Bowser cuts school renovation funds - Murch, others delayed or cancelled while Ellington tops $178 M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mayor Bowser plans to cut funding for school renovations. The result is that some 20 school renovations in the pipeline may not happen or could be delayed significantly. Murch, where a bathroom doubles as a nurse's office, is likely to be delayed still further. Meanwhile, the cost of renovating Duke Ellington has hit $178 million, reflecting DCPS' decision to fork over another $30 million for the project, bringing the renovation cost to $300K for each of Ellington's 600 students. It seems unfair that DC taxpayers are paying so much for Ellington, which also has a source of private fundraising (not dedicated to the renovation) and educates a substantial number of students from outside DC. At the same time, DC schools that actually serve only District students are getting the shaft. Hey Murch community, looks like you got Bowsered!

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26689/many-schools-that-need-renovations-may-not-be-getting-them/#comments

I cannot believe families move to DC and complain about the schools. It's like moving next to an airport and complaining about the noise. Just astonishing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor Bowser plans to cut funding for school renovations. The result is that some 20 school renovations in the pipeline may not happen or could be delayed significantly. Murch, where a bathroom doubles as a nurse's office, is likely to be delayed still further. Meanwhile, the cost of renovating Duke Ellington has hit $178 million, reflecting DCPS' decision to fork over another $30 million for the project, bringing the renovation cost to $300K for each of Ellington's 600 students. It seems unfair that DC taxpayers are paying so much for Ellington, which also has a source of private fundraising (not dedicated to the renovation) and educates a substantial number of students from outside DC. At the same time, DC schools that actually serve only District students are getting the shaft. Hey Murch community, looks like you got Bowsered!

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26689/many-schools-that-need-renovations-may-not-be-getting-them/#comments

I cannot believe families move to DC and complain about the schools. It's like moving next to an airport and complaining about the noise. Just astonishing.

Interesting viewpoint, Kaya.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ellington bashers can hate on this amazing school all they want, but they misunderestimate the political power of Peggy Cooper Cafritz in DC.

Fiscal responsibility bashers can hate on transparency all they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor Bowser plans to cut funding for school renovations. The result is that some 20 school renovations in the pipeline may not happen or could be delayed significantly. Murch, where a bathroom doubles as a nurse's office, is likely to be delayed still further. Meanwhile, the cost of renovating Duke Ellington has hit $178 million, reflecting DCPS' decision to fork over another $30 million for the project, bringing the renovation cost to $300K for each of Ellington's 600 students. It seems unfair that DC taxpayers are paying so much for Ellington, which also has a source of private fundraising (not dedicated to the renovation) and educates a substantial number of students from outside DC. At the same time, DC schools that actually serve only District students are getting the shaft. Hey Murch community, looks like you got Bowsered!

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26689/many-schools-that-need-renovations-may-not-be-getting-them/#comments

I cannot believe families move to DC and complain about the schools. It's like moving next to an airport and complaining about the noise. Just astonishing.

Interesting viewpoint, Kaya.

And remember Kaya says that if you don't like it, tough, you can always move because there will be another foo to take your place.

[Anonymous]

Where have I seen this before...oh, yes, the 90's in D.C. Financial Review Board, here we come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where have I seen this before...oh, yes, the 90's in D.C. Financial Review Board, here we come.

It does feel like the 90's all over again, with Bowser in the role of Barry and Henderson playing Arlene Ackerman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where have I seen this before...oh, yes, the 90's in D.C. Financial Review Board, here we come.

It does feel like the 90's all over again, with Bowser in the role of Barry and Henderson playing Arlene Ackerman.

DCPS has no money left to make capital improvements now, for years and years. Who in the heck approved maxing out the credit card with nothing left in reserve? Unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor Bowser plans to cut funding for school renovations. The result is that some 20 school renovations in the pipeline may not happen or could be delayed significantly. Murch, where a bathroom doubles as a nurse's office, is likely to be delayed still further. Meanwhile, the cost of renovating Duke Ellington has hit $178 million, reflecting DCPS' decision to fork over another $30 million for the project, bringing the renovation cost to $300K for each of Ellington's 600 students. It seems unfair that DC taxpayers are paying so much for Ellington, which also has a source of private fundraising (not dedicated to the renovation) and educates a substantial number of students from outside DC. At the same time, DC schools that actually serve only District students are getting the shaft. Hey Murch community, looks like you got Bowsered!

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26689/many-schools-that-need-renovations-may-not-be-getting-them/#comments

I cannot believe families move to DC and complain about the schools. It's like moving next to an airport and complaining about the noise. Just astonishing.

Interesting viewpoint, Kaya.

Families don't move to DC Witt schools in mind. They live in DC and become families - who in turn - would like to not have to leave their neighborhoods. Having children shouldn't equate to a shit commute to the exurbs if you want your kids to get an education. Another fool will take my place though I expect, so she's not wrong about everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where have I seen this before...oh, yes, the 90's in D.C. Financial Review Board, here we come.

It does feel like the 90's all over again, with Bowser in the role of Barry and Henderson playing Arlene Ackerman.

DCPS has no money left to make capital improvements now, for years and years. Who in the heck approved maxing out the credit card with nothing left in reserve? Unbelievable.

And the renovation that put the credit limit stop on the card is Duke Ellington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where have I seen this before...oh, yes, the 90's in D.C. Financial Review Board, here we come.

I don't understand Bowser. First, she talked in terms of a budget surplus. Then she went to Wall Street to meet with rating agencies and sait that DC's budget would balance, without the need to tap reserve funds or to raise taxes. Two or three weeks later, she proposed exactly that, plus punitive cuts to certain schools to fund other educational priorities. Is Bowser just stupid or is she a liar?

[Anonymous]

She's definitely stupid - she's just a pawn. She's trying to keep everyone happy and hasn't realized you can't do that and less effectively. At best - she's chosen the wrong camp.

[Anonymous]

*lead effectively

[Anonymous]

My kindergartener's DCPS classroom does not have working air conditioning this week, and the same thing happened at the end of last year in preK. It will be a week until they might repair this.

Bowser and Henderson should be ashamed of the overspending at Ellington and should immediately halt it until regular old neighborhood schools have basics like working bathrooms and a/c. The 600 students at Ellington should not be sucking the life out of the rest of the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener's DCPS classroom does not have working air conditioning this week, and the same thing happened at the end of last year in preK. It will be a week until they might repair this.

Bowser and Henderson should be ashamed of the overspending at Ellington and should immediately halt it until regular old neighborhood schools have basics like working bathrooms and a/c. The 600 students at Ellington should not be sucking the life out of the rest of the system.

Only 500 of which actually live in DC....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where have I seen this before...oh, yes, the 90's in D.C. Financial Review Board, here we come.

I don't understand Bowser. First, she talked in terms of a budget surplus. Then she went to Wall Street to meet with rating agencies and sait that DC's budget would balance, without the need to tap reserve funds or to raise taxes. Two or three weeks later, she proposed exactly that, plus punitive cuts to certain schools to fund other educational priorities. Is Bowser just stupid or is she a liar?

both and big time