LAMB closing its existing campuses and consolidating to one campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a LAMB parent could simply ask their Principal, in person and face-to-face, whether this rumor is true.

I know LAMB is not famous for good communication from its administration but surely they would respond honestly if the question was put to them directly by a parent?

HAAAAAAAAA, good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a LAMB parent could simply ask their Principal, in person and face-to-face, whether this rumor is true.

I know LAMB is not famous for good communication from its administration but surely they would respond honestly if the question was put to them directly by a parent?

What makes you think that they would respond openly and honestly? That has not been their track record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is LAMB using dcum as their rumor floater? I'm assuming There a an internal listserv or Facebook page for this?

Not a LAMB parent. You don't have any strategic or long-term thinking capabilities all. Obviously the admin would rather keep this to themselves. Why? BECAUSE ADVERTISING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AUTOMATICALLY UPS THE PRICE FOR THE SELLER (unless they're as stupid as you are).

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they've found a building near the SD campus. I was told that the WR campus is temporary and that they're going to close MO and SD. I just wish they would be honest about their plans. I don't to start my younger child there if I'm going to have to move him to a new school in a year or two.

This would be a tough location given that the majority of their families are in Ward 4. What locations over there are available?

See page 88 in this document. The majority really isn't in Ward 4 anymore. http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/Choosing%20Quality%20Report_0.pdf

from a June 2016 report:

The majority are Ward 4 residents (49%), followed by Ward 5 (20%), Ward 1 (12%),
Ward 6 (6%), Ward 3 (6%), Ward 7 (3%), Ward 2 (2%) and Ward 8 (2%)

http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/LAMB%20PCS%20Review%20Appendix.pdf

so almost a majority! Hence the reason a location for the whole school over by SD would be hard for (almost) the majority of families. Not saying they won't do that, but that has to be a significant consideration in their decision. As a Ward 4 family, we would probably do it, but it might also make a decision to leave the city all together that much easier.

But not a majority. And moving to ward 4 would make 6 7 and 8 have a several hour commute.

Putting extras on it. I commute from ward 8 to 4 in 30 minutes. Less on Fridays.

Well my commute from ward 7 to the Kingsbury property would exceed an hour and half. To South Dakota it is already an hour round trip.

So it takes you 30 minutes to get from ward 7 to South Dakota and you think it would take an additional hour to get to 14th street from SD?

Yes. Traffic. I'm glad your job is so flexible. Mine is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a LAMB parent could simply ask their Principal, in person and face-to-face, whether this rumor is true.

I know LAMB is not famous for good communication from its administration but surely they would respond honestly if the question was put to them directly by a parent?

What makes you think that they would respond openly and honestly? That has not been their track record.

I'm the PP who suggested that a parent could ask their principal. I am also the parent of an admitted student who is deciding how to proceed. I don't really understand these responses saying "haha" etc.

I know that LAMB has a reputation for poor communication but my understanding was that such failures were due to bureaucratic sluggishness or, at worst, reflected an institutional decision to place a low priority on such things. While I don't find either of those explanations very reassuring, they are much better than the idea that the administration deliberately withholds information from its parents/community to advance their own goals.

I would be very interested in whether LAMB parents feel that the administration's communications problems are "merely" due to disinterest/resource limitations, or whether they actually feel like the administration has been dishonest/withholding with them. I guess at some point, what difference does it make if parents aren't getting the information they need, but the distinction is important to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a LAMB parent could simply ask their Principal, in person and face-to-face, whether this rumor is true.

I know LAMB is not famous for good communication from its administration but surely they would respond honestly if the question was put to them directly by a parent?

What makes you think that they would respond openly and honestly? That has not been their track record.

I'm the PP who suggested that a parent could ask their principal. I am also the parent of an admitted student who is deciding how to proceed. I don't really understand these responses saying "haha" etc.

