Just a couple of pictures

Does this look fake to you?

Does this look fake? Pictures and truth

Tit for Tat

  Another fun thing in dealing with the "F" grade charter school Windsor Preparatory Academy is how the staff, and a couple of the parents seem to relish the idea of "getting you back" for speaking out against this school, and standing up for your neighborhood.

Has anyone noticed that the school has built the Dumpster containment practically in the next door neighbors front yard? The cafeteria will be in the new building, so logic would dictate that the dumpsters would be better over on that side of the school, perhaps back by the exit so that it would be easy for the Garbage trucks to reach them, and so the unpleasantness would be removed from both the residential area, and from the drop off/pick up circle.  Now the neighbors have the noise of the truck to look forward to, along with the accompanying stench, and possibly rodents that the dumpsters will bring or attract. NICE HUH? Do any of you people who hate us neighbors want that in your yard? Volunteers? No? 

  To make it even better, neighbors have had Code Enforcement called on them, property damaged that the school now refuses to repair and which they caused, harassment at work and in our yards, lies told about us to County Officials, and to parents at the school. It's been quite the roller coaster ride...and for what?

  Because no one wants to admit there is a traffic issue?  Because they feel they should not have to do anything to integrate peacefully into this neighborhood?  Because they don't want to just do the right thing and help the neighborhood they chose to invest in? Because the people who have lived in this neighborhood for years...well before this school, or any other even existed, do not matter? Because they are not concerned for the safety of the children who walk to the school either? Because selfish, self absorbed people do not care what they do to others? Or is it because they just don't want to be decent? It just proves money is the only bottom line that matters for the school...in fact for all Charter Schools.

  They post on their Facebook page  (  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Windsor-Prep/229033617173599?ref=br_tf  )  all of these rules and please don'ts, such as no parking in the culdesac across the street, yet that is where staff direct parents to "stage during afternoon pick up". They say if parents don't follow these rules then they will face consequences...and yet they do not even attempt to enforce them or chastise parents who break the rules. So clearly they do not care. When they direct people to stage in the culdesac, it literally traps people who live on the culdesac from getting out, and prevents  us from being able to get in. That is NOT right, no matter how you look at it.

  Pinellas County dropped the ball when they didn't do any kind of impact study, or seek input from the residents of the surrounding neighborhood.  The school purchased the property they are on, and charged full steam ahead with the construction/expansion, knowing full well the limitations of the property, and how the limited roadways would be impacted. They did not care. Now there is not even a sports field for the older kids, let alone parking space to accommodate the influx of cars. It's wonderful when there's a school event and the cars line our roadways, block us in, etc.

We neighbors along 53rd avenue, 52nd avenue, and on the two culdesacs are now banding together to stand up to this. Sharing our stories has been enlightening to say the least. What this school, and some of the parents have put us through is unbelievable. Elderly, and sick people literally threatened and insulted for asking people to not block their driveway or to not park in their yards!? How is that right?!

  What is especially sad is that  someone in the neighborhood, who's in the position to have helped, or who could at least have referred our concerns to the right people, had a neighbor emailing him pictures and imploring him to help with the traffic and parking issues through the agency he works for. Sadly, he could not have cared less  than his agency does. Of course his child attends the school too.

  So, now it's tit for tat, neighbors at odds, harassment, personal attacks, heels dug in. Remember that ALL of us have at least a little glass on our houses..even those who think they have an advantage. And when you are snapping pics over fences in the middle of the night, and using old contacts to try and get someone in trouble or fired, making people move their landscapes of thirty years or more, etc, it pretty much shows your character. What a shame that's how some are choosing to be. After all, at the end of the day character is what matters. Did  you stand up for what's right? Did you care about, or help your friends, neighbors, and community? No you did not. 

 And all of this over a glorified traffic complaint that the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, and the school, could have mitigated last year before it got so out of hand.

Another article regarding Pinellas County scrutinizing Windsor Prep the "F" School

I just read this column regarding Charter Schools. I think it's a good read. I really like how he points out:

"It goes on to say that a school’s charter is reviewed periodically and can be revoked if guidelines on curriculum and management aren’t followed or if certain standards aren’t met. At a recent meeting of the Pinellas County School Board, four charter schools — University Preparatory Academy, Windsor Preparatory Academy, Newport Pinellas Academy and Alfred Alder Academy — were examined closely and put on notice that their performances were below average at best.

