Charter/Charter Board Shenanigans

[Anonymous]

https://washingtoninformer.com/national-collegiate-preparatory-to-close-in-2020/

The board’s decision followed an emotionally charged, standing-room only informal charter board meeting on the grounds of National Collegiate Preparatory that lasted well into the night.

Minutes after the meeting ended last Wednesday, DCPCSB Deputy Executive Director Naomi DeVeaux, while standing among dozens of people, including DCPCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson, allegedly yelled an obscenity at and pointed her finger in a staff member’s face.

A two-page incident report, filed by Nigel Jackson, a social worker at National Collegiate Preparatory, said that DeVeaux lashed out at him in reaction to US Census Bureau data he recited at a December 17 hearing.

Jackson said he presented the statistical information to highlight the broken family dynamics and circumstances his students overcome. For him, what he described as DeVeaux’s emotionally volatile outburst called into question not only her credibility in determining Black children’s future, but how disrespect by a charter school official could go unchecked.

“Ms. DeVeaux’s misconduct was a violation of professional ethics and underscores the pattern of disregard she and the charter board staff have with underserved communities and the schools which serve them,” Jackson said.

“Would Ms. DeVeaux have a profanity-laced tirade in Georgetown, Friendship Heights or Capitol Hill? Has she displayed this behavior at Washington Latin or BASIS? [There remains an] underlying question of accountability. Had this incident been caught on video, there would be a national outpouring demanding action,” he added.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

https://washingtoninformer.com/national-collegiate-preparatory-to-close-in-2020/

The board’s decision followed an emotionally charged, standing-room only informal charter board meeting on the grounds of National Collegiate Preparatory that lasted well into the night.

Minutes after the meeting ended last Wednesday, DCPCSB Deputy Executive Director Naomi DeVeaux, while standing among dozens of people, including DCPCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson, allegedly yelled an obscenity at and pointed her finger in a staff member’s face.

A two-page incident report, filed by Nigel Jackson, a social worker at National Collegiate Preparatory, said that DeVeaux lashed out at him in reaction to US Census Bureau data he recited at a December 17 hearing.

Jackson said he presented the statistical information to highlight the broken family dynamics and circumstances his students overcome. For him, what he described as DeVeaux’s emotionally volatile outburst called into question not only her credibility in determining Black children’s future, but how disrespect by a charter school official could go unchecked.

“Ms. DeVeaux’s misconduct was a violation of professional ethics and underscores the pattern of disregard she and the charter board staff have with underserved communities and the schools which serve them,” Jackson said.

“Would Ms. DeVeaux have a profanity-laced tirade in Georgetown, Friendship Heights or Capitol Hill? Has she displayed this behavior at Washington Latin or BASIS? [There remains an] underlying question of accountability. Had this incident been caught on video, there would be a national outpouring demanding action,” he added.

how many Charter schools is that that are now closing end of this year/2020? Charters school board needs independent oversight by another agency re. links with TenSquare, how effective they are at determining effectiveness of school beyond basic metrics and financial viability, and the completion and placement of schools! Who gets put on the board, how long do they hold the positions? Why are charters given DC money but teachers not held to same standards as those in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

How much money has TenSquare made off DC taxpayers? Oh wait, the DCPCS ignores FOIA requests, so we'll never know.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know where obscenity she said did anybody see it???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know where obscenity she said did anybody see it???

What does it matter?

[Anonymous]

It matters. If a publicly paid official is being accused of being highly unprofessional at a public hearing , I think we all would like to know what was said and done. When Councilmember White said disparaging comments against Jews I was VERY happy to find out; no support going that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It matters. If a publicly paid official is being accused of being highly unprofessional at a public hearing , I think we all would like to know what was said and done. When Councilmember White said disparaging comments against Jews I was VERY happy to find out; no support going that way.

An offensive comment is an offensive comment regardless whom it was directed at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

https://washingtoninformer.com/national-collegiate-preparatory-to-close-in-2020/

The board’s decision followed an emotionally charged, standing-room only informal charter board meeting on the grounds of National Collegiate Preparatory that lasted well into the night.

