What's it like to be in a new charter school in its first year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this all about the PA trying to calm down the however-many people demanding a guidance counselor in light of the bullying problem? It seems like someone who works at the school or knows someone who works at the school is posting inside information because there isn't a frenzy taking place on the list serve.

The PA did nothing to calm anyone down. it's about the PA deciding there was a bullying "problem", creating an amateur-hour survey, and overstepping boundaries. no one said there was anything on the listserv (except for the usual crackpots).

[Anonymous]

It is starting to sound like school employees on here trying to torpedo things. What the hell? And calling the parents where you teach "crackpots" goes hand in hand with how things get handled. If you are against the school you are a "crackpot". Don't speak up or you'll be ridiculed into submission and called names behind your back or on anonymous message boards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is starting to sound like school employees on here trying to torpedo things. What the hell? And calling the parents where you teach "crackpots" goes hand in hand with how things get handled. If you are against the school you are a "crackpot". Don't speak up or you'll be ridiculed into submission and called names behind your back or on anonymous message boards.

how funny that you assume that anyone who disagrees with someone else (or you) is a teacher. how funny that you use the term "against the school". wow. are you an example of what makes your school great???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is starting to sound like school employees on here trying to torpedo things. What the hell? And calling the parents where you teach "crackpots" goes hand in hand with how things get handled. If you are against the school you are a "crackpot". Don't speak up or you'll be ridiculed into submission and called names behind your back or on anonymous message boards.

It's looney tunes here and on the listserve. No one in their right mind will say anything and most have the sense to stay the hell away from the PA and their listserve. Judging from the amount of stuff on the listserve other than the occasion lost items and kids' activities around town, most people have the sense to avoid saying anything b/c anything of substance starts a fight. Fortunately, the school is nothing like bizarro world/school depicted on DCUM and on the PA's listserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this all about the PA trying to calm down the however-many people demanding a guidance counselor in light of the bullying problem? It seems like someone who works at the school or knows someone who works at the school is posting inside information because there isn't a frenzy taking place on the list serve.

The PA did nothing to calm anyone down. it's about the PA deciding there was a bullying "problem", creating an amateur-hour survey, and overstepping boundaries. no one said there was anything on the listserv (except for the usual crackpots).

My child has never been bullied, but I appreciate the efforts of the PA with the survey. Some children HAVE been bullied and withdrawn from the school because of it. An effort to learn more about parent experiences is not "overstepping boundaries." New charter schools take a while build school culture and to the extent that any child has been bullied, I feel sad and angry that it wasn't nipped in the bud sooner.

[Anonymous]

Why does every thread have to revolve around one school? Can't you people talk to each other? Too bad it's too much temptation to resist for you to keep "defending" your school. You really look worse with every post. Get over yourselves.

[Anonymous]

I'm the parent of a child that withdrew from YY after bullying. The principal did not acknowledge the problems and told me that was not reason that I withdrew my child.

I am thankful that the PA is pursuing this as the adminstration is in denial. If the administration were not in denial, then the PA would probably not need to be involved.

[Anonymous]

YY is not in its first year, so all the discussions of its current state are completely irrelevant to this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YY is not in its first year, so all the discussions of its current state are completely irrelevant to this thread.

yes and no. YY is in its fourth year. The leading edge class is in the school's first year of teaching fourth graders. The issues of how quickly it takes to inculcate a school culture, how a school needs to grow quickly, how a school "fills" a building, how the parents change from let's all do this together to entitled wondering why no one is welcoming them. That is all relevant to deciding to send your child to a first year charter. It could be the first year is great, stars in your eyes, and the fourth year is the one that gets you down.

Assuming the OP is thinking of more than one year at a first year charter, the path at YY may (or may not) show how growing pains occur in year 4.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the insightful posts on school expansion. The scenario where the school doubles in size is what my family is about to experience next year at a well-regarded charter. I have no doubt that there will be challenges simply because, not only will there be students and families new to the school culture, there will be an administration that is relatively inexperienced. One of the real problems with charters is that, in some places, the school leadership has literally learned on the job without any mentoring from a superintendent or good professional development. Many principals of charters do not even meet the licensing requirements for managing a typical public school.

You may ask why did we choose a charter? The school, until next year, is very small. Most families know each other. Teachers are hardworking, warm and accessible. The administration has been uneven, but the safe, family atmosphere where parents are involved often compensates for where the school lacks. It all works fine while your children are in primary grades. Once the children enter the middle school years, it gets very tricky. There is often a fair amount of teacher turnover and, as some families migrate to other middle school options, an academically weak cohort of students left behind. To the school's credit though, teachers work hard for those below grade level students. However, it's not a place for one who is above grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread have to revolve around one school? Can't you people talk to each other? Too bad it's too much temptation to resist for you to keep "defending" your school. You really look worse with every post. Get over yourselves.

I think you are selective in your singling out one particular school. IT, MV and TR all have threads taken over. It depends on the issues that come out in the thread. All these schools are relatively young, and apparently people have things to share with the other readers and if you don't like what is being said, you can do what the ED at YY tell parents who are unhappy about a situation, "you can always leave".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread have to revolve around one school? Can't you people talk to each other? Too bad it's too much temptation to resist for you to keep "defending" your school. You really look worse with every post. Get over yourselves.

I think you are selective in your singling out one particular school. IT, MV and TR all have threads taken over. It depends on the issues that come out in the thread. All these schools are relatively young, and apparently people have things to share with the other readers and if you don't like what is being said, you can do what the ED at YY tell parents who are unhappy about a situation, "you can always leave".

And go where? Eventually every thread turns into YY posters talking to other YY posters about YY. Shut up already, you people just suck all the oxygen out of the room.

[Anonymous]

Not true, PP.

[Anonymous]

I think what happens is the vast majority of YY parents who are happy stay quiet. We've learned that to respond only invites more drama.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to chime in despite 13:17 (although I agree with them). I don't know of any parents who are up at arms about the current PA. As far as I'm concerned the PA is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing--for now that's working hard on the gala and addressing issues of concern to parents. An informal survey about bullying is perfectly appropriate to take the temperature of the school. I love YY but the defensiveness of the administration is bizarre and exhausting. If there was nothing to worry about they shouldn't feel threatened. If not, well, they need to deal with the reality. Like it or not, how the parents feel about the school is important. Now, to take this back to the question at hand. I would say it's critical in any new school to get people into the administration who are NOT parents and NOT founders who can deal objectively with bumps in the road. This should be blindingly obvious and yet YY continues to only hire parents. If any admin types are reading this please, please take this under consideration.