I know that LAMB has a reputation for poor communication but my understanding was that such failures were due to bureaucratic sluggishness or, at worst, reflected an institutional decision to place a low priority on such things. While I don't find either of those explanations very reassuring, they are much better than the idea that the administration deliberately withholds information from its parents/community to advance their own goals.

I would be very interested in whether LAMB parents feel that the administration's communications problems are "merely" due to disinterest/resource limitations, or whether they actually feel like the administration has been dishonest/withholding with them. I guess at some point, what difference does it make if parents aren't getting the information they need, but the distinction is important to me.

I can't speak to LAMB, but I was involved in another charter school's location search. We wouldn't have been able to answer this question directly until everything had been finalized. There are many, many steps that must be completed before it can be public: negotiations with the seller, financing contingencies, alerting the ANC and Charter Board, getting by-in from other stakeholders, and prepare the Charter amendment. Only once ALL of that was finalized could we tell parents, because at any of those stages the deal could have fallen apart. For instance, many the seller decides to up the price, or maybe the Charter Board suggests they wouldn't be open to the move, or maybe financing falls part, etc.

I know you want the info, but there is likely a case where the school can't share it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a LAMB parent could simply ask their Principal, in person and face-to-face, whether this rumor is true.

I know LAMB is not famous for good communication from its administration but surely they would respond honestly if the question was put to them directly by a parent?

What makes you think that they would respond openly and honestly? That has not been their track record.

I'm the PP who suggested that a parent could ask their principal. I am also the parent of an admitted student who is deciding how to proceed. I don't really understand these responses saying "haha" etc.

I know that LAMB has a reputation for poor communication but my understanding was that such failures were due to bureaucratic sluggishness or, at worst, reflected an institutional decision to place a low priority on such things. While I don't find either of those explanations very reassuring, they are much better than the idea that the administration deliberately withholds information from its parents/community to advance their own goals.

I would be very interested in whether LAMB parents feel that the administration's communications problems are "merely" due to disinterest/resource limitations, or whether they actually feel like the administration has been dishonest/withholding with them. I guess at some point, what difference does it make if parents aren't getting the information they need, but the distinction is important to me.

LAMB alum parent. No clue if they're moving. I don't think they ever lied to us purposely.

But in terms of a hierarchy of stakeholders -- parents aren't the top of the list. So in this case, they would see the stakeholders as the LAMB board, the DCPCSB, the DCI Board, their lenders, their current landlords. All those entities, and several people at those entities would need to be consulted and agree on any plan to acquire a new building and close the other buildings.

That's a lot of hurdles -- and the administration would say to themselves "let's not worry parents unnecessarily until we're sure this is a 100% done deal."

But of course that stakeholder list I noted above is pretty big, and bigger since the school has grown, and it's tough to keep things quiet.

They will announce it to everyone if and when the ink is dry. Not a moment before.

[Anonymous]

11:57 again.

I should have said 'parents aren't ALWAYS at the top of the list.'

As the PP above said, in this case there are many other entities involved and reasons why a move is kept close hold until final.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they've found a building near the SD campus. I was told that the WR campus is temporary and that they're going to close MO and SD. I just wish they would be honest about their plans. I don't to start my younger child there if I'm going to have to move him to a new school in a year or two.

This would be a tough location given that the majority of their families are in Ward 4. What locations over there are available?

See page 88 in this document. The majority really isn't in Ward 4 anymore. http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/Choosing%20Quality%20Report_0.pdf

from a June 2016 report:

The majority are Ward 4 residents (49%), followed by Ward 5 (20%), Ward 1 (12%),
Ward 6 (6%), Ward 3 (6%), Ward 7 (3%), Ward 2 (2%) and Ward 8 (2%)

http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/LAMB%20PCS%20Review%20Appendix.pdf

so almost a majority! Hence the reason a location for the whole school over by SD would be hard for (almost) the majority of families. Not saying they won't do that, but that has to be a significant consideration in their decision. As a Ward 4 family, we would probably do it, but it might also make a decision to leave the city all together that much easier.

