Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread pairs well with the other thread about how "we don't talk about LAMB business" (they are purging school leadership for looking the other way on sex abuse) and the City Paper article talking about how the charter sector wants even less oversight. I'm sorry, we can talk about Ballou all we want, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Zero transparency in the charter sector is beginning to scare me a lot. I sat in a hearing on lead in the water in DC schools and the charter schools sent a lawyer to argue that they shouldn't be required to test and report lead in the water. These are old DCPS buildings that they are taking over in many cases, and if there are lead in water problems at existing DCPS schools, they are in the charter sector too - we just will never know.

Stop lying. My charter tests for lead, provides staff and parents with the results and turns the test info into the charter board.

ALL charters have their drinking water tested by an independent 3rd party firm, regardless of whether they're occupying an independently leased/owned building or subleasing from DCPS. And, those results are provided directly to the governing body, PCSB.

Here's the policy / communication from 2016 https://www.dcpcsb.org/blog/update-public-charter-school-lead-testing-results

The DC Public Charter School Board sent the following letter to Charter School Leaders about lead in charter school facilities:

Like you we consider the health and safety of our students to be our foremost priority. The DC Public Charter School Board recently tested or asked you to provide documentation of recent lead testing results for all your water sources and asked you to install filters wherever there was elevated lead levels higher than 15 parts per billion (ppb), whether it was a drinking fountain or classroom sink.

Thanks to your cooperation, we are happy to report that all public charter schools have been tested and all affected public charter schools have notified families and are remediating affected water sources.

This letter is to thank you and to inform you about the city’s new lead testing policy.

This week the American Academy of Pediatrics determined that any lead sources testing at or above 1 ppb (parts per billion) was not safe for children. The city will move to incorporate a 1 ppb level for lead results on all drinking water sources in DC Public Schools, public libraries, and recreation centers.

The city has decided to not test every water source every year, but will install a filter on every drinking source. This means that every water fountain, kitchen sink, sinks in nurse’s suites, classroom’s, etc. in DC Public Schools will have a filter installed by the city.

While the mandate does not cover public charter schools, we highly recommend that every public charter request to have filters installed. Additionally, for all public charter schools the city will cover the cost of the initial installation of filters on their drinking sources. We will send details about the funding soon.

For any school that installs a filter on every drinking source, we will only require infrequent “spot” testing in the future. Schools that do not install filters are required to test and report to us their lead levels at every drinking source each year. We will develop the details of the testing requirement in the coming months with environmental experts and with input from school leaders.

This morning we are testifying at the Committee on Education and the Committee on Transportation and the Environment’s joint oversight hearing on lead testing in public facilities. Read her testimony here. You can find the results of lead testing at all DC public charter schools here. You can learn more about the city-wide approach to lead testing at oca.dc.gov/lead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread pairs well with the other thread about how "we don't talk about LAMB business" (they are purging school leadership for looking the other way on sex abuse) and the City Paper article talking about how the charter sector wants even less oversight. I'm sorry, we can talk about Ballou all we want, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Zero transparency in the charter sector is beginning to scare me a lot. I sat in a hearing on lead in the water in DC schools and the charter schools sent a lawyer to argue that they shouldn't be required to test and report lead in the water. These are old DCPS buildings that they are taking over in many cases, and if there are lead in water problems at existing DCPS schools, they are in the charter sector too - we just will never know.

Stop lying. My charter tests for lead, provides staff and parents with the results and turns the test info into the charter board.

ALL charters have their drinking water tested by an independent 3rd party firm, regardless of whether they're occupying an independently leased/owned building or subleasing from DCPS. And, those results are provided directly to the governing body, PCSB.

Anonymous wrote:This is terrible but its part of a larger dicussion on inclusion. Most teachers are not trained to deal with kids with severe mental/physical disabilties, espeically in a class with 20 other kids who need attention. So Im not surprised this happens, unless the teachers are specifically trained for high needs kids I wouldnt want my kid mainstreamed in the class.

