BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
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Anonymous
I don't understand why you are posting either. It doesn't sound like BASIS, as it is right now, is something you're interested in. Or, are you interested in BASIS and disappointed that they are in the building they're in which is downtown? Would you like to see them move to a different facility? We are at BASIS and like it very much, but we don't really care that it doesn't have a basketball court on the roof or an auditorium. We love the curriculum and that was the selling point for our family. |
Anonymous
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so what are the rules here -
is it Ok to make positive comments about basis whether or not you have kids there? Is it not ok to make negative comments if you don't have kids there. Is it ok to make negative comments if you do have kids there. Is it ok for Basis parents to make comments about other schools on other threads, or are they confined to comments about Basis? |
Anonymous
Well, for me, I only post about schools I have first hand knowledge about -- those are BASIS and the DCPS school my younger child goes to. If I happen to see a thread about our in-bound school (which my younger child does not attend) I read it out of curiosity. I just don't see the point of criticizing schools that I don't know really know anything about. Is BASIS perfect? Of course not, but we had a great year and are looking forward to many more. |
Anonymous
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You may not see the point in it, but others may.
This is a place for free expression, as far as I can tell. People will expereince about a school may have more credibility about it, but to me there's something creepy about trying to shut people out of a conversation because they don't fit some arbitrary qualifications. Just ignore them. |
Anonymous
| meant to say "people with experience" |
Anonymous
Oh, come now. Nobody's "shutting anyone out", they are just questioning your credibility and motives. If you want to talk "creepy," the creepiest thing by far going on in these threads is people going around obsessively making derogatory comments constantly about a school when they clearly don't have any firsthand experience with it, they clearly don't have kids there, and clearly don't plan to send their kids there. |
Anonymous
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Let's stick to the facts, it'll make for better understanding. Here:
1. 3 Heads of School in one school year 2. About 60% the original staff are no longer with BASIS DC 3. Numerous black families have removed their kids and will continue from BASIS DC 4. Repeated student and parent complaints of racial discrimination 5. The PSCB and OSSE were investigating BASIS DC 6. The Department of Education also currently investigating the school 7. The PSCB unanimously rejects school request for expansion These are merely highlights. Let's add how the school deliberately deceived the community about the PSCB decision about school expansion request. Here what PSCB says ---"There is, however, some troubling early data that leads staff to recommend not increasing the school’s (BASIS DC) enrollment ceiling at this time. This includes high levels of mid-year withdrawals and low levels of special education students. The school has also been non-compliant in responding to certain PCSB data requests, including a City Council request for salary information." Here what the Head of School (Paul Morrissey) says: ----"Despite the known demand and the relatively small proposed increase, the PCSB opted to adhere to a new policy of denying first year schools’ enrollment ceiling increase requests." Why Deceive? Just the facts. So BASIS stop victimizing yourself and stop claiming to be great. You got a bunch of incompetent and irresponsible people running the show. BTW your community meeting weeks ago was a disaster. Parents ripped Paul Morissey and the presentation was poor. At BASIS, students are not physically or educationally safe. A great school does not have a laundry list of these problems. List one great DC school that's had these problems their first year or these problems since initiated. But in typical BASIS style they want to shut dissent. BASIS this is AMERICA. You know the stuff you should be teaching in history to kids like free speech and say no to discrimination. Well that's real. You should sit in one of the 5th grade classes your teacher's give and learn something about the values of the country you are teaching in. |
Anonymous
Get your facts straight. First of all, there was one head of school for the entire school year. There will be a new head of school next school year and there was another one prior to this past school year. So your facts are just plain wrong. Second, staff turnover is about 20% and not 60% as you say. Several of the instructors leaving are returning to school for themselves. In fact, at least one teacher was hired who only committed to one year since that teacher knew they would be returning to school. Third, there are many black students who will be returning and who are thriving at BASIS. I have not seen any discrimination at BASIS. In fact, I wager that many DCPS schools discriminate against black children by setting expectations too low and failing to educate many. Just look at the drop out rates of about 50%!!! Fourth, PSCB also turned down another new school who requested a modest increase. I asked a staff member at PSCB about new schools and requests for increases in the number of students and was told they typically do not approve increases for new schools since they do not have enough data on new yet. I did see the comments you referenced, but I also think that the board typically will list any concerns and will typically not approve increases for new schools. So really I see no deception here. Fifth, I went to the meeting a few weeks ago and I did not see any disaster. Did you and I go the same meeting???  I have talked to many parents who are quite happy with BASIS. Obviously BASIS is not perfect and they have some improvements to make but many parents at BASIS feel that BASIS is far better than their previous schools.
