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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does anyone know how the new location impacts SS teachers?  Will everyone be returning to the new location?[/quote]

That's a great question.  No idea about the answer.[/quote]

My understanding is that some of the teachers will be returning, but some in different capacities (one lead guide is transitioning to be an instructional coach) and some not at all. The lead guide of the room my daughter was in last year is not returning and we haven't heard whether the other two from that room will be back or not.

So far, it seems like current families are excited about the space itself and the amenities the neighborhood has to offer, but many are concerned about the commute. There is talk of organizing shuttles, specifically for the morning. My guess is that people will figure it out, make the commute work and the school will thrive overall. [/quote]

I'm hopeful the school will thrive overall too.  The fear of drastic change in the population of the school is real though.  Current parents are already bought in - they know the value of SSMA and will do what they can (where they're able) to still make the new location work.  New parents are a wholly different issue.  Once I'm already bought in, when I do my cost-benefit analysis of dealing with an extended commute and maybe (for some) less accessibility by public transport, the benefits of a school I know my child is doing well and and that I've committed to the parent community of may outweigh the costs.  But if I'm not in yet, my child hasn't attended yet, and I don't really know how much better a fit it would be for my kid than a school much closer or a much more reasonable commute away, I may well not attend if I get in, or I might not apply at all.

The population will change.  The school is almost certain to get run over by Ward 3 parents who wouldn't have bothered with a charter before but when you plunk a free Montessori PS/PK in their neighborhood, it's like a giant childcare gift in a big box with a bow.  Because charters are lotteries, do the math: the more higher SES white families you have applying, the more will get in and the more will attend, especially for PS and PK.

My 3 greatest concerns about this move, in order, are: 1) current parents who won't be able to make the commute work for them; 2) the inevitable reduction in the diversity (not just race but class especially) of the school, and 3) the large number of families that will likely only stay for the early grades and then leave.  This seems even more likely in this location than happens at all the other HRCS because this location is in a neighborhood where families are more than able to continue paying for PS and PK until they K into their good or great elementary.  I really wonder how this will affect the later grades, whereas before I think a lot more parents would have stuck it out to the end.[/quote]

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