Minutes after the meeting ended last Wednesday, DCPCSB Deputy Executive Director Naomi DeVeaux, while standing among dozens of people, including DCPCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson, allegedly yelled an obscenity at and pointed her finger in a staff member’s face.

A two-page incident report, filed by Nigel Jackson, a social worker at National Collegiate Preparatory, said that DeVeaux lashed out at him in reaction to US Census Bureau data he recited at a December 17 hearing.

Jackson said he presented the statistical information to highlight the broken family dynamics and circumstances his students overcome. For him, what he described as DeVeaux’s emotionally volatile outburst called into question not only her credibility in determining Black children’s future, but how disrespect by a charter school official could go unchecked.

“Ms. DeVeaux’s misconduct was a violation of professional ethics and underscores the pattern of disregard she and the charter board staff have with underserved communities and the schools which serve them,” Jackson said.

“Would Ms. DeVeaux have a profanity-laced tirade in Georgetown, Friendship Heights or Capitol Hill? Has she displayed this behavior at Washington Latin or BASIS? [There remains an] underlying question of accountability. Had this incident been caught on video, there would be a national outpouring demanding action,” he added.

how many Charter schools is that that are now closing end of this year/2020? Charters school board needs independent oversight by another agency re. links with TenSquare, how effective they are at determining effectiveness of school beyond basic metrics and financial viability, and the completion and placement of schools! Who gets put on the board, how long do they hold the positions? Why are charters given DC money but teachers not held to same standards as those in DCPS?

Board members are nominated by the Mayor and, I think, confirmed by the Council.

As for determining effectiveness -- the only metrics the Board is allowed to consider are basic academic metrics and financial viability. If you want them to look at more factors, you would need to determine what those factors are, and ask the Council to amend / expand their mandate.

The whole idea of charters -- which many disagree with -- is to allow the SCHOOLS to operate independently and without significant oversight from an outside body (beyond basic academic factors and fiscal responsibility). The schools are accountable for the other factors to their boards. If you want more oversight of schools, then oppose and try to dismantle the sector as a whole.

None of this is to excuse whatever may or may not have happened at this meeting. The staff and members of the PCSB need to behave professionally. But their limited mandate and the independent of the schools is a feature, not a bug.

FWIW the PCSB did decide to close a school, rejecting a turnaround plan that was to be executed by TenSquare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

https://washingtoninformer.com/national-collegiate-preparatory-to-close-in-2020/

The board’s decision followed an emotionally charged, standing-room only informal charter board meeting on the grounds of National Collegiate Preparatory that lasted well into the night.

Minutes after the meeting ended last Wednesday, DCPCSB Deputy Executive Director Naomi DeVeaux, while standing among dozens of people, including DCPCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson, allegedly yelled an obscenity at and pointed her finger in a staff member’s face.

A two-page incident report, filed by Nigel Jackson, a social worker at National Collegiate Preparatory, said that DeVeaux lashed out at him in reaction to US Census Bureau data he recited at a December 17 hearing.

Jackson said he presented the statistical information to highlight the broken family dynamics and circumstances his students overcome. For him, what he described as DeVeaux’s emotionally volatile outburst called into question not only her credibility in determining Black children’s future, but how disrespect by a charter school official could go unchecked.

“Ms. DeVeaux’s misconduct was a violation of professional ethics and underscores the pattern of disregard she and the charter board staff have with underserved communities and the schools which serve them,” Jackson said.

“Would Ms. DeVeaux have a profanity-laced tirade in Georgetown, Friendship Heights or Capitol Hill? Has she displayed this behavior at Washington Latin or BASIS? [There remains an] underlying question of accountability. Had this incident been caught on video, there would be a national outpouring demanding action,” he added.

how many Charter schools is that that are now closing end of this year/2020? Charters school board needs independent oversight by another agency re. links with TenSquare, how effective they are at determining effectiveness of school beyond basic metrics and financial viability, and the completion and placement of schools! Who gets put on the board, how long do they hold the positions? Why are charters given DC money but teachers not held to same standards as those in DCPS?