According to the Florida Department of Education, there are now nearly 600 charter schools in the state with a collective enrollment of more than 200,000 students. Following the movement started by former Gov. Jeb Bush, the Legislature has been supporting “school choice” to give parents alternatives when they’re not satisfied with traditional public schools. Bush also supported vouchers for students if they had attended an F school the previous year, which even could be used for private schools, but a court decision put a halt to it — for now."

Does this mean you can get vouchers to not attend Windsor Preparatory Academy? It is after all an "F" school. 

From the article:

"Which is why I’m glad the Pinellas school board is keeping a close eye on the county’s charters, especially those that perform no better than any other D or F public school.

Superintendent Mike Grego conceded that the whole concept of charters “was once an innovative, let’s-see-what-we-can-learn-from-them situation.”

Indeed, charter schools are a work in progress, but if the students aren’t  progressing any better than they would in a traditional public school, why bother?"

Yes, why bother? How is this school going to bring up it's grade? Recently a lot of charters have been scrutinized for their practice of dis-enrolling ( is that even a word?) kids. They kick out the underperforming, problem kids ( watch out you parents with kids who act up or are ADHD), etc. Public schools can't do that. They have to work with your child and develop a plan to help them. Charter Schools like Windsor Prep don't have to.

You can find the article here:

http://tbo.com/list/columns-jbrown/second-look-at-charter-schools-20140928/?fb_comment_id=fbc_698194286942836_698298456932419_698298456932419#f34a395a88

Interesting article

I found this blog, cashinginonkids.com just today. They have a lot of interesting things to say about Charter Schools. I will research them more, but did want to share this link to an interesting article about Windsor Prep:

http://cashinginonkids.com/blogs/charter-school-kicks-dozens-students-days-school-year-begins/

Again, I'll have to do some research, but this discusses a parent company I wasn't aware of. I knew about Newpoint...clearly I need to keep digging.

More to come!!!

Link to Youtube

There is only one video posted so far

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7uYXgmgqC2XrJSv4dcwwkA

There are other videos posted by another person on this youtube page:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyzVsTa1JpO57Vjd7SfEUCg

And if you have videos or pictures you would like to share email me at
Standinguptowindsorprep@gmail.com

Did I mention Windsor Preparatory Academy is an "F" School????

What you're going to read below makes them sound like a great school, but keep reading.

Windsor Prep states on their website :
What is a charter school?

Charter schools are independently-operated public schools. Parents can choose to send their children to a public charter school outside of their “zoned” public school. There is no charge or tuition to attend a public charter school. While charter schools have flexibility in choosing curriculum and developing innovative teaching practices, charter schools must test students and report results, just like the government-operated public schools, as required by federal and state laws.

What can you tell me about the schools’ curriculum?

Project Based Learning (PBL) with technology integration is a central focus at Windsor. Students are actively engaged in various projects and educational pursuits, while at the same time learning the essential knowledge and skills as outlined in the Common Core standards

Project Based Learning is defined as “a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks.

Testing and Assessment

Windsor students participate in  the state assessment -FCAT as well as other school and district assessments

What sets Windsor Prep apart from other schools?

Windsor offers a choice for parents and students within the public school system. Windsor is often referred to as a private school without the tuition. We place  high emphasis on parent involvement and require parent participation. Our curriculum offers small group learning , allowing the teacher to focus on the needs of the individual child. Students learn PBL ( Project Based Learning) with a focus on technology.

Windsor Prep has:

• Rigorous academic standards
• Grade level Looping
• An average of 18 students in each K-3 classroom
• An average of 22 students in each 4-5 classroom
• Integrated Technology into each project or lesson
• Promote diversity and cultural awareness through a Multicultural Enrichment Class
• Offer after school clubs i.e. karate, dance, musical instruments, , drama, engineering, spanish and cheerleading
• Student involvement in community projects
• School Uniforms
• Community business partnerships
• Parent involvement through volunteering or similar activities
• Enhanced learning environment with a strict discipline policy

(And most of those extra curricular activities are fee based/parent paid access or arrangements made with local dance, gym, martial arts businesses)

http://www.windsorprep.org/content/curriculum :

Curriculum

Our Curriculum:

At Windsor Prep, our philosophy and approach to education is to provide an academic experience that exceeds all other school offerings. Windsor currently utilizes curriculum that is rich in current common core standards and expectations for all students. Our teachers have been extensively trained in their curriculum areas, as well as in common core.Windsor staff not only partake in District professional development, but also school level trainings as they pertain to our program.

