Reply to SELA PICKS WARD 4

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What am I missing here? The location is great because... why? Is there something about the building that is spectacular, or is it just convenient to the people posting? From what I read the location is on a 5 year lease. Is that considered "long term"? I mean, yes, it is a longer lease than several of the newer charters have secured (MV, IT, CM, etc), but it's not forever, especially if you have younger siblings to consider.[/quote]

One of my neighbors volunteers with the school, so granted, I have been hearing him chat up the school for many months. The location is a good choice, because it's area where a lot of middle-class families are moving to - it's getting a gastro-pub, it has a brewery, it's walkable to the crunchy parts of Takoma. The building itself is huge and will hold the school for five years or more, I think there is an issue with them wanting to expand to jr. high? And if they do that they might want to move or join the languages jr. high, I forget where that's going to be, but it's somewhere in Ward 4. So, he says they definitely want to stay in Ward 4 or close to Ward 4, and could stay in the building for more than five years - it depends if they get into the languages jr. high, I think.

From my perspective as a parent who is has a child in a private nursery, the unique thing is that they chose Ward 4. There is a dearth of options for Ward 4 (and 5) parents, and this is where a lot of younger families are settling in. Not everybody can afford to live in Ward 1. Also, the fact that they got a space so early, when you have schools who don't know where they are going to be until right before school opens. So, I think that is also an achievement. Granted I'm biased a little because of my neighbor, but it sounds to be like they have their act together. They have very active volunteers and they are hiring staff, getting the building ready, etc. [/quote]

I agree, having a new charter tell you where they are going to be for 5 or more years is great in terms of planning for your family - and having such a big space is also awesome. Good job, Sela! I'm excited about the Hebrew language opportunity, but I am not sure I would have driven to the other side of the city for it. This
location makes the choice easy.

Sela is trying to join DCI? That makes a lot of sense, and frankly, that's always my concern with these new charters. Where will the kids end up for middle school. It's a risk to try something new when you don't know where they'll end up for 6th grade. Of course, putting my kid in a low-performing DCPS is a risk, too. So it sounds like Sela might be in this location for more than 5 years which is also good news. We are considering moving to Takoma Park or Silver Spring if we can't get into a good charter, but might be willing to give Sela a one-year shot if it works out, DC keeps another taxpayer. Now, if only they make over the entire DCPS...they'd keep a lot more.

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