DCJCC problems?

[Anonymous]

Can any current parents explain what is happening at the DCJCC? I heard thru the grapevine that the director has left and that there may be issues with accreditation. Should I cross it off my list for next year?

[Anonymous]

I've also heard awful things. It's apparently chaotic and even an unsafe environment at this point. I know a family who pulled their child out last year - and this was before the director left. It's apparently pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

The director left last month, they havent found anyone to replace her yet, and there have been significant basic accrediting issues with the school. I think the chaos, disorganization and inexperience of many of the teachers makes it a barely functioning school at times.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the director left at the end of the year to start a new preschool program at a synagogue in MD. They are recruiting for a new director, and the assistant director has stepped in and IMO is doing quite a good job.

To OP: before you rule the DCJCC out based on the "grapevine" and third party hearsay, why don't you tour the place and set up a meeting with the assistant director to have her answer your questions? I'm sure she'd also be happy to put you in touch with current parents. I am one, and my persective is this:

Yes - the school has some work to do organizationally and administratively, but my child's teachers are caring, competent and devoted. The programming is very good, the facility is excellent and convenient if you live in the neighborhood, and my DS for one is thriving there. I have no concerns about his "safety" whatsoever.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

No one should ever rule out a preschool based solely on anonymous email and should check it out for themselves. That said, I just came on this listserve to try to find an alternative for my child as I am really not happy with the DCJCC this year. Sad and disappointed, and hoping that the acting director and a few other genuinely caring teachers will help pull it together, but not sure I am willing to keep my child there until they figure it all out.

[Anonymous]

We are currently with DCJCC, and it is a great place with a lot of resources for our little one. Our class teachers are excellent and are doing a wonderful job. That said, it is a bit unorganized. It all started when they expanded to add a class without properly filling or forgetting to file proper paperwork. DC government tied the process of approving the new classroom to the overall yearly certification.

It is a good thing the director left. She was a very lovely lady but, it seemed, a lot of this disorganization was really her not being on top of things. With the licensing process almost complete, getting their classroom back, getting the new director, they are making good steps to get that place back to 'normal'.

Do the tour and consider it. It may not be the best at this point but they are investing in management right now, and they will get it straight. The school has a wonderful program with excellent resources. The parents are great as well.

[Anonymous]

Not to "rob" this post, so to speak, but does anyone know if they are having problems with the maintenance/cleaniness of their pool ? My son took swim lessons during the fall session. We were very happy with the class then. Lessons resumed this past Sunday, and today we noticed that he has a very nasty rash on his testicles. I'm hoping this is just a coincidence, as my son really enjoys the class. Anyone else have this issue ?

[Anonymous]

Can any of the current or past parents of DCJCC parents tell me more about the former director? I am considering the nursery school she is starting in MD and need more information. What is your impression of her? Did she deliver what she promised? Thanks for the help.

[Anonymous]

We took classes there with our toddler, although we did not enroll in the preschool, so take this FWIW, but my impression was that Madeline Lowitz, assuming that's the person in question, is very nice and genuinely cares about children but is a trifle disorganized. If the new school offers a good administrative support structure, that may not matter so much.

[Anonymous]

I am a current parent although my child has only been there since September and my guess is that Madeleine was a little distracted this year interviewing for her new position and getting married (in December).

I think that she will put together a very good program and hire great teachers. She is a very warm and caring person and that really permeated the DC JCC program. She is also very experienced, educated, and involved in the area of preschool education (and specifically Reggio and Jewish based programs).

I don't think she is very good at administration/organization. So as PP said, if she has a good administrative support team it will probably be fine. But I imagine that will be very important in beginning a new program so I'd probably try to find out what that staff will be comprised of.

[Anonymous]

I am a current JCC parent as well. I don't think Madeline was married in December, that was her assistant, Sarah. Madeline was very sweet. She was also good with the children, just not-so-good with the parents. Any email you sent her would take days for a response, if you were lucky to get one at all. Her overall communication with parents, quite frankly, was terrible. Things that we should have been allerted to were delayed by days, sometimes weeks. I think her heart was in the right place, but maybe she was overwhelmed or just couldn't get her act together.

As for trusting her at a new school, I don't know, that's a good question.

[Anonymous]

I certainly hope Madeleine got married in December since I contributed to a gift! She did, in fact her name changed in December.

[Anonymous]

lol, well, there you go. Shows you how much information she gave to parents. I had no idea and I saw her almost every day.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is currently on the DCJCC Daycare waiting list for the 2-year old program this coming September. Actually, I hope she is on the waiting list. I sent in the application, paid the application fee months ago and have since received zero notice from the DCJCC. I have left messages (via voice mail and e-mail) with the Assistant Director and I have gotten no responses. Currently, I am very not impressed and am hoping that things will turn around before September 2008.

[Anonymous]

To the last poster - also try the registrar. His name is Eddie and here is his contact info:

Eddie Chavez, Registrar
[phone], [e-mail]

I've found him to be pretty responsive.