Windsor Prep is known for its focus on PBL- Project Based Learning. This is critical in a child's world as we teach them how to problem solve and develop critical thinking skills, all while learning to use and incorporate technology. The focus of PBL allows for each child to be provided with an individual learning experience that is tailored to their learning needs.

Windsor Prep believes in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning methods. Windsor's leaders and teachers have experienced this first hand in public, private and charter school environments.  Most schools and teachers have also witnessed the benefits of hands-on learning through individual and group projects, and know the value of engaging, challenging projects and interdisciplinary activities that enrich classroom instruction and curriculum.

Learn more about the background and overview of Project Based Learning.

View an example of Project Based Learning.

Character Education

PBS

What is School-wide Positive Behavior Support?

PBS is our school-wide discipline plan and the way of work to monitor behavior. The PBS goals are to increase the number of students being successful and to reduce the number of students receiving numerous referrals. Students need to be TAUGHT the correct behavior and this is best done through modeling and repeated practice. Paw prints reward students when they are showing the correct behavior. Achievement scores also increase when students are actively listening and participating in class. Paw prints are used to buy rewards throughout the year, whether it be a special show or popcorn or in the school store.

PBS...
•    Is a collaborative assessment-based process to developing effective interventions for problem behavior
•    Aims to build effective environment in which positive behavior is more effective than problem behavior.
•    Emphasizes the use of preventative, teaching, and reinforcement based strategies to achieve meaningful and durable behavior and lifestyle outcomes.

What does PBS look like in our school? 
•    Uses schoolwide expectations and rules in specific settings to teach students appropriate behavior.
•    Reward system (Paw Prints) to encourage and model appropriate behavior, and effective consequences to discourage inappropriate behavior.
•    Wildcat assemblies to reward appropriate behavior and learning gains.
•    Big events to reward students with no referrals and events that students have saved their paw prints to attend.
•    Use data from referrals and minor infractions to target problem behavior.

Levels of PBS are: 
•    School-Wide: Procedures and processes intended for all students, staff, in specific settings across campus.
•    Classroom: Processes and procedures that reflect school-wide expectations for student behavior coupled with pre-planned strategies applied within classrooms.

That all sounds pretty good, huh? But then there's this:

http://www.ledgerdata.com/grade/pinellas/windsor-charter-school/527301/

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/pinellas-charter-schools-come-under-scrutiny/2198333

http://tbo.com/list/columns-jbrown/second-look-at-charter-schools-20140928/

But why would they come under such scrutiny? They are a charter after all which is supposed to mean they are better than public school, right? Windsor Prep is supposed to be like a private school education without the cost. Funny thing that...private schools don't teach the same exact curriculum as the Pinellas County Public School system does, and in an alarmingly similar way. And what especially amazes ( or alarms) me is that

 A- this highly educated, supposedly qualified Principal, Mrs. Clements had no answers for the School Board when questioned.

 B- She has worked for another struggling school in the recent past ( Imagine Schools)

 C- Another school cited is affiliated with Windsor Prep- Newpoint ( investigate people!!!) http://newpointpinellas.org/sites/newpointpinellas.org/files/forms_downloads/Minutes%20-%20January%207th,%202014.pdf

Their Charter agreement states they can only fail two out of the five years of the charter grant:

http://pinellasschool.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=4&ID=4607  ( hope this link works, if not google the Windsor Prep Charter Agreement)

More people need to step and fight for legislation regulating Charter Schools like Windsor. Our tax dollars pour into these. Windsor was paid more than $3million of our tax dollars for the elementary students they have enrolled this year, and more that $700,000 for the 65 middle school kids they can't even house on site. Here they are, an F school, and they are approved to open a second school. The same principal will oversee both...how, if she can't get one school to meet standards, will she manage both? And if they do fail, they still own the property and any assets they have acquired. 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/pinellas-to-review-its-charter-school-contracts-after-east-windsor-calamity/2193196

http://pinellasschool.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1167&MediaPosition=8483.393&ID=4311&CssClass=

Seriously...google East Windsor Middle School charter agreement and charter clarification. Search for Windsor Preps charter agreement. Do searches on the school, the parent company, the staff...it's eye opening to say the least.

MORE TO COME!!!!!! 

Here are some news articles regarding "F" school-Windsor Prep:

Look at what they did to three neighbors yards and fences when they decided to seize the right of way. Two of the neighbor yards have pools, and when the school tore down the fences they did not  replace them. How safe is that for small kids? And since Windsor has Pre-K students,  ( as young as three years old, and they didn't want a fence separating them from a swimming pool?!?!?!? ) shouldn't that have been a concern? 

