[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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by redwitch

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by 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!!

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.