYP status and autonomy), she would be considered great! But there are smaller segments of the student population (and their parents) that seem to be a thorn in her side. These are the most vulnerable students and I worry about her support of them and worry that autonomous status may make this situation worse. Principal aside, Murch is filled with good people, most especially the AP and many teachers who have been there for years. I hope they all survived this latest round of firings.

Thanks very much for the input. May I ask which segments of the student population you are concerned about?

As an aside, glad to hear the positive comments re: teachers and the AP... we had that impression after meeting her.

[Anonymous]

Did any schools lose autonomous status?

[Anonymous]

What other schools were converted to autonoous this coming school year?

[Anonymous]

Is there a list of the newly added schools?

[Anonymous]

Email from DCPS mentioned adding new schools but the website only lists last year's schools. I'm befuddled.

[Anonymous]

What exactly does "autonomous status" mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI that Stoddert just achieved this status. Go Wolves

so did Murch!

Oh my, Murch parent here, it scares me a little that Murch may have less oversight . . .

I'm a new Murch parent...could you expound, please?

New principal seems to be a bit of a numbers jockey, not surprising given the emphasis on test scores in evaluating teachers. If your child is typical in all ways, they should be fine and you will likely be very happy with Murch. However this parent has found her unhelpful in one to one conversations and generally difficult to approach. If one is looking at Murch as a business that is aiming for certain results (DC CAS scores, AYP status and autonomy), she would be considered great! But there are smaller segments of the student population (and their parents) that seem to be a thorn in her side. These are the most vulnerable students and I worry about her support of them and worry that autonomous status may make this situation worse. Principal aside, Murch is filled with good people, most especially the AP and many teachers who have been there for years. I hope they all survived this latest round of firings.

"Unhelpful" and "difficult" are putting it mildly. Another Murch parent in total support of this post. Many people have shared your experience. It's sad and a bit scary. I can only hope that the best of Murch is still left standing after this principal.