Ward 6 parents request to Catania and Henderson on Middle Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think all the commonality needed is bringing together parents who want to learn from each other and work for better schools. I believe it grew out of the success of the school libraries project and was originally envisioned as a way for leadership at neighboring PTAs on the Hill to trade info and best practices. Every PTA president and principal are invited to every meeting. Some come, some don't. Some pass that info along to parents, some don't. Every meeting is open and info's always posted ahead of time on the web, Facebook, and Twitter (@CHPSPO).

Next meeting is 1/22. New faces are always welcome.

So be it. But it doesn't mean you are allowed to represent yourselves as speaking on behalf of all "Capitol Hill Parents," particularly when some schools -- e.g., Brent -- apparently do not even participate for one reason or another. Fairness and honesty dictate that this fact be disclosed when communicating with someone like Catania. In this vein, it would be helpful to have a copy of the actual letter sent to Henderson and Catania for download on the CHPSPO website, as opposed to the cryptic notes posted here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the schools in Ward 6 are invited to send representatives to the Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) monthly meeting (3rd Tuesday of the month, unless specified). School representatives receive reminders 2 days before each meeting. Meeting agendas and notes from each meeting are posted at http://chpspo.org/. All CHPSPO meetings are open, and interested parents are welcome to attend.

Sorry, info such as meeting dates and agendas needs to be disseminated more broadly. I doubt many parents outside the Cluster even know that CHPSPO exists, much less the activities in which it is engaged. Perhaps more outreach on the part of CHPSPO is needed, including asking for time to make a presentation at PTA meetings.

[Anonymous]

I think the truth is that CHPSPO founders and leaders don't want big meetings with a range of opinions. They want like minded small groups to push through pet agenda projects.

I wish they would stick to improvement projects like libraries, sports facilities, musical equipment, small grants for teachers and support and ideas shared among schools rather than taking quite strong stands on things like feeder patterns, funding priorities, charter schools and school administration.

In my view they overstep their mandate by testifying or writing letters on controversial subjects and saying they represent all the public school parents on Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all the commonality needed is bringing together parents who want to learn from each other and work for better schools. I believe it grew out of the success of the school libraries project and was originally envisioned as a way for leadership at neighboring PTAs on the Hill to trade info and best practices. Every PTA president and principal are invited to every meeting. Some come, some don't. Some pass that info along to parents, some don't. Every meeting is open and info's always posted ahead of time on the web, Facebook, and Twitter (@CHPSPO).

Next meeting is 1/22. New faces are always welcome.

So be it. But it doesn't mean you are allowed to represent yourselves as speaking on behalf of all "Capitol Hill Parents," particularly when some schools -- e.g., Brent -- apparently do not even participate for one reason or another. Fairness and honesty dictate that this fact be disclosed when communicating with someone like Catania. In this vein, it would be helpful to have a copy of the actual letter sent to Henderson and Catania for download on the CHPSPO website, as opposed to the cryptic notes posted here.

Improving libraries is very different than advocating for grade configuration changes

[Anonymous]

I spent a few minute poking around the CHPSPO. They certainly don't make it easy to access information. Minutes from meetings are not accessible under a single tab, perhaps because many 2013 minutes seem to be missing. The same is true of testimony given by individuals, many of who seem to do so under the auspices of CHPSPO.

[Anonymous]

And you're all aware that many (probably most) Wards in DC have similar groups that dare to speak on education issues in their neighborhoods without actually getting written sign off from every resident? Cut these folks some slack for doing the hard work no one else is volunteering for. Unless you've been turned away from a meeting, maybe assume your voice would actually be welcome and your contribution valued.

[Anonymous]

PP advanced the assertion that CHPSPO is not exactly Skull and Bones. I would point out that there does not appear to be any mailing address or contact person. Likewise, no "officers" are identified. Not exactly the typical advocacy organization. Where is the accountability when claiming to speak on behalf of Capitol Hill parents when it comes to such matters as feeder patterns and alignment of DCPS elementaries and charter middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And you're all aware that many (probably most) Wards in DC have similar groups that dare to speak on education issues in their neighborhoods without actually getting written sign off from every resident? Cut these folks some slack for doing the hard work no one else is volunteering for. Unless you've been turned away from a meeting, maybe assume your voice would actually be welcome and your contribution valued.

But see, there are education groups in Ward 6... This group just claimed to represent all of them and Kaya and David listened.

Why? Because they are white and have money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP advanced the assertion that CHPSPO is not exactly Skull and Bones. I would point out that there does not appear to be any mailing address or contact person. Likewise, no "officers" are identified. Not exactly the typical advocacy organization. Where is the accountability when claiming to speak on behalf of Capitol Hill parents when it comes to such matters as feeder patterns and alignment of DCPS elementaries and charter middle schools?

Exactly, when I emailed them yesterday about the issue...I got no response.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't they need to be chartered as a nonprofit and register with the Office of Campaign Finance to lobby DCPS and the Council?

[Anonymous]

Kaya doesn't care, she loves letting those rich Georgetown and Hill folk fawn all over her.

[Anonymous]

Janney just lobbied their way to a second renovation, I bet the Hill parents will lobby for charter school preference. I guess money talks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Janney just lobbied their way to a second renovation, I bet the Hill parents will lobby for charter school preference. I guess money talks.

Wasn't that Tommy Wells platform? I remember he mentioned that being an issue of his - not sure if it still is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Janney just lobbied their way to a second renovation, I bet the Hill parents will lobby for charter school preference. I guess money talks.

Tommy Wells came up with that idea all in his own. As far as I know, no DCPS parent ever asked for preference at a charter middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney just lobbied their way to a second renovation, I bet the Hill parents will lobby for charter school preference. I guess money talks.

Tommy Wells came up with that idea all in his own. As far as I know, no DCPS parent ever asked for preference at a charter middle school.

But plenty of Hill parents have lobbied of charter preference at Elememtry schools.