But not a majority. And moving to ward 4 would make 6 7 and 8 have a several hour commute.

Putting extras on it. I commute from ward 8 to 4 in 30 minutes. Less on Fridays.

Well my commute from ward 7 to the Kingsbury property would exceed an hour and half. To South Dakota it is already an hour round trip.

So it takes you 30 minutes to get from ward 7 to South Dakota and you think it would take an additional hour to get to 14th street from SD?

Yes. Traffic. I'm glad your job is so flexible. Mine is not.

Who says my job is flexible? I commute from very close to SD location to a school further north (Takoma area) and it only takes me 25 minutes tops. Not sure how you're getting one hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a LAMB parent could simply ask their Principal, in person and face-to-face, whether this rumor is true.

I know LAMB is not famous for good communication from its administration but surely they would respond honestly if the question was put to them directly by a parent?

What makes you think that they would respond openly and honestly? That has not been their track record.

I'm the PP who suggested that a parent could ask their principal. I am also the parent of an admitted student who is deciding how to proceed. I don't really understand these responses saying "haha" etc.

I know that LAMB has a reputation for poor communication but my understanding was that such failures were due to bureaucratic sluggishness or, at worst, reflected an institutional decision to place a low priority on such things. While I don't find either of those explanations very reassuring, they are much better than the idea that the administration deliberately withholds information from its parents/community to advance their own goals.

I would be very interested in whether LAMB parents feel that the administration's communications problems are "merely" due to disinterest/resource limitations, or whether they actually feel like the administration has been dishonest/withholding with them. I guess at some point, what difference does it make if parents aren't getting the information they need, but the distinction is important to me.

LAMB alum parent. No clue if they're moving. I don't think they ever lied to us purposely.

But in terms of a hierarchy of stakeholders -- parents aren't the top of the list. So in this case, they would see the stakeholders as the LAMB board, the DCPCSB, the DCI Board, their lenders, their current landlords. All those entities, and several people at those entities would need to be consulted and agree on any plan to acquire a new building and close the other buildings.

That's a lot of hurdles -- and the administration would say to themselves "let's not worry parents unnecessarily until we're sure this is a 100% done deal."

But of course that stakeholder list I noted above is pretty big, and bigger since the school has grown, and it's tough to keep things quiet.

They will announce it to everyone if and when the ink is dry. Not a moment before.

Didn't they lie to you about having a sex offender as a teacher? I'm not sure you can claim that anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they've found a building near the SD campus. I was told that the WR campus is temporary and that they're going to close MO and SD. I just wish they would be honest about their plans. I don't to start my younger child there if I'm going to have to move him to a new school in a year or two.

This would be a tough location given that the majority of their families are in Ward 4. What locations over there are available?

See page 88 in this document. The majority really isn't in Ward 4 anymore. http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/Choosing%20Quality%20Report_0.pdf

from a June 2016 report:

The majority are Ward 4 residents (49%), followed by Ward 5 (20%), Ward 1 (12%),
Ward 6 (6%), Ward 3 (6%), Ward 7 (3%), Ward 2 (2%) and Ward 8 (2%)

http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/LAMB%20PCS%20Review%20Appendix.pdf

so almost a majority! Hence the reason a location for the whole school over by SD would be hard for (almost) the majority of families. Not saying they won't do that, but that has to be a significant consideration in their decision. As a Ward 4 family, we would probably do it, but it might also make a decision to leave the city all together that much easier.

I would leave the school and hope they tell us before May 1st.

If you're ready to leave the school based on unfounded claims on DCUM from people who heard it on the grapevine, rather than listening to the clear directive the administration has sent out about their plan to operate three campuses next year, then leaving is probably the right decision for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they've found a building near the SD campus. I was told that the WR campus is temporary and that they're going to close MO and SD. I just wish they would be honest about their plans. I don't to start my younger child there if I'm going to have to move him to a new school in a year or two.

