What have I done?

[rivka]

My neighbor just got me to agree to serve on a committee that's trying to start a charter school in our neighborhood.

She swears that there won't be very much work for the committee to do in the first year, but still: what have I done?

Comments

[toadnae.livejournal.com]

Simple, it's a mistake many of us make. You displayed compentence in front of someone who needed it. :)

[kightp.livejournal.com]

*hee* I swear, I think it's something in the post-pregnancy hormonal state. A young mommy of mine who has never volunteered for anything just agreed to work on a committee setting up a co-op style play group.

[geminigirl]

I'm very excited to hear about this process.

[lyrical1.livejournal.com]

The one in my neighborhood is opening up this fall. I know the woman who is chairing the committee, I can hook you up if you like.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Cool, what neighborhood?

I'm sure Maureen already knows this person, though, because Maureen is the kind of person who knows eeeeveryone.

[lyrical1.livejournal.com]

I'm over in Patterson Park. I know a lot of the charter school folks talk to each other, so she may. If you need an introduction, just let me know.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

A little googling shows that charter schools are popping up all over in Baltimore. I'd heard that the school board was incredibly hostile to granting charters, but maybe that's changing now.

I can't deny that I'd love for Alex to be able to attend a free neighborhood public school. But it's also just cool to think of being part of creating something so useful and constructive for so many people.

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

What's a charter school?

[rivka.livejournal.com]

In the U.S., or possibly just in some parts of the U.S., a group of parents or community members can apply for a charter to run a public school. Usually charter schools are exempt from most of the bureaucracy that applies to public school systems, and they can choose their own curriculum, employ alternative teaching methods, have control over their own teaching staff, etc. But they're still public schools in that they're paid for by public funds.

This one is supposed to have an arts focus. Our neighborhood also has the public high school for the arts, which is a magnet school - instead of serving a particular neighborhood, kids from all over the city can apply to go there. So the idea is to start a charter school which will match well with the high school for the arts. It's a good idea - this is the arts district for Baltimore, so there are tons of museums and so forth that the school could take advantage of, all within probable walking distance.

[dafna]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA. No, seriously. Starting up a charter school? Peace in the Middle East would leave you with more free time.

[iamjw.livejournal.com]

I think the crucial phrase here is "in the first year". Because, of course, your life will be *so* much easier when Alex starts to walk :-)

[cattitude.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. You're on the hook for years two through whenever your conscience allows you to quit. I would suggest that you carve out a limited, well-defined area of responsibility at the first meeting and refuse any work that doesn't pertain to it; otherwise you'll be swamped.

[cattitude.livejournal.com]

Well, more swamped.