Seriously? "New Founders" at Creative Minds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ They're all effed up! +1 on getting the Post involved. And for the poster doing the usual fake hysteria outcry (15:33), you know darn well that a rumor as specific as this one is a little different that some petty grievance. You must be that fake new charter founder. Shame on you. Why don't you just get in line like everyone else? Also, hate to tell you, there's a reason there's a process to report suspicious and unethical activity. It's happening! I say report 'em. Report them all!!!!!

Wrong, completely so. We are already at a school we love, and I have nothing whatsoever to do with CM.

I just think you present an interesting combination of lazy, yet rabid. It's incredibly un-flattering, yet I can't look away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Founders can be recruited for some time after the application is approved. They do have to be identified, although not sure of the process. The family in question could have been added as a founding family after the application then applied when their children were eligible. Agree with others if you're interested, contact the principal.

+1

Assuming this rumor is even true, I don't see anything improper going on. Adding founders after the application is approved is not unusual. Take a look at the DC Scholars charter application and it says the same thing about recruiting more members to the Founding Group.

People are freaking out about founders being added, but it makes total sense to me that approved schools would need a ton of help between the application process and actually getting the school up and running. It seems that the PCSB recognizes this as well which is why they allow members to be added to the founding group, but it's also a good thing that the PCSB puts a cap on the number of students that can be given preference this way.

You display a complete lack of understanding of the term "founder". You have to identify your Founding Board Members WHEN YOU APPLY FOR YOUR CHARTER. Those are the people already signed on to do the ridiculously hard work to make the school actually happen.

It is of course possible - actually inevitable - that you will need additional help or have new people find out, sign on, and dedicate immense time and resources to helping the school open. But they are TOO LATE to be founding board members. MAYBE yuo can amend your charter before you open to add new founders, but come on, Creative Minds is going into Year 2 - that is absolutely TOO LATE to add "new founding members". The school is already "founded"!!

This whole thing stinks way high, and I hope those with specific information are reporting it. If it's not true, then CM will have no problems. If it is true, I hope those who showed this poor judgement are held accountable and this is fixed. It is a total disservice to the families playing by the rules to apply, and I say that as someone already comfortably enrolled in a great school.

[Anonymous]

If some of you spent this level of energy contributing to your neighborhood school, imagine how great DCPS would be?

I have no dog in this fight, but I had to point out how crazy you all sound. It must be because you are parents of a 3 y.o.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If some of you spent this level of energy contributing to your neighborhood school, imagine how great DCPS would be?

I have no dog in this fight, but I had to point out how crazy you all sound. It must be because you are parents of a 3 y.o.

No dog in this fight, but plenty of time to show up, call names and act superior. Maybe you are a teenager?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If some of you spent this level of energy contributing to your neighborhood school, imagine how great DCPS would be?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If some of you spent this level of energy contributing to your neighborhood school, imagine how great DCPS would be?

+1

I don't totally disagree with your point, but it's worth mentioning that quite a few of the very popular charters (YY, MV, LAMB, Stokes) have educational focuses that simply are not found in "your neighborhood school". The same can be said for some of the neighborhood schools that have long waitlists with no turnover. There are bilingual programs, Montessori programs, etc. Many parents, for whatever reasons, feel strongly about those educational strategies, so suggesting that they put more energy into their neighborhood schools (which lack those strategies) kind of misses the point.

I was personally interested in Creative Minds because of the international primary curriculum. Our wait list number is crazy high. We also tried the lottery for Cooke and Thomson too, because they also both have the IPC. We were shut out of those schools as well.

[Anonymous]

two new founding members--with at least 4 kids between them-- added after the 2013 lottery seems fishy to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:two new founding members--with at least 4 kids between them-- added after the 2013 lottery seems fishy to me.

It seems fishy to me that you are not saying where you heard this info....from a friend? neighbor?

[Anonymous]

It seems fishy to me that you are not saying where you heard this info....from a friend? neighbor?

what use is it if I told you that I heard it from a friend at the school? is that more or less believable. I have reason but no proof to believe that said friend wasn't lying. I don't really care, its not a school I'm particularly interested in, I feel badly for people who are founding members who might be under a cloud of suspcion. But I do wonder if it is ethical. who would be the person to ask? the head of the school board? what would they say? Perhaps it is within their rights to add founding members or to give preference to board member kids, I don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It seems fishy to me that you are not saying where you heard this info....from a friend? neighbor?

what use is it if I told you that I heard it from a friend at the school? is that more or less believable. I have reason but no proof to believe that said friend wasn't lying. I don't really care, its not a school I'm particularly interested in, I feel badly for people who are founding members who might be under a cloud of suspcion. But I do wonder if it is ethical. who would be the person to ask? the head of the school board? what would they say? Perhaps it is within their rights to add founding members or to give preference to board member kids, I don't know.

It is meaningful. This whole thread is based on a ..."I heard this rumor"...well, I have heard lots of BS about many charter schools, some true I am sure and some not. The OP said 2 kids, now you say 4. This many posters on this thread assume this is true, but in the 5 pages of responses , no one has done a thing about it and posted a follow up. I find that interesting. I also wonder why everyone just assumed this is happening without any proof. BTW, is it 2or 4 kids, from 1 or 2 new founders?

[Anonymous]

I sent the url of this thread to the Charter Board. Now they can look into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent the url of this thread to the Charter Board. Now they can look into it.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

+1. Now the ball is in their court. And you thank you for also having balls! Complacency with the shadiness in this area is why we can't get rid of it. If they throw it out, so be it. But, what if they find out that the school is being illegitimate? Two or four kids or whatever will have their rightful spots given back to them. I think the risk is worth it!

[Anonymous]

From what I understand one of the board members was added last year because of his neighbor. His twins were admitted next year for ps3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand one of the board members was added last year because of his neighbor. His twins were admitted next year for ps3.

There is a difference between "board members" (who can be added at any time) and "founding board member" which can only be named at original founding of school. Only founding board members can get their kids in without a lottery. Regular board members cannot, their kids must always go through the lottery, although obviously some schools fudge this.