Episode 33 Operationalizing school moves with Julie Anne Garretson

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Charter School Insider, host Daniel Casselli talks with Julie Anne Garretson, Network Director of Operations and School Support at Public Prep. Julie shares her extensive experience managing complex school relocations across New York City, focusing on three major moves Public Prep has navigated over the past two years. These include closing a flagship campus, managing temporary spaces, and the challenges of opening a new facility. Julie offers practical insights into the operational, logistical, and communication strategies that helped the team tackle these significant changes while maintaining high standards of school operation.

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

Effective Planning & Flexibility:
Julie emphasized the importance of planning down to the finest details but also highlighted the need for flexibility, especially when dealing with unknowns like delayed construction or last-minute relocations. Tools like Asana and Google Sheets were key for tracking tasks and ensuring cross-functional collaboration.

Communication Across Teams:
Regular communication with both internal and external stakeholders was essential. Julie shared that proactive communication across the board — from DOE officials to the custodial staff — ensured smoother transitions and helped avoid last-minute surprises.

Strategic Thinking in Temporary Spaces:
Finding and transitioning into temporary spaces while awaiting the completion of a new facility requires creative problem-solving. Julie discussed the value of choosing a temporary location in a future target district, which helped retain families and streamline operations when the final move was made.

Learning From Experience:
One important lesson Julie shared was the need to be selective about what to bring during a move — like choosing not to transport unneeded materials (e.g., excess books), which helped them save costs and reduce unnecessary complexity.
Building Strong Relationships:
Whether working with movers, construction teams, or city departments, the importance of building strong, collaborative relationships was a recurring theme in Julie's success story.