MV s/o: impact of flat budget on other schools

[Anonymous]

One of the MV threads just said that the school is adding kids to make up for a the lack of an increase in per pupil spending from the city. Does anyone know if other schools are doing this? Has anyone heard news from other schools about things being cut or other big changes? This makes me wonder if MV was closer to the fiscal edge than other schools - but maybe they just chose a different solution and one that makes sense for them (for example, it may be better to add more kids at prek and then only replace kids who leave at kindergarten so that everyone has at least a year of spanish before kindergarten).

[Anonymous]

This has effected all charter schools, but it's strange the way MV is handling it for sure. Did they spend to much on renovations? Not enough cushion?

Adding kids to get more money seems like a bad idea for programing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has effected all charter schools, but it's strange the way MV is handling it for sure. Did they spend to much on renovations? Not enough cushion?

Adding kids to get more money seems like a bad idea for programing.

+1. I didn't think they added for the per pupil but rather spending too much on renovations. Adding ECE wing, outside play etc. Not to start a war but if I were at MV I would see this as a huge red flag. The school was ready pretty big to be so relatively new IMO.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, as someone who was offered a spot after getting another spot at another DCI feeder, it makes me nervous that it seems like they are adding classes to strengthen shaky finances vs based on a strategic assessment that adding classes makes sense and furthers their mission. That said, everyone I know at MV is pretty happy and I think they are doing a lot right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, as someone who was offered a spot after getting another spot at another DCI feeder, it makes me nervous that it seems like they are adding classes to strengthen shaky finances vs based on a strategic assessment that adding classes makes sense and furthers their mission. That said, everyone I know at MV is pretty happy and I think they are doing a lot right.

What was the other DCI feeder? Did you take the MV spot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, as someone who was offered a spot after getting another spot at another DCI feeder, it makes me nervous that it seems like they are adding classes to strengthen shaky finances vs based on a strategic assessment that adding classes makes sense and furthers their mission. That said, everyone I know at MV is pretty happy and I think they are doing a lot right.

What was the other DCI feeder? Did you take the MV spot?

LAMB. We have not decided and realize we are very lucky to have this choice (last year our WL numbers for both schools were 200+).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, as someone who was offered a spot after getting another spot at another DCI feeder, it makes me nervous that it seems like they are adding classes to strengthen shaky finances vs based on a strategic assessment that adding classes makes sense and furthers their mission. That said, everyone I know at MV is pretty happy and I think they are doing a lot right.

I know 6 families at MV. Equally split on how "happy" they are.

[Anonymous]

I think they are handling it wonderfully. I actually think kids do better when they start earlier, and all this is doing is increasing the early starts for that cohorts. Fewer kindergartners without spanish exposure is great for everyone.

They also added more teachers to the upper grades, which must be costly, but a very good move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I know 6 families at MV. Equally split on how "happy" they are.

Is this because they have had different experiences (different teachers, different grades...) or are their experiences essentially the same but they differ in what they want out of a school? Do you know what makes the ones who are happy, happy, and what it is that the others don't like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, as someone who was offered a spot after getting another spot at another DCI feeder, it makes me nervous that it seems like they are adding classes to strengthen shaky finances vs based on a strategic assessment that adding classes makes sense and furthers their mission. That said, everyone I know at MV is pretty happy and I think they are doing a lot right.

I know 6 families at MV. Equally split on how "happy" they are.

I'm an MV family. We are incredibly unhappy and leaving the school. The notice today about cutting admin support, adding kids just for money, and increasing class sizes of some grades that are already having issues with classroom management just makes it clear to me how non-strategic they are and how they are not focused on being a school, but on being cool and innovative, or I'm not sure what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are handling it wonderfully. I actually think kids do better when they start earlier, and all this is doing is increasing the early starts for that cohorts. Fewer kindergartners without spanish exposure is great for everyone.

They also added more teachers to the upper grades, which must be costly, but a very good move.

That is not how I read the notice. they are cutting teachers for the rising 3rd and 4th, increasing class size. they say this will let them hire special ed and support people but they didn't say how many, and I think strong teachers and small classes is the palce to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, as someone who was offered a spot after getting another spot at another DCI feeder, it makes me nervous that it seems like they are adding classes to strengthen shaky finances vs based on a strategic assessment that adding classes makes sense and furthers their mission. That said, everyone I know at MV is pretty happy and I think they are doing a lot right.

I know 6 families at MV. Equally split on how "happy" they are.

I'm an MV family. We are incredibly unhappy and leaving the school. The notice today about cutting admin support, adding kids just for money, and increasing class sizes of some grades that are already having issues with classroom management just makes it clear to me how non-strategic they are and how they are not focused on being a school, but on being cool and innovative, or I'm not sure what.

This sounds familiar. Where are you going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are handling it wonderfully. I actually think kids do better when they start earlier, and all this is doing is increasing the early starts for that cohorts. Fewer kindergartners without spanish exposure is great for everyone.

They also added more teachers to the upper grades, which must be costly, but a very good move.

That is not how I read the notice. they are cutting teachers for the rising 3rd and 4th, increasing class size. they say this will let them hire special ed and support people but they didn't say how many, and I think strong teachers and small classes is the palce to start.

A family like ours is coming from a DCPS Spanish immersion school. Our child is well prepared to start K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are handling it wonderfully. I actually think kids do better when they start earlier, and all this is doing is increasing the early starts for that cohorts. Fewer kindergartners without spanish exposure is great for everyone.

They also added more teachers to the upper grades, which must be costly, but a very good move.

That is not how I read the notice. they are cutting teachers for the rising 3rd and 4th, increasing class size. they say this will let them hire special ed and support people but they didn't say how many, and I think strong teachers and small classes is the palce to start.

They are not cutting teachers for the rising 3 and 4th grades. They are going to have two full-time teachers in each class, one being a special ed specialist in two of them. Previously there was only 1 teacher and half an aid in these classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are handling it wonderfully. I actually think kids do better when they start earlier, and all this is doing is increasing the early starts for that cohorts. Fewer kindergartners without spanish exposure is great for everyone.

They also added more teachers to the upper grades, which must be costly, but a very good move.

That is not how I read the notice. they are cutting teachers for the rising 3rd and 4th, increasing class size. they say this will let them hire special ed and support people but they didn't say how many, and I think strong teachers and small classes is the palce to start.

A family like ours is coming from a DCPS Spanish immersion school. Our child is well prepared to start K.

Of course some are, but you can't just pick those who have had prior experience. That isn't how it works.