This would be a tough location given that the majority of their families are in Ward 4. What locations over there are available?

See page 88 in this document. The majority really isn't in Ward 4 anymore. http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/Choosing%20Quality%20Report_0.pdf

from a June 2016 report:

The majority are Ward 4 residents (49%), followed by Ward 5 (20%), Ward 1 (12%),
Ward 6 (6%), Ward 3 (6%), Ward 7 (3%), Ward 2 (2%) and Ward 8 (2%)

http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/LAMB%20PCS%20Review%20Appendix.pdf

so almost a majority! Hence the reason a location for the whole school over by SD would be hard for (almost) the majority of families. Not saying they won't do that, but that has to be a significant consideration in their decision. As a Ward 4 family, we would probably do it, but it might also make a decision to leave the city all together that much easier.

But not a majority. And moving to ward 4 would make 6 7 and 8 have a several hour commute.

Putting extras on it. I commute from ward 8 to 4 in 30 minutes. Less on Fridays.

Well my commute from ward 7 to the Kingsbury property would exceed an hour and half. To South Dakota it is already an hour round trip.

So it takes you 30 minutes to get from ward 7 to South Dakota and you think it would take an additional hour to get to 14th street from SD?

Yes. Traffic. I'm glad your job is so flexible. Mine is not.

Who says my job is flexible? I commute from very close to SD location to a school further north (Takoma area) and it only takes me 25 minutes tops. Not sure how you're getting one hour.

She said an "hour round trip"

Why do people get so jerky about other peoples commutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would leave the school and hope they tell us before May 1st.

If you're ready to leave the school based on unfounded claims on DCUM from people who heard it on the grapevine, rather than listening to the clear directive the administration has sent out about their plan to operate three campuses next year, then leaving is probably the right decision for you.

Again, we're NOT TALKING about next year (2017-2018), but the year following (2018-2019) for LAMB's consolidation to a single, new campus. If you've gotten a "clear directive the administration has sent out about operating three campuses" for 2018-2019 that the rest of the parents haven't seen, let us know.

Otherwise, please try to keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they've found a building near the SD campus. I was told that the WR campus is temporary and that they're going to close MO and SD. I just wish they would be honest about their plans. I don't to start my younger child there if I'm going to have to move him to a new school in a year or two.

This would be a tough location given that the majority of their families are in Ward 4. What locations over there are available?

See page 88 in this document. The majority really isn't in Ward 4 anymore. http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/Choosing%20Quality%20Report_0.pdf

from a June 2016 report:

The majority are Ward 4 residents (49%), followed by Ward 5 (20%), Ward 1 (12%),
Ward 6 (6%), Ward 3 (6%), Ward 7 (3%), Ward 2 (2%) and Ward 8 (2%)

http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/LAMB%20PCS%20Review%20Appendix.pdf

so almost a majority! Hence the reason a location for the whole school over by SD would be hard for (almost) the majority of families. Not saying they won't do that, but that has to be a significant consideration in their decision. As a Ward 4 family, we would probably do it, but it might also make a decision to leave the city all together that much easier.

I would leave the school and hope they tell us before May 1st.

If you're ready to leave the school based on unfounded claims on DCUM from people who heard it on the grapevine, rather than listening to the clear directive the administration has sent out about their plan to operate three campuses next year, then leaving is probably the right decision for you.

I love how lamb sometimes feels exactly like the Latin American dictatorships some of us worked hard to escape.

"If you aren't in total agreement with the dear leader, go ahead and disappear! They will inform you of what you need to know, WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW IT!"

[Anonymous]

As has been clearly explained, there are many good reasons to not share this information yet. In fact, it would be stupid to do so for those exact reasons.

That people are in a huff over this shows that some of the poor communication is more a case of parent entitlement.