Board members are nominated by the Mayor and, I think, confirmed by the Council.

As for determining effectiveness -- the only metrics the Board is allowed to consider are basic academic metrics and financial viability. If you want them to look at more factors, you would need to determine what those factors are, and ask the Council to amend / expand their mandate.

The whole idea of charters -- which many disagree with -- is to allow the SCHOOLS to operate independently and without significant oversight from an outside body (beyond basic academic factors and fiscal responsibility). The schools are accountable for the other factors to their boards. If you want more oversight of schools, then oppose and try to dismantle the sector as a whole.

None of this is to excuse whatever may or may not have happened at this meeting. The staff and members of the PCSB need to behave professionally. But their limited mandate and the independent of the schools is a feature, not a bug.

FWIW the PCSB did decide to close a school, rejecting a turnaround plan that was to be executed by TenSquare.

This. You can disagree with how the PCSB comes out on its decisions but the fact is they have very little power. The SRA is a badly written law, drafted in the days when everyone thought charters would save public education. It is a law designed to give entirely too much power to individual schools. That's how you end up with the "shenanigans" at many schools (ie, LAMB fiasco, Chavez, SEED, etc) and no real response from the Board. They can't actually do anything. City Council/Mayor/Congress need to make changes if we want to see more oversight by the Board/City.

[Anonymous]

So a lady said some harsh words and the man-baby is sad about it? Am I understanding this “scandal?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So a lady said some harsh words and the man-baby is sad about it? Am I understanding this “scandal?”

So the uncredentialed paper pusher is a “lady” and he ( multiple-degreed social worker) is a “man-baby” ?

The bias is overwhelming on DCUM....

I want to know what was said.

[Anonymous]

I bet she was exhausted from hearing National Prep's excuses. Ten years ago, National Prep was a nice idea, but it was never realistic. They claim the metrics aren't fair to their students. But that doesn't explain why other schools whose kids are just as black and at-risk do much better.

FWIW, the founder is certainly motivated, but that's not enough to get 250+ kids to actually enroll, attend, and graduate college.

From 2017 interview with Howard U.
Ross called the whole curriculum “high-functioning” but admits raw data shows that students—many of whom read at a fifth-grade level—don’t perform well. So, she prefers to look at the growth data, which she said shows the school is consistent with increasing reading and math scores.

Ross envisions National Prep being around well beyond her years with a plethora of endowment funds. She wants to open four more campuses, in cities like Detroit; Chicago; West Palm Beach, Florida; and a part of North Carolina. She wants beautiful buildings, like the ones at Georgetown
Day School and Sidwell Friends School, with swimming pools and tennis courts, too.
“They shouldn’t have to cross the [Potomac] River to have that opportunity,” she said.

[Anonymous]

And why are we making excuses for the government official??? What did she say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a lady said some harsh words and the man-baby is sad about it? Am I understanding this “scandal?”

So the uncredentialed paper pusher is a “lady” and he ( multiple-degreed social worker) is a “man-baby” ?

The bias is overwhelming on DCUM....

I want to know what was said.

What was alleged is that she dropped the F-bomb and went on a rant about statistics the social worker presented on black families in Ward 8. She (allegedly) yelled about his statements being hurtful because she is a single mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a lady said some harsh words and the man-baby is sad about it? Am I understanding this “scandal?”

So the uncredentialed paper pusher is a “lady” and he ( multiple-degreed social worker) is a “man-baby” ?

The bias is overwhelming on DCUM....

I want to know what was said.

What was alleged is that she dropped the F-bomb and went on a rant about statistics the social worker presented on black families in Ward 8. She (allegedly) yelled about his statements being hurtful because she is a single mom.

That is super weird if it happened... why would she disclose her familial status in a response?