Community School in Roanoke (Franklin, Boones Mill: house, buy, school district)

[puttingdownroots]

Anyone have anything to say - good or bad - about Community School, in Roanoke?

We live in the Roanoke area and we're considering a move out of state, but also considering staying put.

If we stay, I am looking at Community School because it apparently has an inclusive atmosphere. I'm worried that at Roanoke area public schools our son might be a target for bullying because of his liberal, humanist / atheist, nerdy parents...! Kids being kids, he'll probably grow up to be a conservative Republican born again Christian - in which case I imagine he'll fit right in - but just in case the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Community School is looking like a good option.

[seanpecor]

How about North Cross? There are plenty of left of center parents at North Cross - which is NOT a religious school despite what the name might imply

Sean

[puttingdownroots]

Thanks Sean, I'll check it out. My (rather shallow) initial first impression was that it was a religious school!

[seanpecor]

We moved here in 2005 and yours was my first impression also. But the name has more to do with topography than anything else. It really is a fantastic, fantastic school, with huge parent support, superb teachers, and a really wonderful 70 acre campus.

Sean

[seanpecor]

You mentioned that you live in Franklin County in another thread. I thought I'd mention that North Cross has a bus that picks up our girls at Cannadays on Route 220 in Boones Mill. From there it's a 30 minute bus ride, which is shorter than many bus rides for local schools in the county.

Sean

[puttingdownroots]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

You mentioned that you live in Franklin County in another thread. I thought I'd mention that North Cross has a bus that picks up our girls at Cannadays on Route 220 in Boones Mill. From there it's a 30 minute bus ride, which is shorter than many bus rides for local schools in the county.

Sean

Thanks for the info! We're about 15 mins from Cannadays. 45 mins is a stinker of a bus ride, but to we've outgrown our lovely little house already so by the time our son starts school, we'll have rented this place out and relocated, hopefully a bit closer to whatever school we choose.

It's the usual trade-off - gorgeous rural setting vs. convenience of amenities!

[seanpecor]

We're about 8 minutes from Cannadays. You could buy one of those Cahas Green lots and build there. Then you'd be only 5 minutes from Cannadays You can see them working on it in my webcam at Sean's Horse Farm and Family Blog (see the right column). Here is a snapshot from today:



Sean

[art2t]

I went to Community School, but it was many, many years ago. I attended from 1982-87. Public school went fine socially - had many friends. The transition academically was a little problematic - there was no testing in place in my (rural) public school district to accurately determine my skills - they placed me a grade ahead of where I should have been according to my age, and my grades suffered, so they put me back where I belonged.

I do have to say that most of the people I went to Community School with are very successful - it has a different approach than your average, run-of-the-mill private school. I mean, have you ever heard of any other schools that have grade levels named after natural phenomena? (Pebbles, Crystals, Land, Sea, Sky).

Again, it was many years ago, but I loved my experience there as a child. I would send my children there.

[puttingdownroots]

Originally Posted by art2t

I went to Community School, but it was many, many years ago. I attended from 1982-87. Public school went fine socially - had many friends. The transition academically was a little problematic - there was no testing in place in my (rural) public school district to accurately determine my skills - they placed me a grade ahead of where I should have been according to my age, and my grades suffered, so they put me back where I belonged.

I do have to say that most of the people I went to Community School with are very successful - it has a different approach than your average, run-of-the-mill private school. I mean, have you ever heard of any other schools that have grade levels named after natural phenomena? (Pebbles, Crystals, Land, Sea, Sky).

Again, it was many years ago, but I loved my experience there as a child. I would send my children there.

Thank you for the info! It sounds like you had a wonderful time there. Meeting kids who attend the school now, and reading up on the website, it looks like such a good environment.

[A concerned parent]

Dear Putting Down Roots,

My children were enrolled in Community School from 2005-2007. Although it is a wonderful school, they are currently coming under a lot of fire for questionable administrative decision making.

