tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post2984688962498859514..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Another charter school to open doors in Lithonia this yearCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51189233362673382172010-08-19T16:21:51.305-04:002010-08-19T16:21:51.305-04:00Dekalb is crazy.Dekalb is crazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7236838053522135622010-05-02T14:39:50.049-04:002010-05-02T14:39:50.049-04:00I hear ya, Cere. I read the opinion item. Did you ...I hear ya, Cere. I read the opinion item. Did you read the NYT item? My take on the private $$$ folks is that they are spending on the few charters that are succeeding in "closing the gap" in minority populations in hopes of expanding these schools' capacity.<br /><br />It is a big "if" and a big bet they are making but I have to believe they will discover the successes are not going to be proportional to the expense in individual schools and that one charter school's success is not necessarily transferable to another.<br /><br />Ultimately, I think we will be right back where we started and have a whole lot of public schools that will still need a whole lot of love. I'm a long term investor and I see chartering as a speculative investment of public money.<br /><br />Will a few charter companies make a boat load of money before the sheen wheres off chartering? Yes.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-45418555849814210022010-05-02T10:21:22.171-04:002010-05-02T10:21:22.171-04:00All good points, Kim, but I'm afraid this is a...All good points, Kim, but I'm afraid this is a losing battle. Obama and Duncan are all about charters - they love them - and reward systems that offer them - literally reward - as in Race to the Top $$$. <br /><br />Also, there are enormous corporate interests such as the Eli Broad Foundation, Gates and Walton Family Foundation who are enormously interested in making education the next big corporate interest ($$$). <br /><br />Follow this blog to get an interesting perspective on the subject-<br /><br />http://www.schoolsmatter.info/Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89503160446740408682010-05-02T10:07:47.982-04:002010-05-02T10:07:47.982-04:00@DunwoodyMom: " ... how serious ..."
Oh...@DunwoodyMom: " ... how serious ..."<br /><br />Oh, there is a core of folks in Dunwoody who are deadly serious about chartering. There has been a clear evolution of an "anything but DeKalb" pathology above I-285 for a decade. This is another example, I believe.<br /><br />The more I study the question of charters the more skeptical I become. This, coming from someone whose natural tendencies are for school choice concepts.<br /><br />The evidence just seems to be piling up that chartering offers no particular formula for success. Today, a fellow board member at the <a href="http://www.crosskeysfoundation.org" rel="nofollow">Cross Keys Foundation</a> shared an interesting article from the NYT on the subject.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.communityradar.com/story.php?title=nyt-challenges-in-replicating-charter-school-success" rel="nofollow">NYT: Challenges in Replicating Charter School Success</a><br /><br />The article references the Stanford study I brought up elsewhere on this blog that reports that 4 out of 5 charters perform at or below the level of their traditional public school peers.<br /><br />Here is the nugget that jumped off the page of the NYT item to me:<br /><br />"What most experts can agree on is that charter school quality varies widely, and that it is often associated with the rigor of authorities that grant charters. New York, where oversight is strong, is known for higher performing schools. Ohio, Arizona and Texas, where accountability is minimal, showed up in Ms. Raymond's study with many poorly performing schools. <br /><br />Perhaps the sharpest knock on charters - one that even some proponents acknowledge - is that mediocrity is widely tolerated. Authorities are reluctant to close poor schools. Some advocates concede that the intellectual premise behind school choice - that in a free market for education, parents will remove students from bad schools in favor of good ones - has not proved true."<br /><br />Also, in reading the entire article, in became clear that once again the key distinction between performing schools and under performing schools is teacher quality. How do you institutionalize that?Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-52647547444205783622010-04-29T09:06:37.704-04:002010-04-29T09:06:37.704-04:00After reading some of these comments by people who...After reading some of these comments by people who say they are educators, I can safely say I will continue to sacrifice and pay for private school, unless my son gets a spot at the Leadership Academy. First of all I learned about the academy from this blog. Secondly because of its close proximity to my home I immediately began to research the school, charter apllication, lease, location, and people involved. All this information is readily available on the internet, including the amount of rent being paid for the space. If you all bothered to do your homework you would realize that the difference in rent between both locations is significant. You would also find that the Academy of Lithonia is at the corner of the entrance to Newbirth,so the description in the article is accurate. You also have found that the property for the Academy of Lithonia is privately owned. If you bothered to spend time doing research you would have also seen that the lease was negotiated before the closing of Academy of Lithonia... Is this the way you teach kids to do research if so then no wonder the public school system is in such a mess. I don't know anyone involved with this charter sschool ,nor do I attend Newbirth, but I am concerned about the quality of my son's education and am just amazed at some of these comments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8301817567737572752010-04-26T12:15:43.897-04:002010-04-26T12:15:43.897-04:00I have heard "rumblings" that the Dunwoo...I have heard "rumblings" that the Dunwoody cluster is looking at the Charter process, though 3 of the feeder schools are already Charter Schools. How serious? I don't have a clue.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-47948587232466881282010-04-26T11:54:21.579-04:002010-04-26T11:54:21.579-04:00"About 60 percent of third-graders failed on ..."About 60 percent of third-graders failed on the math section compared to about 29 percent statewide and 39 percent districtwide."<br /><br />This is a relatively meaningless statement because we don't know where these students were before they entered the charter school as contrasted with where they were after a year in the charter school. If they were far behind grade level in math, maybe a 40% pass rate was progress. Perhaps many parents enrolled their children specifically because they were so far behind their peers, and this seemed like an option that was worth trying. Parents with children who are succeeding tend to leave their children in the same educational setting.<br /><br />Comparing these students (or any students to state averages, county averages or school averages) does not provide the meaningful data the public thinks it does. For example, if I have students entering 6th grade 2 years behind in Reading (3rd grade level - remember they should have mastered 5 grade levels in reading skills in the 5th grade, but they only mastered 3), then their average reading level gain per year was .6 grade levels per year. If I increase their reading level by 1 year during the 6th grade, this is a 1.0 grade level increase. I have begun to break the downward curve on their reading achievement. <br /><br />While the comparisons district and state education administrators use (CRCT, EOCT, GHSGT) may provide some useful data at a macro level, the assessments they use are neither valid or reliable when increasing student achievement on a micro level. <br /><br />Do laypeople understand how the CRCT, EOCT and GHSGT works on a school accountability level? <br /><br />For example, I had a group of 4th graders last year and they took the CRCT. I have another group of 4th graders this year, and they take the CRCT. My 4th graders this year are supposed to score higher than last year's 4th graders. This may be interesting information for the district and state administrators (macro level), but it is not helpful information for teachers (micro level) if they are seeking to improve the achievement of specific students. Improving the achievement of individual students is the only thing that improves the aggregate data of the larger group or various subgroups (NCLB and AYP disaggregated data is still based on subgroups).<br /><br />Classroom teachers find that pretesting on key concepts at the beginning of the school year and then posttesting on key concepts at the end of the school year for the actual students they have is a more useful and fairer way of testing what they have taught. Seems simple, and this used to happen in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. We administered the ITBS, a nationally normed test, in the fall (Oct.) and then in the spring (March) "to the same group of students). What could have improved on this method is more timely information. It would be ideal to test on key concepts in Sept. - receive the information within the week, test on key concepts in May - receive the information within the week. This could be accomplished with a test delivery system of students being able to take their pre and post tests online and then the data being delivered back to the teacher within the week.<br /><br />DCSS benchmark testing is supposed to do this (although every 6 weeks of testing is just too much time taken away from instruction). However, we don't have enough working technology to administer the tests, so teachers have to manually "scan" in the test scores, and only a few teachers have access to view the the results for their students. I believe we heard from Title 1 school teachers that this information is often filtered through the Instructional Coaches weeks later.<br /><br />The utter failure of testing to improve achievement rests on the shoulders of the state and district administrators who are responsible for the current system. They are not using sound educational testing and measurement practices. Charter schools are but one casualty. Every student in our schools suffers from this flawed system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34506126837728458662010-04-26T10:34:18.046-04:002010-04-26T10:34:18.046-04:00"Charter schools are expected to perform bett..."Charter schools are expected to perform better than their state or county counterparts because they are given wider latitude to design their own educational programs"<br /><br />Well, that doesn't make any sense unless they are getting more per pupil money. Unless they are conversion charter schools, I thought they cost taxpayers less because they only get the state allotment, not the county allotment for per pupil funding. The mentality of "one size fits all" is so typical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84449446499151653642010-04-26T09:24:13.302-04:002010-04-26T09:24:13.302-04:00Depending on memory here - Academy of Lithonia was...Depending on memory here - Academy of Lithonia was run by a private Michigan-based entity, Charter School Administration Services.<br /><br />According to Corporationwiki (http://www.corporationwiki.com/Michigan/Southfield/charter-school-administration-services-inc-2605591.aspx) <i>Charter School Administration Services, Inc.<br />Incorporated by David K McDonnell, Lecester L Allen, Mattie L Allen, Charter School Administration Services, Inc. is located at 20755 Greenfield Rd Ste 300 Southfield, MI 48075. Charter School Administration Services, Inc. was incorporated on Monday, October 19, 1998 in the State of FL and is currently not active. Lecester L Allen represents Charter School Administration Services, Inc. as their registered agent.</i><br /><br />The school was housed in a building that later had a "mansion" constructed adjacent to it. There were different stories as to whether the "mansion" was part of the school or whether it was for the use of the corporation. In any case, the building(s) may not actually be DCSS property, and the new charter may not be able to use them even if DCSS were willing.<br /><br />Perhaps this is what some of the state was questioning. The independence of the school was questioned, as well as whether it was being run by parents/teachers or the Michigan corporation.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-11091753549769044162010-04-26T08:46:10.087-04:002010-04-26T08:46:10.087-04:00Sorry to harp on this issue, I just have questions...Sorry to harp on this issue, I just have questions -- <br /><br />Why did the Leadership Academy not simply move in to the Evans Rd facility vacated by the Academy of Lithonia? Apparently, the property was in good shape. What will happen to that property? What will happen to the 538 students who attended the Academy of Lithonia? Will they all apply to the Leadership Academy? Will they flood area public schools (filling many of the vacant seats?) What exactly was the conflict of interest mentioned by the state in their decision to shut it down? (in addition to very high fail rates on tests).<br /><br />For the report on the state's decision to close the Academy of Lithonia - read this article from the Sept 10, 2009 Champion -<br /><br />http://www.championnewspaper.com/academy_lithonia.html<br /><br />Some quotes:<br /><br /><i><br />To keep its charter, the state required the school’s students test above state averages. Averages were below the state in every grade save for one CRCT testing category last year, according to state documents: sixth grade English. <br /><br />Failure rates on sections of the mandatory exam in each grade at the charter school were far greater than state and local averages. Some examples from the 2007-08 year:<br /><br />About 60 percent of third-graders failed on the math section compared to about 29 percent statewide and 39 percent districtwide.<br /><br />About 63 percent of fourth-graders failed on the math section compared with about 30 percent statewide and 40 percent districtwide.<br /><br />About 51 percent of seventh-graders failed on the science section compared with about 25 percent statewide and 51 percent districtwide.<br /><br />About 47 percent of third-graders failed on the science section compared with about 25 percent statewide and 36 percent districtwide. . . . <br /><br />The state department also criticized the academy’s goals to improve student performance, claiming they were unrealistic and lacked rigor. Additionally, the department questioned the business relationships between the academy, Charter School Administrative Services and Academy of America, concerned about potential conflicts of interest, though the report did not go into detail.<br /><br />Charter schools are expected to perform better than their state or county counterparts because they are given wider latitude to design their own educational programs, said Andrew Broy, a state associate superintendent for policy and charter schools.</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36817999401933279702010-04-26T08:16:30.542-04:002010-04-26T08:16:30.542-04:00On the subject of the location - the Champion'...On the subject of the location - the Champion's report is incorrect. The new "Leadership Academy" is not going to be located in a vacated former academy (assumed to be the Academy of Lithonia).