Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 12:04     Subject: Re:BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013

Were this to happen, there would a line 2,956-strong outside Mary Cheh's office door to ensure that Ward 3 as well as Ward 5 gets to have an inbounds-only charter school designed for the neighbors.

I'd be in the front of that line.


If only Ward 3 residents had a local middle school they were entitled to attend based on their place of residence. And if only that school was highly regarded.

What's that you say? Huh. Never mind.


Read a little more closely. I'll give you a hint, it's underlined.

Deal is "well regarded" first and last because of the student population. Not the shiny building, not the impressive Ms. Kim. It's the students. Who come primarily from the neighborhood.

Now imagine how awesome it would be if we could design a school from the ground up, without the strictures of DCPS and the central office, and designed it with Ward 3 kids in mind!
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:52     Subject: Re:BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
She also said that the charter board prohibits giving preference to neighborhood or in-bounday students. If Brown or Wells could find away around those prohibitions, KIPP was very much interested in going into a school


Were this to happen, there would a line 2,956-strong outside Mary Cheh's office door to ensure that Ward 3 as well as Ward 5 gets to have an inbounds-only charter school designed for the neighbors.

I'd be in the front of that line.


If only Ward 3 residents had a local middle school they were entitled to attend based on their place of residence. And if only that school was highly regarded.

What's that you say? Huh. Never mind.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:43     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Well, Ward 5 doesn't have ANY middle school options at all, so it would be the logical choice for a new in-bounds only middle charter.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:43     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Regarding Jefferson, parents from Brent (which feeds into the school) and SWDC are already planning to turn Jefferson into an amazing school with an IB program. I think the Jefferson facility is "spoken for."
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:34     Subject: Re:BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
She also said that the charter board prohibits giving preference to neighborhood or in-bounday students. If Brown or Wells could find away around those prohibitions, KIPP was very much interested in going into a school


Were this to happen, there would a line 2,956-strong outside Mary Cheh's office door to ensure that Ward 3 as well as Ward 5 gets to have an inbounds-only charter school designed for the neighbors.

I'd be in the front of that line.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:29     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do folks think about the Jefferson location in southwest. nice field, right downtown close to waterfront, museums, etc. JEfferson used to be a strong school, but looking at it's test scores, maybe it should be restructured as a charter like Basis.


Jefferson would be a great location - it's near L'Enfant Metro station - it's in a safe area - it is centrally located for all parts of the city - it's a beautiful huge building with great facilities. BASIS (or Latin or another program) could co-locate with Jefferson Academy and symbiotically strengthen both programs.


Unless there is a real estate "wow factor" forget it. BASIS will get only the best.


Where will a start-up to obtain the best real estate in this city. For all practical purposes, BASIS is a start up in DC.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:28     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:19:47, you have just made 17:57's point perfectly.

Maybe Yu Ying can be the feeder school to BASIS? Sounds like a perfect match.


Nah. We'll be doing private by then. Won't be doing uproven charters or public in the upper grades.


There is nothing unproven about BASIS.
Uh, what about results of low income students with 90-100% non-white students? Anything? Anybody? Oh, I forgot. BASIS doesn't track income. I'm all for bringing good resources to DC, but why can't we spend tax money on getting BASIS (better yet KIPP DC) to takeover Hart or one of the dropout factories instead of creating a de facto SWW feeder and/or YY destination school.

IMHO, the last thing DC middle schoolers needs is another "experiment".


At Kwame Browne's middle school forum, both he and Tommy Wells actually asked the KIPP Director if they were interested in coming into a Ward (I think the emphasis was Ward 5, I could have misheard), and establish a middle school. KIPP would have to give preference to neighborhood residents. KIPP Director said that KIPP would be interested, but not interested in following DCPS rules and procedures, such as hiring and retention. She also said that the charter board prohibits giving preference to neighborhood or in-bounday students. If Brown or Wells could find away around those prohibitions, KIPP was very much interested in going into a school and turning it into a thriving, remarkable middle school.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 11:25     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do folks think about the Jefferson location in southwest. nice field, right downtown close to waterfront, museums, etc. JEfferson used to be a strong school, but looking at it's test scores, maybe it should be restructured as a charter like Basis.


