Changing schools? -- advice needed

[ChristaN]

Hi all. My dds are currently in kindergarten and 2nd grade at our local neighborhood school. We have some issues with the administration and dd#1 had such a totally traumatic 1st grade experience that it truly damaged her and we wound up homeschooling for the last few months last year. This year she has an incredible teacher and we have been very happy. Dd#2's kg teacher is fine as well.

We have been planning, however to change the kids to a new charter school that is opening next fall. It is a an arts magnet and that would be a good fit for both girls (they love acting, dance, art, etc.). I also know a few other kids who will be going there from their current school and other places and they are really great kids whom I'd love dds to spend time with. I like the philosophy of the charter, it will be run by an organization that has a track record of running charters well, etc. It will involve driving them 10-15 mins each way rather than walking to the neighborhood school.

Okay, so herein comes the question. I just found out today that the principal of the neighborhood school will not be back next year. Our issues at the current school include: administration that is just miserable to work with and not at all supportive of parent input unless it is what they already wanted to hear, a "culture" that just doesn't fit our family (admin and a bunch of clicky, snobby parents), just a general feeling of bad fit. I'd say for the most part, our issues are there b/c of the direction that the principal has been leading the school although some of the parents are a totally different issue.

With the principal leaving, I am wondering if we ought to give the school another shot, though. If we do turn down the charter, though, the girls probably won't get back in. I spoke w/ dd's teacher today and she had considered applying to teach at this charter, but is staying at the current school now the the principal is leaving and also had some concerns as a teacher that there would be cameras in the rooms -- felt like someone would be watching over her shoulder all of the time. I can totally understand that, too.

So, any input? My girls are expecting at this point to attend the new school and are excited about it. Dh has never been totally gung-ho about the change b/c it is just easier to keep them where they are, but he will go along with whatever I decide.

[turtlemama77]

Tough decision. Is there any way you can attend preliminary board meetings at the new charter school so you can learn more about the philosophy and how it will be run? Can you ask questions about things that troubled you about the neighborhood school to make sure they won't be issues at the charter? Can you meet potential teachers at the new charter before you make your final decision? Or can you get involved in the hiring of the new administrator at your neighborhood school (going to board meetings, volunteering to be on a parent committee, etc)?

I'm not sure what I'd do. Some charters in their first year have trouble "finding" themselves, if that makes sense. It's hard work to start a school, and sometimes it can take its toll on staff and administration. I'm not trying to scare you away because I think charter schools are an awesome alternative to regular public schools, but they do take lots of work by lots of people. I think if it were me, I'd find ways to be involved so I knew what was going on (but I'd do that in either school).

Just out of curiousity, who's running the charter? Is it a management company? Who's the sponsor?

[ChristaN]

The charter is contracting with Mosaica education to provide curricula and management. We have been to one parent meeting and, for the most part, it sounds like it will be a much better fit than what we have had so far at the local school. One thing that really appeals to me is that the charter plans to provide subject specific acceleration for children who are advanced in specific areas and grade acceleration is a possibility. Neither of these are possible in the current school/district.

Dd#1 has some special needs, has a hard time with kids her own age, and is multiple grade levels above her current grade in some subjects. What has been suggested to us as the 'best fit' for her would be a school or full time program for gifted children. While the charter is not that, I do believe that their plan for acceleration would work better for dd than one hour/week pull out for TAG -- which is what she will get at her current school.

I do hope that the culture at the current school will improve with different administration, but the policies for dealing with gifted children, for instance, are more of a district set thing and probably will not.

What you are getting at, though, regarding the charter finding their pace in the first year, is a concern for me. I really want some continuity and stability for dds. Dd#1 also does not deal too well with change and I'd like things to not be too tumultuous.

[turtlemama77]

I know what you mean about wanting continuity in a school. I think if I had to call out a drawback of *some* charters (definitely not all, by any means, especially more established ones) I would have to mention lack of consistency. But I do want to stress that this is NOT the case for all charters. In my experience, we did go through some changes in directorship and with staff (although not as many staff changes after I started).

What you could do is ask how the leadership at the charter plans to maintain stability for the first few years. You could mention that you've heard there can be a lot of changes at a new charter, and just see what they say about how they will handle that. The changes at my charter had a lot to do with how administration handled staff concerns and student concerns. If a charter has a plan in place to handle those kinds of things, I think I would be more willing to give it a try.

Have you considered trying to find a school that offers multiage classes for your dd? I taught a combined 5th and 6th grade and there was a lot of flexibility for me as a teacher to accomodate many different learning styles/abilities. Just something to think about.

[Itlbokay]

Originally Posted by ChristaN

With the principal leaving, I am wondering if we ought to give the school another shot, though.

What if the new principal is just as bad, or worse? Or perhaps the new principal will be fantastic. What if the Charter School doesn't meet your expectations?

I can imagine how all of these unknowns are affecting your decision making. It probably doesn't help when you feel pressured by the fact that if your girls don't at least try the new school, then there is a very real possibility that they could lose their spots.

Gather all of the information you can, and make the best decision for your family.

[EXOLAX]

I would try to look at it simply. They both obviously have their pros and cons, and they both seem to be in similiar volitile states; one being a new school, and one with the new principle. Their are unknowns on either side so I might negate both of those things as issues because they seem so parallel. I would look at whatever your primary goals are out of school and see which one with it's philosophy for the upcoming year would bet fit your desires.

Not knowing the situation, I would also be a little more tempted to look into the school that is more difficult to get into first. If they are already in, and don't like it, they could easily switch back to their public school. If it isn't a guarantee the other way that may sway my decision.

Regarding schools our first priority is the education (for us this encompases not only what and how much is being is taught but the manner in which it is being done) and with gifted children it definitly throws another variable in there. The school could be great, the principle, the philosophies etc. all wonderful but it comes down to implementation and respect for each child's individual need for learning environments. In some school systems it doesn't matter how fabulous everyone is if they are being forced to jump through hoops to accomodate certain children's needs.

HTH

[Lil'M]

I think the charter school sounds wonderful. We made a similar decision for school this year and are sending our kids to a co-op school that is a 20-25 minute drive because it really is a great fit for our kids, especially dd1 who is borderline ADD. At the old school, she was unhappy and really struggling to fit their mold. At the current school she is thriving and has very few attentional issues. Also the school has a very respectful attitude towards children and the other families are great too.

I know that a principal can set a tone for a school, but you are also concerned with the other families at the local school and the services they are able to provide. I would also go with the charter that matches your kids' interests and could be difficult to get into later.

[Ann-Marita]

Originally Posted by ChristaN

[The charter school] would be a good fit for both girls ...[The local school has] a "culture" that just doesn't fit our family

I think you answered yourself in those two phrases.

I'm answering in this forum because I changed schools as a child (more than once!), including a move to a school that was a better fit for both myself and my family than the local public school. It was way worth it!

You can always move back to the public school, if things truely change. And your daughters will probably know children at that school (the local public school) because of neighborhood friends. I know my homeschooled daughter would know many children at the local school, if we were to ever choose that route.

I say go for the charter school.