<br /><br />Here are the addresses from the websites for each entity -<br /><br />Academy Of Lithonia Charter Schools<br />3235 Evans Mill Road, <br />Lithonia, GA 30038-3012<br /><br />DeKalb Leadership Preparatory School<br />Leadership Preparatory Academy . <br />6400 Woodrow Rd. <br />Lithonia, GA. 30038<br /><br />New Birth Missionary Baptist Church<br />All services are held at: <br />6400 Woodrow Road<br />Lithonia, GA 30038<br />770.696.9600Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-63216837381883756062010-04-26T08:06:56.970-04:002010-04-26T08:06:56.970-04:00On the subject of charter schools - the state may ...On the subject of charter schools - the state may be poised to elevate that option to a whole new level - <br /><br /><i>SB 457: Empowers a high school cluster to petition the local board of education to become a conversion charter. Requires a referendum in the attendance zone of such high school cluster. House: Instead of the referendum, requires a 60% favorable vote by parents and faculty in all the schools in the cluster and approval by the local school councils. </i><br /><br />PASSED Senate PASSED HouseCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8639744326420059962010-04-25T13:40:34.036-04:002010-04-25T13:40:34.036-04:00True enough. I guess since this is DeKalb, any ref...True enough. I guess since this is DeKalb, any reference to segregation is always interpreted as racial. In the case of New Birth (which BTW, the school and the church services have the exact same address) - and the Fulton school organized by Muslim parents are actually more religious in segregation if anything. There's also an income discrimination, as transportation must be provided by parents as well as uniforms and other expenses - an impossibility for many.<br /><br />I'm just very concerned that we are breaking our schools apart - driven in some ways by elitism. Arabia was the first big eye-opener for me on that subject. They will do anything to avoid serving regular neighborhood students.<br /><br />And - as we continue to pull off the best, brightest and most active participants - what are we "leaving behind" for the students who are not able to partake of special programs for one reason or another?<br /><br />Just sayin...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75162115485281407162010-04-25T13:09:48.205-04:002010-04-25T13:09:48.205-04:00...since charters can use unused school buildings ...<i>...since charters can use unused school buildings at no charge, why is this one renting space from a church instead? It is very clear that we have unused buildings available.</i> Because the Board has to approve the Charter school's use of a district owned facility and the Board hasn't seen fit to do so. <br /><br /><i>And what happens when a charter pulls 4-500 kids from an area - and causes the local schools to lose enrollment?</i> In theory, the local school works hard to improve so that it can compete with the charter school for students. If it can't successfully attract students, then perhaps there is a good reason it should be closed. <br /><br /><i>And what happens when these charters use their schools to hold religious instruction as after school programs funded privately? </i> Do you have any evidence of charter schools in Dekalb or in Georgia that have religious instruction as an after school program? What happens when traditional public schools allow their facilities to be used for after school programs that discriminate on the basis of religion or sexual orientation? (Many of our elementary schools host Boy Scout meetings, yet the Boy Scouts have made it very clear that atheists and gays are not welcome.)<br /><br /><i>There are plenty more ways to segregate people via a charter school than there are with regular, good old public schools - which DO NOT require application, uniforms, essays, GPAs, or parent provided transportation to attend.</i> Let's look at some of DeKalb high schools. Columbia, MLK, Lithonia, McNair, Miller Grove, Southwest Dekalb and Towers are all over 95% Black. Many of our traditional schools aren't terribly well integrated - either racially or economically, and that isn't the fault of charter schools. (And while Magnet schools can require essays and GPAs, charters cannot. If a charter has more applicants than seats, selection is lottery based, as required by law.)Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09032983243542804389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-80106079865672558792010-04-25T12:53:36.680-04:002010-04-25T12:53:36.680-04:00Cerebration asks,