Jefferson would be a great location - it's near L'Enfant Metro station - it's in a safe area - it is centrally located for all parts of the city - it's a beautiful huge building with great facilities. BASIS (or Latin or another program) could co-locate with Jefferson Academy and symbiotically strengthen both programs.


Unless there is a real estate "wow factor" forget it. BASIS will get only the best.


Wow factor could be that Jefferson is smack dab in the middle of the largest redevelopment project in the country ($2 billion). The developer has expressed an interest to partner with Jefferson in significant ways (programs, facility, grounds) Also, Jefferson is up for its modernization in 2013. And, the building itself is a beautiful 1939 over engineered (as in rock solid construction) building. See the photo in this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jefferson-Academy-DC/196400727041781#!/media/set/?set=a.196407133707807.58480.196400727041781&type=1

Which firm are you with?



Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 10:57     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do folks think about the Jefferson location in southwest. nice field, right downtown close to waterfront, museums, etc. JEfferson used to be a strong school, but looking at it's test scores, maybe it should be restructured as a charter like Basis.


Jefferson would be a great location - it's near L'Enfant Metro station - it's in a safe area - it is centrally located for all parts of the city - it's a beautiful huge building with great facilities. BASIS (or Latin or another program) could co-locate with Jefferson Academy and symbiotically strengthen both programs.


Unless there is a real estate "wow factor" forget it. BASIS will get only the best.


Wow factor could be that Jefferson is smack dab in the middle of the largest redevelopment project in the country ($2 billion). The developer has expressed an interest to partner with Jefferson in significant ways (programs, facility, grounds) Also, Jefferson is up for its modernization in 2013. And, the building itself is a beautiful 1939 over engineered (as in rock solid construction) building. See the photo in this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jefferson-Academy-DC/196400727041781#!/media/set/?set=a.196407133707807.58480.196400727041781&type=1



Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 10:43     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do folks think about the Jefferson location in southwest. nice field, right downtown close to waterfront, museums, etc. JEfferson used to be a strong school, but looking at it's test scores, maybe it should be restructured as a charter like Basis.


Jefferson would be a great location - it's near L'Enfant Metro station - it's in a safe area - it is centrally located for all parts of the city - it's a beautiful huge building with great facilities. BASIS (or Latin or another program) could co-locate with Jefferson Academy and symbiotically strengthen both programs.


Unless there is a real estate "wow factor" forget it. BASIS will get only the best.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 10:31     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:What do folks think about the Jefferson location in southwest. nice field, right downtown close to waterfront, museums, etc. JEfferson used to be a strong school, but looking at it's test scores, maybe it should be restructured as a charter like Basis.


Jefferson would be a great location - it's near L'Enfant Metro station - it's in a safe area - it is centrally located for all parts of the city - it's a beautiful huge building with great facilities. BASIS (or Latin or another program) could co-locate with Jefferson Academy and symbiotically strengthen both programs.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 09:27     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
What do folks think about the Jefferson location in southwest. nice field, right downtown close to waterfront, museums, etc. JEfferson used to be a strong school, but looking at it's test scores, maybe it should be restructured as a charter like Basis.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 09:18     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:19:47, you have just made 17:57's point perfectly.

Maybe Yu Ying can be the feeder school to BASIS? Sounds like a perfect match.


Nah. We'll be doing private by then. Won't be doing uproven charters or public in the upper grades.


There is nothing unproven about BASIS.
Uh, what about results of low income students with 90-100% non-white students? Anything? Anybody? Oh, I forgot. BASIS doesn't track income. I'm all for bringing good resources to DC, but why can't we spend tax money on getting BASIS (better yet KIPP DC) to takeover Hart or one of the dropout factories instead of creating a de facto SWW feeder and/or YY destination school.

IMHO, the last thing DC middle schoolers needs is another "experiment".
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 07:10     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote::36, you do realize these sorts of comments predispose us to hate this school. Right?


"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." comes to mind...

Pantene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8ul-gmLyA


Ha! Last line in shampoo commercial is ""It won't happen over night but it will happen...You'll see." Perfect!
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2011 06:37     Subject: BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
Anonymous wrote::36, you do realize these sorts of comments predispose us to hate this school. Right?


"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." comes to mind...

Pantene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8ul-gmLyA