Reply to basis woes

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "basis woes"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][/quote]

Over all, I'm not surprised when DCPS results suggest they are bilking the taxpayers of DC. [b] However, it takes titanium bollocks to receive $13.7 million in taxpayer dollars for a couple of schools, graduate only 20% of the students (AFTER weeding out all the lower SES and FARMS children), and in the process spend $9.8 million of it on your own private enterprise.  [/b]
[url=http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/690/185376.page#3480672](links)[/url][/quote]

I'd really like to see one of the Basis boosters address this issue with something other than "Yawn."  How is this even possible - is Bernie Madoff on the Board of Trustees?[/quote]

I am a parent of a child at BASIS DC and can only attest first hand to the quality of the teaching and curriculum at the school in DC. My child is doing well and having fun.

As to the issues on management etc, I looked into the article posted at azcentral.com.  The quote above about the 9.8million leaves out some details about the materials. As presented it sounds like 9.8 million for books and guidance documents. Apparently the 9.8 million covers teachers, administrators, books, curriculum design etc.

I think more clarity is warranted and I am all for more local control.  However, the quality is better in some areas  than what I have seen when my children were at a JKLM school. So following the national BASIS model seems to be working so far.

From the article:

The Blocks later formed a separate, for-profit company and in 2009 signed a service agreement with the non-profit that provides Basis’ six schools with most everything they need to operate: school directors, teachers, accounting, technology, human resources, public relations and Michael and Olga Block.

The non-profit signed a 10-year agreement with the Blocks’ company. Michael remained on the non-profit’s board as an unpaid director while Olga resigned from the board.

Michael Block said the company, now employing about 500, was originally formed as a way around the state retirement system so employees would receive 401(k) accounts instead.

In fiscal 2011, the non-profit paid the Blocks’ company $9.8million out of $13.7 million in total spending.

Although playing dual roles, Block said as a board member, he refrains from voting on any matters related to his and his wife’s company. He feels his presence on the board is valuable. As co-founder of Basis schools, he brings a unique perspective to board discussions, he said.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics