Charter School Fairness

[My Daily Run]

I am a former employee in The Villages (and a Village Resident not a parent so this does not pertain to me) and as most of you know that you as a parent must be employed in The Villages to be able to have your child attend The Villages's Charter School. Unfortunately some business make the parents a captured employee. I for one have seen this many times with the company that I was employed by. They would treat a Mom (in my case) poorly and I would hear the management make comments that "she needs this job or her child will be put out of the charter school" and I would hear the fear in mothers voices that they had to take it for the sake of their children...anyone else come across this. It breaks my heart as I happen to hear two Mom's at a local coffee shop sitting next to me discussing it about their jobs also.

[GatorFan]

Very sad if true

[jbdlfan]

Absolutely. We were parents of a kid in the school and my spouse worked for TV at the time. Happens more often than you would think. Works the other way also. Student's actions will effect a parent's employment. If a student is an under-performer, an extreme discipline issue or not likely to graduate on time, parents have been "asked" to move the child to another school. We get students (5-15)every year where this occurs.

[784caroline]

The requirements for entry into the Villages Charter School (in most cases) serve the school and the community well. I think most employers treat their employees well but there are always situations that just dont work. Yes it would put stress on the parent not to leave the a TV job for the sake of keeping the child in the Charter school..... but this stress could be caused by many reasons the employers attitude and work conditions or the simple fact that the parent may not want to work in the first place but has to for the sake of the child. If employment conditions are that bad, could the parent in a bad situation try and find another job in TV...not easy but it could be done?

What I found disturbing was a teacher at the Charter schools died and within weeks the surviving parent received notice that the children had to be removed from the school NOW ...not at the end of the term but immediately. The situation you described "can" be controlled by the parent, the one I described could not!...Sort of makes you think on what we say or do!

[Cedwards38]

Unfair labor practices should be reported to the proper authority that polices that sort of thing. If the parent is being treated unfairly on the job, then that's not legal. That is a separate issue from admission to the Charter School.

[redwitch]

My daughter so wants her son to go to the charter school. I so don't want him to. Yes, it is a great school system but I've seen the stress it puts the parents under to hold their job and the treatment these parents get by their employers (not something my daughter tolerates well).

TVCS is geared for kids with little to no issues. It is not a charter school geared towards single parents. It is becoming overcrowded and no longer allows kids to enroll in the high school unless the parents work directly for TV, one of its subsidiaries or affiliates or in the squares. That means that banks, restaurant employees and the like will not be allowed to have their kids go to the high school even if they attended elementary and middle school there unless they work for TV or in the squares themselves. I'm sure that this will ultimately be the rule for elementary and middle school as well.

[CFrance]

The requirements for entry into the Villages Charter School (in most cases) serve the school and the community well. I think most employers treat their employees well but there are always situations that just dont work. Yes it would put stress on the parent not to leave the a TV job for the sake of keeping the child in the Charter school..... but this stress could be caused by many reasons the employers attitude and work conditions or the simple fact that the parent may not want to work in the first place but has to for the sake of the child. If employment conditions are that bad, could the parent in a bad situation try and find another job in TV...not easy but it could be done?

What I found disturbing was a teacher at the Charter schools died and within weeks the surviving parent received notice that the children had to be removed from the school NOW ...not at the end of the term but immediately. The situation you described "can" be controlled by the parent, the one I described could not!...Sort of makes you think on what we say or do!

It that's true, it's abominable and should be published as much as possible so a public outcry ensues and enough embarrassment caused to force a change in policy. Sure, let's cause additional trauma to the spouse and kids by kicking them out mid-term and making them start over in a new school while still grieving. How heartless can you get.

[dah1020]

Yep that's the villages. You come here to work drink the Kool aide and then you find out it's their way or the highway. I heard this about charter school now I know it's a fact. Maybe everyone should pull their children out and support the local schools and tell the villages we are not sending our kids to charter school

[l2ridehd]

I know the CS rules are well spelled out before you enroll your child. We may not like them, but if you chose to go forward than you need to adhere to those rules. I agree that if they really did that because the parent supporting the enrollment died, that is not right. Should have at least waited until the semester ended. In a few years when the build out is complete, I would expect to see a significant drop in direct Villages employees. And than maybe they can relax the rules a bit as to who is allowed to attend.

[784caroline]

It is becoming overcrowded and no longer allows kids to enroll in the high school unless the parents work directly for TV, one of its subsidiaries or affiliates or in the squares. That means that banks, restaurant employees and the like will not be allowed to have their kids go to the high school even if they attended elementary and middle school there unless they work for TV or in the squares themselves. I'm sure that this will ultimately be the rule for elementary and middle school as well.

The Charter school enrollment criteria is based upon the parents/guardians place of employment not physical living location. Employment is verified MONTHLY. There are 4 classses of employment by priority

Category I - Direct employee of any business identified as a Villages Company.

Category II - Employee of Business Partners under direct contract with a Villages Company. Sub-Contractors who do not have a direct contract with The Villages do not qualify.

Category III - Employee of Business Partners who lease directly from a Villages Company or who own a permanent business site, from which they operate their business within The Villages.

Category IV - Includes Business Partners who sub-lease a permanent business site within The Villages

Already enrolled students are classified as Continous or annual students and this is based upon wether a parent is full time or part time AND which category of employment he/she has. Parents with FULL TIME jobs definitely have an advantage especially in Cats 1,2,and 3.

All students with Employee/Parents assigned Category 1 Full-Time and Part-Time, Category 2 and Category 3 Full-time will be denoted as Continuous Enrollment will be automatically re-enrolled.

All students with Employee/Parents assigned Category 2 and 3 Part-Time or Category 4 Full-time and Part-Time will be denoted as Annual Enrollment and will annually submit enrollment applications as needed based upon enrollment capacity projections

Students identified as continous will be automatically re-enrolled the following year...while others have to wait and see if a spot is open for their particular class.

Its easy to say dont enroll your kids/grandkids in the TV Charter school ... enrollment is defininitely geared to support TV and its businesses. But if you have not visited or volunteered at the Charter school, you should do so. The faciltiies are top notch and the requiremetns they place on students/ parents for entry and retention provide utmost control. It is by far one of the best school in Central Florida if not considered the best byb some!

[redwitch]

I don't think I ever said a word about it being based where someone lived. I said that many employers in TV take advantage of employees who have children enrolled in TVCS. Nor have I ever denied that it is a good school. As I said, my daughter wants my grandson there. From what I know and have studied about the schools, it would not be a good fit for her or her son.

The school is also geared to look good. So, if your child has any sort of issues from dyslexia to emotional problems (including ADHD), I sincerely suggest you look elsewhere. Your child will more than likely not qualify regardless of where you work.

Non-charter, local schools are forced to take all children regardless of where the parents work or any issues they may have so long as the child lives in the school district. Even with having to take any and all comers and a lack of funds, many surrounding schools do quite well (and, I believe, some of this is because of the many TV residents who volunteer at these schools, not just at TVCS).

[My Daily Run]

I agree...no one is questioning if it is worth working within The Villages to send their child to this school the sad side of it is the way the employer treats employees who have made the choice to work within The Villages as it seems some employers have a heavy hand as to the way or the wages that they pay their employee knowing that they must abide by the employment rules so that their child can have a good education. I know for a fact that this division which was out sourced was not treating a very capable and dedicated employee properly and would not give this person a raise yet I was given one and the reason for that was they knew I would leave and that this single mother couldn't...very, very sad...and if she was out sick she had to make up the time so that she would average 20 hours a week and at times it was very difficult as she would have to spend her pay to pay for after school care so that she could keep her child in the school yet they would not give her a raise and from what I heard from these other mothers in the coffee shop it sounds very much like the same problem.

[beachx4me]

The requirements for entry into the Villages Charter School (in most cases) serve the school and the community well. I think most employers treat their employees well but there are always situations that just dont work. Yes it would put stress on the parent not to leave the a TV job for the sake of keeping the child in the Charter school..... but this stress could be caused by many reasons the employers attitude and work conditions or the simple fact that the parent may not want to work in the first place but has to for the sake of the child. If employment conditions are that bad, could the parent in a bad situation try and find another job in TV...not easy but it could be done?

What I found disturbing was a teacher at the Charter schools died and within weeks the surviving parent received notice that the children had to be removed from the school NOW ...not at the end of the term but immediately. The situation you described "can" be controlled by the parent, the one I described could not!...Sort of makes you think on what we say or do!

If this is what happened - what a cold and cruel way to treat that poor family. Those children should have been allowed to finish the school year. They certainly were not thinking about the well being of those children.

[billethkid]

there are far too many employers that treat their employees fairly to allow a specific incident cast a shadow on those who employ these parents.

Over hearing a table conversation represents only one view/side of the alleged issue!!

[redwitch]

there are far too many employers that treat their employees fairly to allow a specific incident cast a shadow on those who employ these parents.

Over hearing a table conversation represents only one view/side of the alleged issue!!

How about sitting in a restaurant and hearing this conversation:

Manager: I need you to stay tonight and help clean the kitchen.

Server: But I'm a server! Is this on the clock?

Manager: No. But I need you to help out and be a team player. "You do want your kids to stay in school, don't you?"

Much of this is paraphrased but not the last line -- that was exactly what I heard. I've heard a couple of veiled threats before then (in one shop and one restaurant) but that was the most blatant.

Do I think every employer holds this over a parent's head? No, but I think enough do to make it obscene. These poor parents work so hard for so little to give their kids the best chance at a future.

I also think there is little that can be done to change things. This is not something that the Morses have any control over -- stores, restaurants, etc. are allowed to run their businesses as they deem fit (nor would I want to see this changed). Most of this occurs behind closed doors with just little hints given to the public. It stinks but it is a fact that life isn't always fair.

[My Daily Run]

there are far too many employers that treat their employees fairly to allow a specific incident cast a shadow on those who employ these parents.

Over hearing a table conversation represents only one view/side of the alleged issue!!

I did not only hear this particular conversation I worked within this particular issue...I think that employers of The Villages should take a long hard look at what the charter school is doing for them...giving them good reliable employees that the charter school was built for to bring good reliable employees to The Villages...if not for the charter school what would these employers have for employees...they should be grateful that they have parents that love their children so much that they are willing to work for low wages and be bullied by them...I think there should be a celebration for these parents who some have to drive hours to work within The Villages to give their child a good education and they should be commended not condemned.

[Buffalo Jim]

QUOTE FROM PREVIOUS POST : " It breaks my heart as I happen to hear two Mom's at a local coffee shop sitting next to me discussing it about their jobs also " .

Comments supposedly overheard in a coffee shop are a legitimate cause for action ?
Whoa Nellie !!! Is this what we have descended to ?

There are at least 2 posts in this thread which refer to " overheard conversations " .

" Charter Schools " operate with a very specific " mission " i.e. "Charter" which defines the audience they are structured to serve .
Very few if any Charter Schools are charged by the State Education Department to serve students with physical and emotional disabilities . Check with the State Education Department --- you will be told " the infrastructure necessary to serve special needs students is made available in the Public School System " .

[manaboutown]

I view the charter schools in The Villages as "perks" for current employees similar to what I once enjoyed as a staff member of The University of California. Although I lived and worked in New Mexico at a UC operated laboratory there I could send my children to a UC school for instate tuition. If I left the job, which I did before they reached college age, I lost the benefit.

[Happydaz]

I view the charter schools in The Villages as "perks" for current employees similar to what I once enjoyed as a staff member of The University of California. Although I lived and worked in New Mexico at a UC operated laboratory there I could send my children to a UC school for instate tuition. If I left the job, which I did before they reached college age, I lost the benefit.

Of course one main difference here is that if you had children in the UC system when you left the job they could stay in the UC system even though you would then have had to pay the higher out of state tuition. A Villages Charter school student, however, must leave the school if their parent loses Village's employment. Smart, ambitious parents know that the better the education their children receive, the better chance they have to succeed in the future. I can understand these parents concerns. It reminds me of all the immigrants who came to this country and sacrificed to make sure that their children and grandchildren had better opportunities than they had. I admire the parents today who sacrifice for their children.

[ilovetv]

We have had many jobs where we had to put up with low pay and numbskull bosses that treated us poorly, but we had to bite the bullet and be quiet because we needed the job to live and pay the bills and pay off student loans over decades.

Salaried people are asked to work many times "off the clock" and their work week is rarely limited to 40 hours.

Hourly workers like servers should expect their work to be "on the clock" and they should not be "threatened" with a consequence of their kids being dumped from the charter school.

But at the same time, having a good attitude and doing a little extra work above and beyond the call of duty is what most of us have done to show we have initiative, and to make ourselves known as desirous of moving up the ladder to a better paying or managerial salaried position, like a supervisor or shift manager.....in which "off the clock" work is expected as a normal part of salaried positions.

A can-do and will-do attitude goes a long way toward moving up to a better position either inside or outside that job environment.

To me, insecure bosses who enjoy bullying underlings on the job abound in almost every job situation. The choice is often to either grin and bear it, or find another job where you need it and quit working for the playground bully.

[GaryW]

My daughter is in TVCS, My oldest graduated from their last year. We have never been threatened in any way shape or form.
I have heard the horror stories before. This I do know from personal experience. My Company use to be a Tier 2, then moved to a Tier 3 with the Charter School. Last year or just before we were eliminated all way from a qualified contractor with The Villages in any shape or form. Even though we work 50-60 hours a week for The Villages. With that said 2 workers we disqualified from TVCS.
But they were given till the end of the 9 weeks before having to remove the kids, and one was eventually granted the rest of the year due to hardships with the process. TVCS was more than willing to work and help them out....

As far as he said she said, that is exactly what it is.. There are always 2 sides to all stories,,, And if A boss did tell a employee that then that needs to be brought the The Villages attention how ever it needs to be done.

And please let us know what restraunt this was,, I will not visit them.

I have Spoken. G OUT :beer3:

[Steve9930]

A good education is the key to success. What I've always wondered with so many retirees in the area paying taxes to support education with no children in school why are all the schools in the area not more like the charter school?

[Happydaz]

A good education is the key to success. What I've always wondered with so many retirees in the area paying taxes to support education with no children in school why are all the schools in the area not more like the charter school?

A very interesting question! Maybe a lot of the extra tax money goes for other things besides education? Or money may not be the key factor in education? Many parochial schools used to educate students very well with lower sums of money than the public schools had. My sons went to a small, parochial grammar school in New Hampshire where they had recess on a small piece of blacktop and the building was old, but their education was excellent. Maybe leadership, discipline, and educational philosophy are as important as money.

[DougB]

Maybe the fact that regular public schools educate all regardless of any disabilities and/or behavioral issues and the Village Charter School picks and chooses. Go back and read post # 3 from a very knowledgeable local educator.

[Happydaz]

Maybe the fact that regular public schools educate all regardless of any disabilities and/or behavioral issues and the Village Charter School picks and chooses. Go back and read post # 3 from a very knowledgeable local educator.

So the facts you state here are the reasons why charter schools outperform the regular public schools? Sounds too simplistic to me. I, personally, believe that there are other factors involved.

[NottaVillager]

It that's true, it's abominable and should be published as much as possible so a public outcry ensues and enough embarrassment caused to force a change in policy. Sure, let's cause additional trauma to the spouse and kids by kicking them out mid-term and making them start over in a new school while still grieving. How heartless can you get.
You know..what does this have to do with ANYBODY who lives in TV? The charter school system was essentially a gift from the Morses to those who work in TV. They didn't have to do it. Nobody made them do it. In essence it's their club, they get to set the rules. How they run it is most certainly NOT the business of people who live in TV.

[DougB]

So the facts you state here are the reasons why charter schools outperform the regular public schools? Sounds too simplistic to me. I, personally, believe that there are other factors involved.

Sorry to disappoint you, but charter schools do not out perform public schools in the state of Florida.

[Jejuca]

DougB - you are absolutely correct!

[Happydaz]

It looks like I was wrong. I didn't realize how spotty the performance of many charter schools in Florida has been. I was influenced by the experience of my two grandsons that are attending two different, very competitive high schools in Philadelphia, Masterman and The Science and Leadership Academy. I had thought that they were charter schools, but they're not, they are public schools. An exam is required for admission and students are accepted from all over Philadelphia. So it looks like in some large cites the public schools provide some good school choices for motivated students.

I just wonder what it would take to improve many of our other schools in Florida as well as in the rest of the country. Today I certainly don't know the answer to these questions, but I sure knew how to "vote with my feet" when I was raising my five sons. One time I was so disappointed with my children's education that I moved my family from a small town in Vermont to Essex Junction, Vermont due to its outstanding schools. From then on whenever we moved the primary criterion for choosing a town to buy a house in was the quality of the school system.
.

[DougB]

It looks like I was wrong. I didn't realize how spotty the performance of many charter schools in Florida has been. I was influenced by the experience of my two grandsons that are attending two different, very competitive high schools in Philadelphia, Masterman and The Science and Leadership Academy. I had thought that they were charter schools, but they're not, they are public schools. An exam is required for admission and students are accepted from all over Philadelphia. So it looks like in some large cites the public schools provide some good school choices for motivated students.

I just wonder what it would take to improve many of our other schools in Florida as well as in the rest of the country. Today I certainly don't know the answer to these questions, but I sure knew how to "vote with my feet" when I was raising my five sons. One time I was so disappointed with my children's education that I moved my family from a small town in Vermont to Essex Junction, Vermont due to its outstanding schools. From then on whenever we
moved the primary criterion for choosing a town to buy a house in was the quality of the school system.
.

Top criteria on my list would be involved caring parents such as yourself.

[CFrance]

I view the charter schools in The Villages as "perks" for current employees similar to what I once enjoyed as a staff member of The University of California. Although I lived and worked in New Mexico at a UC operated laboratory there I could send my children to a UC school for instate tuition. If I left the job, which I did before they reached college age, I lost the benefit.

But... your kids, had they been in the university system at the time you left your job, would not have been kicked out of school. You would have had to pay out-of-state tuition, but you had a choice.

Different, too, than uprooting young kids out of their comfort system and throwing them into a new school mid-year. We're talking young kids and teenagers as opposed to college students. A much more traumatic situation. And factor in the death of a parent followed by being kicked out of school immediately... unforgivable.

[DougB]

You know..what does this have to do with ANYBODY who lives in TV? The charter school system was essentially a gift from the Morses to those who work in TV. They didn't have to do it. Nobody made them do it. In essence it's their club, they get to set the rules. How they run it is most certainly NOT the business of people who live in TV.

Charter schools are public schools and receive their operating money from taxes collected by state and local government. They are granted a charter from the local school district to operate. So YES, it is the business of the people in TV who pay taxes.
By the way, from what I know about TVCS, they appear to be an excellent school.

[mrfixit]

Charter schools are public schools and receive their operating money from taxes collected by state and local government. They are granted a charter from the local school district to operate. So YES, it is the business of the people in TV who pay taxes.
By the way, from what I know about TVCS, they appear to be an excellent school.

I agree with the "Excellent School" thoughts.

The parents are greatly involved...and...us many of us old Villagers have been known to lend a hand now and then.

If some Villagers have never toured the Schools....please get an overview, when available.

You may be surprised at all the opportunities the students have available.

Heck, call the school and sign up for a lunch put on by the Culinary School Students.

Of course, the extra $ 1,000,000.00 + plus that Mr. Morse adds back to the
school kitty each year certainly is appreciated.

[NottaVillager]

Charter schools are public schools and receive their operating money from taxes collected by state and local government. They are granted a charter from the local school district to operate. So YES, it is the business of the people in TV who pay taxes.
By the way, from what I know about TVCS, they appear to be an excellent school.
BUT..If it wasn't for the Morse family this school wouldn't even be here to begin with. AND..if Morse for some reason withdrew his support the school would wither and die on the vine like a flower without water in the hot sun. So we go back to the original thought. It's NONE of the Villager's business. It is between Morse and the people who go there.

[DougB]

I would think the only ones who it would be none of their business is those that are Not ta Villager.

[jbdlfan]

A good education is the key to success. What I've always wondered with so many retirees in the area paying taxes to support education with no children in school why are all the schools in the area not more like the charter school?

The other schools are doing well. Look at Bushnell, Lake Pan elementary as well as South Sumter middle, these are outstanding schools. You just won't read about it in the local paper. As for what DougB mentioned, when you take out the lower level learner, or in other words, the bottom 25%, you will always outperform other schools on standardized tests. But you have to realistic and compare apples to apples. TVCS is not a private school, it is a public charter school. Although they have excellent facilities, they are no match for the "best" schools in the area. You can't compare them to schools like Lake Highland Prep or Trinity Catholic. Just as it is not a fair comparison of TVCS and say large public schools like you find in Marion County.

[Happydaz]

I have a question of how TVCS, if it is mostly publicly funded, can restrict attendance to Village employees only. Since public monies are involved you would think that they would need something like an entrance exam to select their student body, something similar to how magnet schools function in large cities.

[NottaVillager]

I would think the only ones who it would be none of their business is those that are Not ta Villager.
I live here. I have to. I don't like it. I am Notta Villager because I don't buy into the "lifestyle".

[Jejuca]

Happydaz - In Florida, Charter schools send an application to the local school board for approval. The application (charter) outlines the services they will provide, the curriculum, the parent requirements, etc. The school board reviews the charter and decides whether or not to approve the school. So in the case of The Villages schools the charter must state the requirements for attending.
Charter schools are funded with our tax dollars just like public schools. If a student attends a charter school the majority of FTE money that would have gone to the school district goes to the charter school instead.
There are some exceptional charters like The Villages Charter schools and there are some really terrible charter schools.
If charter schools take federal money they must accommodate people with disabilities.
This is a very simplistic summary - the process for getting a charter school is very involved.

[Happydaz]

Thanks for the info on charter schools! It certainly is a complicated process.

[ilovetv]

Top criteria on my list would be involved caring parents such as yourself.

Yes, this is a top criteria, and that is the main reason why the charter schools in TV are good.....it takes extra effort, time and energy to take one's kids to school out of district. We know it because we did it, taking our kids to parochial schools all the way thru.

It would have been much easier to send them to the public schools a half mile or mile away, but they would have been just a number in a sea of bodies mostly raising themselves with little or no parenting...and school administrators who had little or no authority. We chose to parent and make the extra effort and expense, and it's been well worth it.

[sharonga]

My granddaughter is in 2nd grade at the Villages Elementary School. My daughter is employed by the State of Florida on Village property. My granddaughter is eligible. My daughter refuses to put her in the charter school because she does not want to have to worry about switching her daughter should something happen to her job. I am a former employee of the NYC Department of Education. I went to the Charter school and was told at least 100 children a year are asked to leave. We did not want to take a chance. I still think the school is top notch and anyone who attends and fits the mold will have the best education the state can give.