 Imagine what this meant for the neighbors involved, people who have lived in their homes for decades. To "rectify" the situation, they slapped up one of those loose, saggy, construction/temporary fences which is an eyesore in and of itself, and really not an overly effective barrier, esp. considering the school itself is no longer fenced in. Boy isn't that great for Campus Security too? You can't tell any of us that they couldn't have afforded to put up wooden fences to replace the ones they tore down. It would have been the decent and right thing to do.  But Windsor Prep doesn't do decent.
  http://www.wfla.com/story/26305370/new-school-construction-issues-create-big-problems-for-parents-and-
neighbors  

Now on to the traffic..it's still like this every day, twice a day, and it isn't due to construction- it's the volume of cars and students in a limited access area:

   http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2014/8/19/charter_school_caugh.html

  And how about all those kids and their families that they lied to? Allowing people to register, buy school uniforms, buy required, branded supplies all the while knowing the school wouldn't be ready is reprehensible.  They only started construction at the very end of last school year. You can not say they actually thought a 41,000+ square foot building would have been completed by August 18th. That's four months. You can't build a house in four months...geez. In the interim, the principal of the "F" school, Mrs. Clements great plan was to stick 130 middle school kids in the school gymnasium until the building was done. The county said NO..so she blames them for her troubles. Nope...that responsibility lays squarely on her shoulders. Can you imagine finding out two days before school starts that you don't have school for your child?!?!? Or that all that money you poured into more expensive than average uniforms, and the branded school supplies they had to purchase is now wasted?

http://www.wfla.com/story/26301617/students-head-back-to-school-on-monday-but-not-some-at-windsor-preparatory-academy

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/pinellas-charter-schools-new-lottery-leaves-parents-searching-for-spots/2193044

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/construction-delays-windsor-preparatory-in-st-petersburg-causing-problems-for-student

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-south-pinellas/st-petersburg/some-st-pete-parents-left-scrambling-to-find-a-new-school-for-their-kids

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2014/8/15/east_windsor_academy.html

Here is when the charter expansion was being approved to help with the timeline:

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/east-windsor-middle-academy-likely-to-be-approved/2180590

Windsor Prep Academy Ruined our Neighborhood...and is an "F" School.

  Windsor Prep Academy is a charter school, in Lealman ( near St. Petersburg) Florida, and is located smack dab in the middle of a small neighborhood. My neighborhood. They purchased the property, which had previously been a very small private school, of less than 200 students, three years ago.

  When the "F" school- Windsor Prep- started, they had a small enrollment of 175 elementary students. Traffic didn't impact our neighborhood all that badly. It got a little bogged down, but only for a few minutes each morning and afternoon.  

  Now, over 400 vehicles, not counting staff, neighbors, or construction vehicles come through every morning and afternoon, blocking our driveways, parking in our yards, causing property damage, and of course the traffic back up for just over an hour in the mornings,  and for around an hour and a half in the afternoons.

   This neighborhood is made of up of three small dead end, and two small side roads. There is one way in essentially, and one way out. 

   They knew that when they bought the property, and when they began their plans to expand their charter and expand enrollment to include the  Middle School: East Windsor Academy.

  So ultimately it is two schools that now operate on the property.

  Knowing, and despite this neighborhood's limitations, and without any consultation, or impact study having been done by Pinellas County to see how the neighborhood residents felt, the school has forged ahead with the expansion, constructed a 41,000 square foot, 2 story monstrosity of a building, and have an anticipated enrollment of 1000 students within a year or two.

   The current enrollment as of September 2014 is approx. 580 plus the 65 kids they are housing off campus awaiting completion of the new building. And who knows if they have more than that waiting in the wings, but more are definitely coming. 

   This blog is to document what this mess of an "F" School has put our neighborhood through. I will be linking the news articles, issues my neighbors have dealt with, my experiences, pictures, and links to videos. I will also try and dig into exactly who in involved in/with this school. I may even expand into the whole issue of shady charter school dealings, as our experiences with this school has been rather like being shaken down by a gang or the mafia taking over communities. You accept, do it their way, or pay the price.

******And remember, charter schools are funded by our tax dollars, yet local school boards have nearly no authority over them, and the property and equipment they acquire is theirs to keep, even if they fail, which an alarming number do. More on that to come as well.