*Also, there is a $2 million sa...Cerebration asks,<br /><br />*Also, there is a $2 million savings noted on the budget cuts for a payment to Lithonia Charter that is no longer necessary. Does that $2 million now have to be reinstated and given to the Leadership Academy? *<br /><br />I wondered the same thing. My guess is that this is the payment that was due to Academy of Lithonia based on the enrollment and was built into the budget. Since the school closed, this line item could be removed. <br /><br />DCSS would need to make a payment to the Leadership Academy based on their enrollment. It is probably fair to say it will be less than the payment scheduled for Academy of Lithonia as they probably won't have as many students to start. This does raise the question about the payment amounts for the other new independent charters like Avondale Museum and Peachtree Hope.<br /><br />As to why this school isn't using unused DCSS space, the only one available at this time is Forrest Hills. Since the Board has not voted on other closings, there probably was not enough time to negotiate a deal with the school system. A few of the other available schools are scheduled for decommissioning (Hooper Alexander, Heritage, & Open Campus).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-13165559782344100562010-04-25T12:41:06.336-04:002010-04-25T12:41:06.336-04:00When my nephew attended Peachtree Middle- a charte...When my nephew attended Peachtree Middle- a charter school, his parents had to provide transportation, so what is the difference with this startup charter having the same policy? No, the Lithonia Charter was not housed in New Birth, but in a separate bldg on Evans Mill & Woodrow, in very close proximity to New Birth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-109577518240683072010-04-25T11:51:23.262-04:002010-04-25T11:51:23.262-04:00So, just curious - since charters can use unused s...So, just curious - since charters can use unused school buildings at no charge, why is this one renting space from a church instead? It is very clear that we have unused buildings available. And what happens when a charter pulls 4-500 kids from an area - and causes the local schools to lose enrollment? And what happens when these charters use their schools to hold religious instruction as after school programs funded privately? There are plenty more ways to segregate people via a charter school than there are with regular, good old public schools - which DO NOT require application, uniforms, essays, GPAs, or parent provided transportation to attend. <br /><br />Let's turn the table. Imagine if you will, Dunwoody parents starting up a Leadership Academy Charter and housing it at Dunwoody Baptist Church - claiming - oh, but anyone can apply - they just need their own transportation. <br /><br />Really, would that fly?Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-3488705942390498112010-04-25T11:35:57.862-04:002010-04-25T11:35:57.862-04:00@ Cerebration (and all others commenting on charte...@ Cerebration (and all others commenting on charter schools)...<br /><br />It would be good if everyone commenting on charter schools would stop spreading rumor and read the portions of the Official Code of Georgia that apply to charter schools. Regarding facilities, for example, a charter school may use an unused school system facility without charge. [http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/hb555.htm]<br /><br />Charter schools and the laws that pertain are covered in the Official Code of Georgia, Title 20. For information on admission, go to:<br />TITLE 20.EDUCATION <br />CHAPTER 2.ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION <br />ARTICLE 31.CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT OF 1998<br />§ 20-2-2066.Admission, enrollment, and withdrawal of students <br /><br />It clearly states that admission is basically on a first-come,first-served basis. If there are more applications for admission than space in the school, then a random selection process (usually a lottery) must occur. <br /><br />To suggest that charter schools could re-institute segregation is just wrong. You are engaging in race-baiting. I thought you were better than that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25164468251455026872010-04-25T09:23:47.821-04:002010-04-25T09:23:47.821-04:00BTW - applications to the Leadership Academy are d...BTW - applications to the Leadership Academy are due this Friday. <br /><br />Also, I can't find anything on Peachtree Hope - another charter that was approved as mentioned in this article. Anyone know how that one is coming along?<br /><br />Here's the charter info from the DCSS website -<br /><br />http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/charter.htmlCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-41933322001044480992010-04-25T09:18:25.713-04:002010-04-25T09:18:25.713-04:00That's interesting, Anon. Thus the danger of ...That's interesting, Anon. Thus the danger of charters - they could advance segregation - based on just about anything - race, religion, income...<br /><br /><br />I'm still curious as to how the location changed. This is a quote from the article<br /><br /><i>The school is hiring personnel, including teachers, and will open off Evans Mill Road in eastern DeKalb County near Interstate 20, inside a vacated academy, Hall said. Two fellow charter schools will also open their doors to students this fall: The Museum School of Avondale Estates and Peachtree Hope Charter<br />School.