What happened at Karasik?

[Anonymous]

We're on the waitlist at Karasik. Just heard that the directors were terminated. Does anyone know what's going on?

[Anonymous]

https://thearcmontgomerycounty.org/connect/messages-from-the-ceo.html

It was part of a larger set of layoffs and consolidation of roles at the Arc of Montgomery County. Tom Bambrick is the person to contact about waitlist movement now, and he is also onsite as the Director of children and youth services. The Arc will be hiring an Assistant Director for Karasik as well.

As a current Karasik parent, I can say that this hasn’t been an easy week for anyone involved—the news came as quite a shock. But I can also say that I still have every confidence in the teachers during this transition and have not hesitated to send our daughter every day.

[Anonymous]

Another Karasik parent here. Agree with the post above. We have had to work through a serious medical issue in the past week, and Tom, teachers, and staff have been fantastic and communicated very well with each other. I have no hesitations about sending our son with medical complications to Karasik every day. The former directors were beloved members of the team, but the teachers and staff are the heart of the center, in my opinion. Based on our experiences over the past week, Tom is a very responsive, highly qualified, and passionate administrator.

[Anonymous]

Any updates on Karasik?

[Anonymous]

There's a new director and associate director in place, and things are going well.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me if Karasik is open? I need to go back to work soon and I've heard great things and looking for a place for my 20 month old.I've called several days in a row and just get voice mailes and no callbacks. Thanks everyone. Stay safe.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but it looks like the BOE just approved a five year lease for them.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BQ9P2C61A12A/$file/MacDonald%20Knolls%20Early%20Childhood%20Ctr%20Lease%20Agree.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but it looks like the BOE just approved a five year lease for them.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BQ9P2C61A12A/$file/MacDonald%20Knolls%20Early%20Childhood%20Ctr%20Lease%20Agree.pdf

So how are places like Karasik affected by the current guidelines for no activities in MCPS schools all summer? Does it not matter in this case since it isn't an active school right now, just an old building that MCPS is holding on to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but it looks like the BOE just approved a five year lease for them.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BQ9P2C61A12A/$file/MacDonald%20Knolls%20Early%20Childhood%20Ctr%20Lease%20Agree.pdf

So how are places like Karasik affected by the current guidelines for no activities in MCPS schools all summer? Does it not matter in this case since it isn't an active school right now, just an old building that MCPS is holding on to?

Right now, they are making a lot of cuts for currently enrolled families in order to maintain social distancing guidelines in the classrooms. The new leadership is extremely uncommunicative and the process is not transparent, but they likely aren't responding because they are currently deciding who is "in" and who is "out" for the kids who were already there pre-covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but it looks like the BOE just approved a five year lease for them.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BQ9P2C61A12A/$file/MacDonald%20Knolls%20Early%20Childhood%20Ctr%20Lease%20Agree.pdf

So how are places like Karasik affected by the current guidelines for no activities in MCPS schools all summer? Does it not matter in this case since it isn't an active school right now, just an old building that MCPS is holding on to?

Right now, they are making a lot of cuts for currently enrolled families in order to maintain social distancing guidelines in the classrooms. The new leadership is extremely uncommunicative and the process is not transparent, but they likely aren't responding because they are currently deciding who is "in" and who is "out" for the kids who were already there pre-covid.

To be clear, they are not open yet and have no plan on when they will open (they have to have approval from MCPS too).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but it looks like the BOE just approved a five year lease for them.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BQ9P2C61A12A/$file/MacDonald%20Knolls%20Early%20Childhood%20Ctr%20Lease%20Agree.pdf

So how are places like Karasik affected by the current guidelines for no activities in MCPS schools all summer? Does it not matter in this case since it isn't an active school right now, just an old building that MCPS is holding on to?

Right now, they are making a lot of cuts for currently enrolled families in order to maintain social distancing guidelines in the classrooms. The new leadership is extremely uncommunicative and the process is not transparent, but they likely aren't responding because they are currently deciding who is "in" and who is "out" for the kids who were already there pre-covid.

Should be a bit easier when Montgomery moves to phase 2 and they can have up to 15 people in a room instead of 10. The ever evolving changes sure must be frustrating and confusing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but it looks like the BOE just approved a five year lease for them.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BQ9P2C61A12A/$file/MacDonald%20Knolls%20Early%20Childhood%20Ctr%20Lease%20Agree.pdf

So how are places like Karasik affected by the current guidelines for no activities in MCPS schools all summer? Does it not matter in this case since it isn't an active school right now, just an old building that MCPS is holding on to?

Right now, they are making a lot of cuts for currently enrolled families in order to maintain social distancing guidelines in the classrooms. The new leadership is extremely uncommunicative and the process is not transparent, but they likely aren't responding because they are currently deciding who is "in" and who is "out" for the kids who were already there pre-covid.

Should be a bit easier when Montgomery moves to phase 2 and they can have up to 15 people in a room instead of 10. The ever evolving changes sure must be frustrating and confusing

Karasik is not going to 15. I think they are doing max 12, but perhaps less. They initially handpicked 8 kids per class and notified those families, now they are adding a few more.

[Anonymous]

The new leadership is a joke. Current families who have been paying can’t get responses in a timely manner. The communication from the organization has been seriously lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new leadership is a joke. Current families who have been paying can’t get responses in a timely manner. The communication from the organization has been seriously lacking.

100% agree. The teachers are still wonderful and dedicated, but leadership has gone downhill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new leadership is a joke. Current families who have been paying can’t get responses in a timely manner. The communication from the organization has been seriously lacking.

100% agree. The teachers are still wonderful and dedicated, but leadership has gone downhill.

Is the leadership still a joke today? I’m looking for a daycare in the area.