Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you intentionally hurting your employer? Are you quitting soon? Or were you fired?

Because people deserve all sides of they are going to make educated decisions. And I'm a firm believer that education isn't about selling a product. There are positives and negatives to any school. BASIS offers an accelerated program. For many that is a big selling point. However, it also has high attrition rates, turnover in the staff, and a culture that is shaped in part by the for-profit strategy. Does this mean it's a bad choice? For some, maybe. For others, maybe not.

How long have you been with basis?

I'm not with Basis but I whole heartedly believe in independent schools.

Are you the same person doing AMA? Earlier you said you did work for them.

No

This thread has become useless as its impossible to tell the players without a score card. The detractors sound like nervous competition not current employees trying to enlighten others.

Nysmith has a lot less students than Basis wants. The Blocks are greedy. Odds are it won't open. Ask Chris about that at the next sales meeting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is low interest in BASIS in McLean, IMO, because families in this area have access to great public and private options apart from BASIS, which include educational opportunities that BASIS cannot or will struggle to provide - e.g., post Calculus math + theater + soccer + crew + choir + yearbook + community service clubs + debate teams + dozens of AP options + choice of several languages + even driver's ed. In other words, in McLean, one can create an experience much like BASIS at a more traditional school setting (not in Tysons Corner office building). It might work better whetr there are plenty of smart kids but less options ....

Agreed. An office building isn't a school. But, BASIS isn't a school. It's a for-profit business for the Blocks where students are a number, admins come and go each year, admissions staff are pressured to perform and paid bonuses when they do, and students are just a number. That sounds way better than a public school! Let's all pay for that!

I attended an open house and it was packed with parents and students. Ideas were discussed back and forth and I found the administration to be open and approachable. The school sounds like a very similar model to Nysmith, from the office building facade to the for profit status. Nysmith is a very popular school in NVA and attracts kids from as far as Arlington to Leesburg.

I am sure that there will be bumps in the road with a new school but I find it very hard to believe that they aren't getting the interest they expected. Maybe it's not translating to applications yet but it will. Maybe because there's rolling admissions, people aren't feeling pressured to complete the process yet?

Do the Blocks have any background in education?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you intentionally hurting your employer? Are you quitting soon? Or were you fired?

Because people deserve all sides of they are going to make educated decisions. And I'm a firm believer that education isn't about selling a product. There are positives and negatives to any school. BASIS offers an accelerated program. For many that is a big selling point. However, it also has high attrition rates, turnover in the staff, and a culture that is shaped in part by the for-profit strategy. Does this mean it's a bad choice? For some, maybe. For others, maybe not.

How long have you been with basis?

I'm not with Basis but I whole heartedly believe in independent schools.

Are you the same person doing AMA? Earlier you said you did work for them.

Anonymous wrote:There is low interest in BASIS in McLean, IMO, because families in this area have access to great public and private options apart from BASIS, which include educational opportunities that BASIS cannot or will struggle to provide - e.g., post Calculus math + theater + soccer + crew + choir + yearbook + community service clubs + debate teams + dozens of AP options + choice of several languages + even driver's ed. In other words, in McLean, one can create an experience much like BASIS at a more traditional school setting (not in Tysons Corner office building). It might work better whetr there are plenty of smart kids but less options ....

Agreed. An office building isn't a school. But, BASIS isn't a school. It's a for-profit business for the Blocks where students are a number, admins come and go each year, admissions staff are pressured to perform and paid bonuses when they do, and students are just a number. That sounds way better than a public school! Let's all pay for that!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you intentionally hurting your employer? Are you quitting soon? Or were you fired?

I'm suspicious as to whether the person appearing to represent Basis is legitimate.

Do you work for Basis? Are you the Blocks?

There is low interest in BASIS in McLean, IMO, because families in this area have access to great public and private options apart from BASIS, which include educational opportunities that BASIS cannot or will struggle to provide - e.g., post Calculus math + theater + soccer + crew + choir + yearbook + community service clubs + debate teams + dozens of AP options + choice of several languages + even driver's ed. In other words, in McLean, one can create an experience much like BASIS at a more traditional school setting (not in Tysons Corner office building). It might work better whetr there are plenty of smart kids but less options ....

Anonymous wrote:Why are you intentionally hurting your employer? Are you quitting soon? Or were you fired?

I'm suspicious as to whether the person appearing to represent Basis is legitimate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you intentionally hurting your employer? Are you quitting soon? Or were you fired?

Because people deserve all sides of they are going to make educated decisions. And I'm a firm believer that education isn't about selling a product. There are positives and negatives to any school. BASIS offers an accelerated program. For many that is a big selling point. However, it also has high attrition rates, turnover in the staff, and a culture that is shaped in part by the for-profit strategy. Does this mean it's a bad choice? For some, maybe. For others, maybe not.

How long have you been with basis?

I'm not with Basis but I whole heartedly believe in independent schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Sean Aiken the only one interested in actual teaching there?

I wouldn't say that. But I also wouldn't say that the majority of admin are interested in teacher/have much education experience. Many are just in it to move up the ranks.

Is that why you work there?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you send your kids to Basis?

NO. unless it was the school I worked at and I knew that the staff and teachers were stable/going to stay and high quality

That's a roundabout way of saying NO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you intentionally hurting your employer? Are you quitting soon? Or were you fired?

Because people deserve all sides of they are going to make educated decisions. And I'm a firm believer that education isn't about selling a product. There are positives and negatives to any school. BASIS offers an accelerated program. For many that is a big selling point. However, it also has high attrition rates, turnover in the staff, and a culture that is shaped in part by the for-profit strategy. Does this mean it's a bad choice? For some, maybe. For others, maybe not.

How long have you been with basis?

Anonymous wrote:Is it hard to work at Basis given that you have kids?

I'm not sure I understand the question