</i><br /><br />Was the former charter (I'm assuming this means Lithonia Charter that was shut down by the state) also housed in New Birth? If this school has changed locations, then are we closing another school building? What was that building before Lithonia Charter? Also, there is a $2 million savings noted on the budget cuts for a payment to Lithonia Charter that is no longer necessary. Does that $2 million now have to be reinstated and given to the Leadership Academy? Are we counting this budget cut, when in actuality, it is zero savings? This is the same amount we will save by consolidating 4 other elementary schools. See why those neighbors are upset? (At least that would be my reason - close my kid's school but spend the savings on a charter?)<br /><br />Lots of unanswered questions here. I see that the address is the same as New Birth. They also have a very nice website -<br /><br />http://www.dekalblpa.com/Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-40962161543248954232010-04-25T07:20:37.876-04:002010-04-25T07:20:37.876-04:00A couple of things. Years ago, I inquired about I...A couple of things. Years ago, I inquired about ICS being in a church. It is permitted as long as it passes the smell test, which has something to do with what the rent is and that there is no indication that the church is getting anything (like access to the students for religious reasons) inappropriate and a violation of the Separation clause. On its face, there is nothing wrong with this school leasing space at New Birth. If concerns are raised, the state department of education will investigate. As should our own Board of Education.<br /><br />The state of GA rules about charter school forbid a private school from closing and then reopening as a private school. We will have to watch carefully what happens at New Birth...<br /><br />In Fulton County, we have the Amana Charter School which was started primarily by Muslim parents. They actually instruct Arabic as their language. But they can't instruct religion during the day. Initially, their after school program was going to offer religious instruction (operated by an outside group) but I am not sure what happened there.<br /><br />In Florida and New York, different religious organizations have started charter schools. Again, they can't instruct religion during the day, but their school can certainly have a certain culture and after school programs have far more flexibility if funded by the parents and independent of the school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-19896954201995800292010-04-24T23:12:47.162-04:002010-04-24T23:12:47.162-04:00Well, maybe New Birth just wants to participate in...Well, maybe New Birth just wants to participate in this "leadership" development. I have noticed this is a big focus in their church programs as well. If they actually teach the kids manners, respect, good behavior, quality thinking and leadership - then go for it, IMO... <br /><br />But remember - Sarah CW - when you keep opening charter schools in the area that take students out of their home schools - they are leaving the schools at risk of being under-populated and possibly having to close. I hope Sarah and the leaders of the Leadership Academy and New Birth can find a way to deal with the wreckage they leave behind for the students who do not get the privilege of attending the charter.<br /><br />Everything you do - good or bad - has consequences - usually to others. You cannot simply act and then walk away. You have to pay careful attention to what happens in the wake left by your actions.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84935833662392251462010-04-24T22:53:17.478-04:002010-04-24T22:53:17.478-04:00Housing a Charter school in a church that already ...Housing a Charter school in a church that already has a K-12 private Christian school has the appearance of impropriety which DeKalb desperately needs to avoid at all costs.<br /><br />Also, there have long been rumors about New Birth and connections to DCSS management. I don't know if any are true, but I agree that DCSS does not need another scandal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-42721745208154480182010-04-24T22:10:52.952-04:002010-04-24T22:10:52.952-04:00Destiny is strange. It does look to be connected ...Destiny is strange. It does look to be connected to the school system, however it's not listed in the FTE list of schools sent to the state. Also, the staff salaries are not listed with the state. And yes, it's expensive, as I once read somewhere around $13,000 per student. I would hope that there would be funding from other county or state/federal resources for the program. It's really not accessible to all though, as it's way down at the south county line, housed in a former elementary school.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36967266748311121822010-04-24T21:43:22.925-04:002010-04-24T21:43:22.925-04:00It should be noted that International Community Sc...It should be noted that International Community School is housed at a church and has been for several years. Any problems with that?<br /><br />Why is the relationship between New Birth and DCSS questionable? Several schools have used their sanctuary for baccalaureates and graduations because they have a large facility. It is probably one of the largest indoor facilities in DeKalb. If we had a Civic Center like Cobb or Gwinnett, schools probably would not use this or other churches for events like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com