Tell me about Lafayette's aftercare program

[Anonymous]

It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

[Anonymous]

I'm very pleased that the school will better be able to meet demand for aftercare with the new provider, and... also hope the LAP Board re-writes its bylaws so it can still continue to serve the school. Rumor has it that they have some stash of money and they could use it to help offset the families who do have financial need (yes, even Lafayette has a few families who may qualify), give bonuses or specialized training to staff, bring ins special programs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm very pleased that the school will better be able to meet demand for aftercare with the new provider, and... also hope the LAP Board re-writes its bylaws so it can still continue to serve the school. Rumor has it that they have some stash of money and they could use it to help offset the families who do have financial need (yes, even Lafayette has a few families who may qualify), give bonuses or specialized training to staff, bring ins special programs...

That would be great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

Well said.

If this is just a DCPS contract then yes, this is not a positive development. The board will not have accountability then.
I thought it was possible that if LAP was incorporated, it could be the entity that held the contract with the aftercare provider. So the contractor really would work for the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

Well said.

If this is just a DCPS contract then yes, this is not a positive development. The board will not have accountability then.
I thought it was possible that if LAP was incorporated, it could be the entity that held the contract with the aftercare provider. So the contractor really would work for the parents.

Even the contractor that LAP endorsed wouldn't have had any formal parental oversight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If this is just a DCPS contract then yes, this is not a positive development. The board will not have accountability then.
I thought it was possible that if LAP was incorporated, it could be the entity that held the contract with the aftercare provider. So the contractor really would work for the parents.

The winner was chosen by Dr. B (with parental input) which means DCPS. I just hope it is at least a service provider contract and not a straightforward lease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

Well said.

If this is just a DCPS contract then yes, this is not a positive development. The board will not have accountability then.
I thought it was possible that if LAP was incorporated, it could be the entity that held the contract with the aftercare provider. So the contractor really would work for the parents.

Dr. B would never voluntarily give parents that much control.

[Anonymous]

Whatever. I'm just glad there's a chance my kid can go to aftercare. Unless you were one of the precious few families admitted to LAP, there is nothing but upside here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

Well said.

If this is just a DCPS contract then yes, this is not a positive development. The board will not have accountability then.
I thought it was possible that if LAP was incorporated, it could be the entity that held the contract with the aftercare provider. So the contractor really would work for the parents.

Dr. B would never voluntarily give parents that much control.

And I wouldn't want the existing LAP program to govern a contract on behalf of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's an outside private contractor relationship between the school and the vendor. Come on yall know how this works.

Parents/community are now customers not stakeholders. Contracts are overseen by DCPS' not the parents. Input is solely advisory in nature and everything is governed by the terms of the contract. It's a complete mentality change. Hopefully it will be better but there is not much we can do to ensure that. We as a community gave up control when we couldn't rise to the challenge.

Well said.

If this is just a DCPS contract then yes, this is not a positive development. The board will not have accountability then.
I thought it was possible that if LAP was incorporated, it could be the entity that held the contract with the aftercare provider. So the contractor really would work for the parents.

Dr. B would never voluntarily give parents that much control.

And I wouldn't want the existing LAP program to govern a contract on behalf of the school.

Why not? Is it a problem that the hsa administers contracts for the school (peace program, hooped at recess, Mr. Steel for music)?

[Anonymous]

Dr. B just said that there's no contract at all, not with her, dcps, lap, or anyone else. That seems odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. B just said that there's no contract at all, not with her, dcps, lap, or anyone else. That seems odd.

Why would anyone submit a proposal if there was no contract on the other end? Does she mean there is no contract YET?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dr. B just said that there's no contract at all, not with her, dcps, lap, or anyone else. That seems odd.

Why would anyone submit a proposal if there was no contract on the other end? Does she mean there is no contract YET?

No, that there won't be a contract. I guess there will be individual contracts between CLS and each individual family, but no contract with anyone representing the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And I wouldn't want the existing LAP program to govern a contract on behalf of the school.

Agreed! Lack of oversight, and their last-minute punt to another company when they realized that Dr B was actually really serious about serving more students and families - it's really a shame, but definitely for the best. Even if it costs the families who have historically been part of the program more for aftercare then they're used to paying. It's a LOT less for families who've had to hire sitters/nannies/do other creative things.