[sharonga]

OH, what I was told was if the child is an excellent student, they will be allowed to finish the term. Term, not year. If the child is average, they have to be enrolled in another school within a week.

[TheVillageChicken]

OH, what I was told was if the child is an excellent student, they will be allowed to finish the term. Term, not year. If the child is average, they have to be enrolled in another school within a week.

What if they are an average student who can dunk a basketball?

[justjim]

I have a question of how TVCS, if it is mostly publicly funded, can restrict attendance to Village employees only. Since public monies are involved you would think that they would need something like an entrance exam to select their student body, something similar to how magnet schools function in large cities.

I am not a big fan of Charter Schools for the reason you mention that you have to basically be an employee of TV for your child to attend TVCS. Yes, I know this was orginally approved by the Local School Board but that doesnt mean that was necessarly a good decision.

Secondly, Charter Schools take much needed Public education money from underfunded school districts. Private schools are privately funded.

I do believe the posts regarding employers who wrongly pressure some employees because their children attend TVCS. I believe it is a small number but still wrong that could bring at least a labor lawsuit.

[Vernster]

I did not only hear this particular conversation I worked within this particular issue...I think that employers of The Villages should take a long hard look at what the charter school is doing for them...giving them good reliable employees that the charter school was built for to bring good reliable employees to The Villages...if not for the charter school what would these employers have for employees...they should be grateful that they have parents that love their children so much that they are willing to work for low wages and be bullied by them...I think there should be a celebration for these parents who some have to drive hours to work within The Villages to give their child a good education and they should be commended not condemned.

I agree 100%. Excellent post "Daily Run".

[GaryW]

What if they are an average student who can dunk a basketball?

Never Leave:boxing2:
Does not matter if the student is average or above,,, get the same treatment. Been there,, done it,, seen it.
A whole lot of what if going on here.

[LndLocked]

What if they are an average student who can dunk a basketball?

Then the parent's job is 115% secure

[jbdlfan]

Never Leave:boxing2:
Does not matter if the student is average or above,,, get the same treatment. Been there,, done it,, seen it.
A whole lot of what if going on here.

Not sure what you are saying here? Are you saying every student is treated the same? If that is the case, I can tell you from personal experience that is not true. Not a she/he said deal.

[GaryW]

Not sure what you are saying here? Are you saying every student is treated the same? If that is the case, I can tell you from personal experience that is not true. Not a she/he said deal.

Kids have been in this school for aver 13 years worth,, been there since first opened with one,, Never had a problem,, Have heard so many stories, about how bad it is,,,
It is what it is,, Can not argue the system. I will not argue the point,,, I know better. Lot of people cry wolf when in fact it is really a mouse.
:faint:
Just saying,,, IMHO.

[ilovetv]

Kids have been in this school for aver 13 years worth,, been there since first opened with one,, Never had a a problem....

.....Lot of people cry wolf when in fact it is really a mouse.
:faint: .

And lots cry wolf when it's really teachers unions not getting their way, keeping kids in a bad, bad neighborhood school for the sake of keeping the per-pupil expense money there. This is where parents' "choices" are ignored and even hated.

[jbdlfan]

Kids have been in this school for aver 13 years worth,, been there since first opened with one,, Never had a problem,, Have heard so many stories, about how bad it is,,,
It is what it is,, Can not argue the system. I will not argue the point,,, I know better. Lot of people cry wolf when in fact it is really a mouse.
:faint:
Just saying,,, IMHO.

You can call it crying wolf because YOU didn't experience it, but we in fact PERSONALLY know students that were asked to leave for a myriad of reasons. Secondly, I know of athletes treated much differently than the other students. I'm not mentioning this for any other reason than to make the point that it isn't all sunshine and lollipops. Rules are selectively enforced regarding students, teachers and other employees. I am a teacher(not there) and parent that was involved with a school athletic program. Some of the stuff is no different than you would find at any other school. It is a good school that has great facilities, nothing more and nothing less. But it sure is not the utopia some would make it out to be.