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Anonymous
Lots of misinformation here:
Paul Morrissey is the only Head of School BASIS has had this year. Nicole Johnson, officially the School Director, serves in a dean of students.
Where is your 60% figure coming from, PP? Please list the staff who were there at the start of the year and those who are no longer there.
BASIS is majority black. When families leave, they are, surprise, more likely to be black.
How many complaints, PP? What specifically did the complaints allege? Claims of racism or easy to make, but difficult to substantiate. For example, it is not racist to embrace rigorous academic standards, even if leads to more black kids dropping out than non-black kids. It is not racist to discipline disruptive kids, even if more black kids are disciplined than non-black kids. Moreover, since most of the kids are black, any policy which results in disciplinary action will result in more black discipline cases.
As mentioned in response to 4, complaints are easy to make but hard to substantiate. The fact that these complaints have resulted in investigations does not substantiate them. Let's wait until the PCSB and OSSE complete their investigations and release their findings.
See response to 5.
You left out the first sentence, PP. Talk about deceiving: "As the school has been open for less than a year, there is no performance data on the school. There is, however, troubling..." I read the PCSB report the way Morrissey does. As a first-year charter school, BASIS did not have a sufficient record of success, as measured byu the PCSB's PMF, to offset the concerns that have been raised.
How are they not safe physically? What does it mean to be unsafe educationally? Become illiterate? Innumerate?
Heck, list one great DC public charter school.
Answer me this, PP: Why do you care about BASIS? |
Anonymous
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not PP, but wonder why people are so threatened by this.
If it's not accurate, it can easily be disproved and people happy at Basis will spread the good news. DCUM is all perspective and opinion anyhow -- unless people can provide links to data. |
Anonymous
I am not threatened by this at all but I will not be silent and let someone spread lies about BASIS, the school we have chosen for our child. I wager most parents would feel the same way. I want to see BASIS be a success and therefore it is important to dispel any falsehoods. I get it that the PP who posted the list of false information about BASIS, hates BASIS. Perhaps they need to find a new school. Our family has had to change schools in the past that were not a good fit for our kid and I did not feel compelled to spread lies about those previous schools. |
Anonymous
It is, however, racist, very racist in fact, if there's a pattern in which black students are disproportionately disciplined, or drop out, and community members attribute it to rigorous standards rather than actually investigating the causes. |
Anonymous
First of all, it is very premature to make assumptions about BASIS in this regard without having any facts. Second, from your criterion, I guess DCPS is very, very racist because they have very high drop rate of about 40 to 60%.
Third, this article is pertinent to your beliefs and an excellent read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/therootdc/black-students-disproportionately-disciplined-in-nations-schools/2012/06/12/gJQAiXWzXV_story.html[url] Fourth, I have seen the school respond to the needs of students by offering tutoring, extra classes, and extra help. I think the administrators truly care about helping all students succeed at BASIS. |
Anonymous
As noted earlier, aren't the OSSE and PCSB currently investigating? Isn't reasonable to assume that allegations of racism are at least past of the investigations? If no findings of racist policies or conduct are reported, can we drop these suggestive posts? |
Anonymous
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