During my family's time at the school, I witnessed and reported to the administration about nine incidences of verbal abuse by a teacher. Some of these were directed at my own child. The last report I made was also made to Virginia Department of Social Services; you can see the resulting comments and violations on this webpage, make sure to scroll down to read all violations (although they did not find the complaint 'valid," they did rule that the teacher spoke to the child in a "demeaning" manner): Licensed Child Care - Virginia Department of Social Services
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]About a month before the end of the 2006-07 school year, and within three weeks of my report to Social Services, my family was "withdrawn" from the school with no written, "official" explanation. Please understand, my children were not "expelled," but simply "withdrawn." The last violation on the previous Social Services link addresses the fact that the reason for our dismissal from the school was not listed. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]It is important that you also know that my children and family were told of this decision on campus, at the beginning of a school day. We had been sent a certified letter that we had not yet received. Therefore, when we went to drop off the children for the day, we were told they were withdrawn immediately and to basically vacate the premises. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Truthfully, we simply put our heads down, and left it alone. We were so ready for the nightmare to be over. I did not share my experience at the time with many people, because I did not want to hurt those members of the Community School family (staff and families) that I thought the world of. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]However, in retrospect, I wish I had been more proactive. A recent firing of a valued, decade long employed teacher, has the community in an uproar. Because I supported this teacher when I was a member of the Community School community, I have come forward again to tell my story. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]To be fair, in some ways my family's experience with Community School was wonderful. No public school can come close, and there are teachers there that are absolute gems.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]However, our experience has been very jaded by the negative influence of our "dismissal" from the school, and many other factors as well. I am not willing to go into all of the problems we did have while we were there, because it is not my intention at all to "ruin" their reputation. Let me just give this bit of advice; when you are dealing with a private school, understand that you and your family are not protected by the same laws governing public schools. They are a private business, and can get away with behaviors and actions that a public school would be severely reprimanded for. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]Please carefully research all the schools, and try your best to get an honest, objective and thorough parent opinion of the school. [/SIZE][SIZE=3]Please consider that when you talk to the school about enrollment, you are getting only the most positive facts. I think that is an important consideration with any school, especially private schools. [/SIZE]

Furthermore, always search the Social Services licensing page for private schools (link at bottom). All of their violations are listed for public view. I also believe that all minutes of board member meetings for private schools are public, as well. Since the big issues usually go before the board, this may be a good way to see how the board and administration of a school deal with larger issues. (Although, in my case, I do not believe my family's situation was shared with members of the board before or after the decision was made to withdraw my children.)
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Here is the page where you can read all of Community School's licensing notes and violations for the last several years, simply click on the inspection date:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Licensed Child Care - Virginia Department of Social Services[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]And here is the page where you can search all of the Virginia’s licensed private schools (child care, ect) for notes and violations: Licensed Child Care - Virginia Department of Social Services[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Please note that the inspector's name and phone number are listed on each page, and in my experience they are friendly and willing to explain licensing, violations, ect. Since the private schools are not licensed and/or inspected in the same way public schools are, these inspectors can help you understand what that difference means to you and your children. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]Beyond all that, I wanted to let you know that I (who can empathize with your "liberal, humanist / atheist, nerdy" tendencies) had the same fears about my children attending public school in this area. They are in a city school this year, and are indeed surrounded by more conservative type families. I do not love the public school, but feel as if they are doing the best job they can with the diminished government support they are given. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]I have heard that Roanoke County schools, several in particular, are amazing though. But my feeling is that our children will turn out fine just as long as we keep it real at home. If the nurturing and education are as natural as breathing at home, it give the kids the strength of character and determination enough to face the "real world."[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]I hope that I have helped answer your question. Please do not hesitate to write back with any questions. I will share more information as I feel it is appropriate. As I said, although I want people to know the truth, I want this to be a healthy, healing time for the school. It is certainly not in my interest to "bash" them or ruin their reputation. In the best situation, Community School is an amazing educational institution. It is a devastating shame to see them brought so low. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]A concerned parent[/SIZE]
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Originally Posted by puttingdownroots

Anyone have anything to say - good or bad - about Community School, in Roanoke?

We live in the Roanoke area and we're considering a move out of state, but also considering staying put.

If we stay, I am looking at Community School because it apparently has an inclusive atmosphere. I'm worried that at Roanoke area public schools our son might be a target for bullying because of his liberal, humanist / atheist, nerdy parents...! Kids being kids, he'll probably grow up to be a conservative Republican born again Christian - in which case I imagine he'll fit right in - but just in case the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Community School is looking like a good option.