Brent rebuild details to know before you accept that lottery spot

[Anonymous]

So glad we got out in the nick of time, after 5th grade for two, before the alternate universe crap kicked in. It kicked off with 5th grade being folded into 4th grade this past fall. Will 5th graders need to wear ski wear for outdoor core classes at the swing space, since they've already been cast into the outer darkness?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem whatever trade-offs the principal might see as acceptable is that her perspective is unique. It's simply her place if work.

A large chunk of families who would bear the costs of an absurd swing space are not the same families that will benefit from the future improvements.

This is totally right. She’s an administrator who has a career path in the DCPS system.

But for parents, it’s really as simple as having our kids on a bus for an hour, just to spend the day across town…for no clearly stated reason beyond what looks like a half-baked DCPS plan.

Whatever priorities Norah or DCPS have — and the trades she says she’s going to make based on the pain inflicted — just aren’t whatever cost to the kids, families, and broader Brent community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem whatever trade-offs the principal might see as acceptable is that her perspective is unique. It's simply her place if work.

A large chunk of families who would bear the costs of an absurd swing space are not the same families that will benefit from the future improvements.

And this is the biggest challenge that cuts both ways. Depending on what is being asked for (and no it isn’t gardens) could set the school up with a better situation for the next 60 years. But that is hard to take when you won’t see any of the benefits of the renovation and that is a large percentage of the current school body. Current K students would be back for their 4th grade year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem whatever trade-offs the principal might see as acceptable is that her perspective is unique. It's simply her place if work.

A large chunk of families who would bear the costs of an absurd swing space are not the same families that will benefit from the future improvements.

The other issue is that those who will be most impacted aren't even at the school yet, which I guess is why PP made the original post. If you've got a 2yo, you're not really focused on this, but it's going to have an incredibly negative effect on your life and more importantly on your kid's life. But you don't even know it's happening to you.

and if you're 3rd grade at Brent with no younger kids, I suppose you're indifferent?

We're 1st grade and our oldest was done at Brent last year, and that's the thing that's bothering us. So many of the people who are going to suffer don't even know it's coming. And it's going to kill enrollment, which is going to lead to staff cuts, at a school where the PTA already covers some of those costs. it can't take on any more of that burden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem whatever trade-offs the principal might see as acceptable is that her perspective is unique. It's simply her place if work.

A large chunk of families who would bear the costs of an absurd swing space are not the same families that will benefit from the future improvements.

And this is the biggest challenge that cuts both ways. Depending on what is being asked for (and no it isn’t gardens) could set the school up with a better situation for the next 60 years. But that is hard to take when you won’t see any of the benefits of the renovation and that is a large percentage of the current school body. Current K students would be back for their 4th grade year.

I don't get this at all. Seems like it would reflect pretty poorly on DCPS if they would punish the school for not accepting this frankly ridiculous arrangement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem whatever trade-offs the principal might see as acceptable is that her perspective is unique. It's simply her place if work.

A large chunk of families who would bear the costs of an absurd swing space are not the same families that will benefit from the future improvements.

And this is the biggest challenge that cuts both ways. Depending on what is being asked for (and no it isn’t gardens) could set the school up with a better situation for the next 60 years. But that is hard to take when you won’t see any of the benefits of the renovation and that is a large percentage of the current school body. Current K students would be back for their 4th grade year.

This is right but I don't think anyone we have talked to is against the modernization or the timeline its on. Everyone agrees some pain is to be expected, and maybe you get a year or two of a brand new school, but also kids in the future will benefit. Our family understands the sacrifice and broader community benefits, and we're ok with that. So far, I haven't met anyone who is just fully anti-modernization. That's not a rational position to have at all.

But that isn't really the issue -- the swing space selection is the issue. The extreme bussing is the issue (not bussing, but bussing an hour to Columbia Heights). The impossibility of parent drop-ins for volunteering or doctors appointments. The swing space is causing these things, and it doesn't seem like it's for any good reason at all.

We'd take trailers at RFK. Or Garfield Park, which was mentioned at one point.

The other problem is that Norah pretty confidently shared two schools that were being chosen between to be swing spaces over the last year. Neither were great, but they were a lot closer. Pain, but that's how it goes with a modernization. But neither of them was Meyer, which came out of nowhere and is the worst possible idea.

[Anonymous]

I'd trade Brent staying on the Hill for no Brent families sending their kids to Latin.

[Anonymous]

The same thing is happening at Burroughs in NE. At first, they were supposed to move to Meyer during construction. However, the parents complained about the commute and DCPS gave in and purchased trailers for the field beside the school. However, now the neighbors don’t want trailers on community green space. Another DCPS mess!!! I would also avoid Burroughs too. Renovation will take 2 years and then those trailers will serve as the new swing space for other Ward 5 schools. No thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

I should be surprised that DCPS doesn't have some distance policy on swing spaces. Should be surprised, but I'm not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS and the Brent principal surprised parents before spring break announcing that the swing space for the Brent modernization will be at Meyer in Columbia Heights and will now be two years instead of the expected 18 months. The plan now calls for kids to be on a bus an hour earlier than current drop off because of the significant bus time/traffic issues. It’s the furthest swing space DCPS has ever assigned.

They’re pretty dismissive of a much more preferable spot at RFK — or anywhere else that would keep drop off times normal, make it possible for parents to get to school during the day for appointments or events, and would keep the strong Brent community together.

We took a lottery spot last year and are now looking to drop out, but of course this was all rolled out when it was too late for the lottery this year.

This is more of a PSA — we feel burned and people should know before they make decisions.

If you took a lottery spot then you could just go to your in boundary school instead of busing across town.

[Anonymous]

Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

We don't really care of it's RFK, Garfield, Emory, or wherever. Just that it's not an hour bus ride from Brent.

It's not reasonable just to say "well, it's Meyer or else." Try harder DCPS. This isn't impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

There absolutely is an RFK site and it does not involve NPS. It needs trailers, which DCPS seems unwilling to pay for, and instead wants to move kids to Columbia Heights.

[Anonymous]

Where is this hour bus ride coming from? It would take an hour to walk the three miles.

[Anonymous]

Wait so why not Emery?