This was a classroom with 6 students and at least 4 adults. Zero chance of finding that level of support in DCPS (or any other charter school save for Creative Minds or St. Colleta)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Blame the doctors who messed up at birth.

?? The doctors at birth caused the problems at Bridges? You make no sense.

For what it’s worth, we knew this family when their child was at the school and our hearts break for them. They have been served horribly by false information from a disgruntled former teacher and, worse, by lawyers and consultants who take their money, give them false hopes, and come up empty.

We parents have been in the thick of it since the allegations first surfaced in December 2015 and, sigh of relief, were/are confident they are unfounded. A teacher there briefly was the source of the allegations and turned out to be someone who bounces from school to school and dragged us all down a frightening rabbit hole.

We all kept our children at the school because we knew and saw firsthand how the staff does more than any other public or public charter school in the city. Had the allegations been true, we would have pulled our children from the school in the blink of an eye.

If this is true, it’s horrible. If it’s true, PLEASE let us know the former teachers name. Out this teacher and protect the next school. Also, the next family. I can’t imagine the heartbreak this family is feeling because of lies.

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread pairs well with the other thread about how "we don't talk about LAMB business" (they are purging school leadership for looking the other way on sex abuse) and the City Paper article talking about how the charter sector wants even less oversight. I'm sorry, we can talk about Ballou all we want, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Zero transparency in the charter sector is beginning to scare me a lot. I sat in a hearing on lead in the water in DC schools and the charter schools sent a lawyer to argue that they shouldn't be required to test and report lead in the water. These are old DCPS buildings that they are taking over in many cases, and if there are lead in water problems at existing DCPS schools, they are in the charter sector too - we just will never know.

Stop lying. My charter tests for lead, provides staff and parents with the results and turns the test info into the charter board.

Anonymous wrote:This is terrible but its part of a larger dicussion on inclusion. Most teachers are not trained to deal with kids with severe mental/physical disabilties, espeically in a class with 20 other kids who need attention. So Im not surprised this happens, unless the teachers are specifically trained for high needs kids I wouldnt want my kid mainstreamed in the class.

That is assuming that there is only one child with special needs per class, what about when there are more like in DCPS. Maybe not physical needs but definitely mental and especially ED, in some schools there are many students with behavioral and learning delays in some classrooms and teachers are not supported nor are the students. What DCPS then tends to do is put them all in one classroom under the guise of inclusion, but it's not!

This is terrible but its part of a larger dicussion on inclusion. Most teachers are not trained to deal with kids with severe mental/physical disabilties, espeically in a class with 20 other kids who need attention. So Im not surprised this happens, unless the teachers are specifically trained for high needs kids I wouldnt want my kid mainstreamed in the class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

So you're accusing the parents of a SN kid of perjury? Wow. Glad to know you are the decider of truth.

Here's the mom's explanation of what happened at birth and since.
https://www.hydroassoc.org/melissa-kopolow-mccall-shared-hydrocephalus-patient-perspective-on-capitol-hill/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Blame the doctors who messed up at birth.

?? The doctors at birth caused the problems at Bridges? You make no sense.

Watch this video of the parent who explains it all -

https://www.hydroassoc.org/melissa-kopolow-mccall-shared-hydrocephalus-patient-perspective-on-capitol-hill/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Blame the doctors who messed up at birth.

?? The doctors at birth caused the problems at Bridges? You make no sense.

For what it’s worth, we knew this family when their child was at the school and our hearts break for them. They have been served horribly by false information from a disgruntled former teacher and, worse, by lawyers and consultants who take their money, give them false hopes, and come up empty.

We parents have been in the thick of it since the allegations first surfaced in December 2015 and, sigh of relief, were/are confident they are unfounded. A teacher there briefly was the source of the allegations and turned out to be someone who bounces from school to school and dragged us all down a frightening rabbit hole.

We all kept our children at the school because we knew and saw firsthand how the staff does more than any other public or public charter school in the city. Had the allegations been true, we would have pulled our children from the school in the blink of an eye.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the claims to be true and feel a great deal of respect for that family to not be bullied into silence and fight to protect other kids who may not have advocates outside of the school.

Yeah, and I believe Donald Trump legitimately won the election. Puhleeeze.

The Russians hacked the Electoral College. Obvi.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

Curious why you think this. Bridges has a self contained classroom for kids with disabilities and CMI doesn’t. By definition the kids in that room are not enjoying “inclusion.” It sounds from the article like that is the classroom Abigail was in. It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to think that abuse is more likely in a room with only young children with serious disabilities many of whom probably cannot report what is going on.

From what I recall the self-contained classroom is an option for families who want a higher level of care as opposed to full inclusion. There were Level 4 students in both environments, at the parent's discretion.

My kiddos absolutely loved Bridges, as did many of our friends. I'm really shocked and surprised to hear otherwise.

Ditto our positive experience. The only option for us that might be as good for our son is a $40,000 per year private school, which makes no sense given Bridges (and Creative Minds).

we had an absolutely horrendous experience at Bridges in PK3. Bridges denied my DS even a 504 plan, which was desperately needed. due to lack of special support, plus a revolving door of teachers, DS devolved quickly during the first couple of months at school and at one point became hysterical in the classroom. obviously he was removed from the classroom (which i understand), but nobody could/would tell me who took him out of the classroom, where they took him, and why they insisted that he change his clothes/give up all security blankets instead of finding out WHY he was acting like this/why he needed all security blankets and favorite tshirt/what was going on with him. i would not have even known that happened that day if i hadn't realized that he was wearing different clothes and asked DS, then his teacher what happened. we pulled him out soon thereafter. it has been 3+ years since that time and i am still angry with how he fell through the cracks and how the school did not properly account for his whereabouts. FWIW we are at another (non special ed) charter school, now in 1st grade, with a proper 504 plan in place, and DS is thriving, and i never have to worry about the school knowing/not knowing where either of my children (i have 2) are during the school day.

So sorry to read that. Our experience has been so different but we joined 3 years ago, I guess after you left. We started the last year at the old location. The new facility and abundant SpEd staff and resources are better than we could find elsewhere. Our son is a handful and we have found that the school is doing everything possible to support him.

Can you stop using the term SpED kiddo? It’s derogatory and I find it hard to believe your a parent of a child with special needs. Read some literature and please stop using that term. It’s exceptional or child with special needs.

NP. I'm the parent of a 14 y.o. with special needs. I type SpEd all the time. It's not derogatory. It's just faster.

If you go looking for reasons to be offended, you will find them. Even when they are not actually there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Blame the doctors who messed up at birth.

?? The doctors at birth caused the problems at Bridges? You make no sense.

Here is the real issue that needs our energy and time. The public funding for special education does not cover what it takes for our children with special needs. Too small a number of parents have been working tirelessly to get more funding and more support for special education programs. We found that that was a key point the Politico article.

Public funding for a Level 4 student, the highest category, is only $44,000. From that total, a school has to provide a full-time dedicated aide, two to three teachers for six to eight students, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, supervision, curriculum AND a school facility with the space and equipment to serve our children with special needs.

When a family (with the help of a lawyer - $$$) can make the case that “FAPE” (Free and Appropriate Public Education) is not available, OSSE will rule as such and will approve private placement that typically costs us upwards of $100,000. I write “us” because schools are publicly funded so one way or another, taxpayers foot that $100,000 bill.

For what it’s worth, we knew this family when their child was at the school and our hearts break for them. They have been served horribly by false information from a disgruntled former teacher and, worse, by lawyers and consultants who take their money, give them false hopes, and come up empty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Blame the doctors who messed up at birth.

?? The doctors at birth caused the problems at Bridges? You make no sense.

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Blame the doctors who messed up at birth.