Why is Janney getting another million dollar renovation……

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people in Ward 3 pay a disproportionate share of DC income and property taxes. Yet when they get the slightest return on their tax dollars, it's derided as favoritism.

Please. Get off your ass, quit complaining, roll up your sleeves, work your heart out for your school, and stop resenting - and trying to free ride - on the effort of others!

This is so wrong headed. Janney and other successful upper NW schools (ehhklmmos) are not getting more than other DCPS schools nor should they. There are quality renovations/rehabs/additions happening all over the city. The vitriol on this thread appears to be amongst upper NW schools, as it reflects resentment by parents (or other interested community members) that their also very successful and overcrowded school has not yet had its promised expansion and renovation.

There is not an entitlement to better facilities that comes from higher tax payments and I do not think this is a common sentiment from upper NW, at least not mong my neighbors. That is not how the system is supposed to work. The whole city should get good services. That said, choices do have to be made and often people will be unhappy regardless of what choice s made, so here we are.

Actually, Janney is getting more, much more, than many other DCPS elementaries. You must believe we are fools to believe otherwise.

Hearst is in the middle of a renovation/expansion the community seems very pleased with and I have no reason to believe it is not on par with the Janney renovation or other elementary school renovations that have occurred across the city. Deal had a great renovation as did Wilson, as did Dunbar and Roosevelt as we have all heard.

I think a rational decision was made re how to add space given the options at Janney. Janney benefited from the prior renovation because it provided options for expansion that are not available to not yet renovated schools.

Regardless of the choices they had, you think that the decision should have been made to do the crappiest job possible with this project because anything else is not fair to students at other schools that had not yet been renovated. Even if the decision here has no impact on the timing or funding of other waiting projects? Does that about sum up your position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boundary review doesn't solve anything if we take as given grandfathering. I agree with you if DCPS hadn't announced a commitment to maintain the "rights" for all students currently enrolled. Without grandfathering, boundary changes could solve the immediate problem. As it is, with grandfathering the immediate problem will remain.

Personally, I don't think DCPS should corner itself into maintaining grandfathering.

But, to all those who oppose this addition and say boundary changes should solve the problem, know that boundary changes ONLY solve the problem if DCPS abandons grandfathering. Are you prepared to abandon grandfathering? That means your OOB kid at Hearst may not be able to maintain his slot and his feeder "rights." You may not want to cut your nose to spite your face.

Not sure why you used Hearst in your example, but it was either a "throw out," or you are simply unaware of the school's current status.

At this point, nobody at Hearst (which had it's main building renovated this summer and is days away from breaking ground on a great expansion) is concerned about what's going on at Janney. Hearst families-- who quietly flew under the Ward 3 radar for years in a building that had not been touched in 8 decades-- are over the moon about our own renovation, which when completed will be a beautiful campus located on some of the best green space in the city. Since we do have a large and highly active OOBs population (overwhelmingly from Wards 4 & 1), the boundary changes and issue of grandfathering are of concern to our community, but not as it relates to Janney or any other Ward 3 school. Hearst has always been an open and welcoming community, but the reality is that most JKLMM families have never had an interest in our little school...and that's okay. Their misperceptions and the fact that Hearst's boundaries are ridiculously small are the reason why we are not overcrowded and consider ourselves the best kept secret.

You can question how Janney was able to get additional funding after their renovations were completed and as other schools were still waiting, but you can't hate them for pushing for more space. They are overcrowded and they did what any active community would do...fight for their kids. Janney families worked hard to get the best facility for their children in the same way we at Hearst worked for ours. Hearst families IBs and OOBs fought for our renovations, even as some on this board discounted us. (Yes it is possible to have a racially diverse student population from every ward in the city and still have an incredibly committed, caring and active community).

If your school is in line for a renovation, know that it's a very frustrating process, but that if you have an active and vocal community, you can get it done. We need to support each other and learn from each others experiences. Not begrudge one another. That's counter productive.

Thank you to the Hearst community from an IB family in the pipeline!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boundary review doesn't solve anything if we take as given grandfathering. I agree with you if DCPS hadn't announced a commitment to maintain the "rights" for all students currently enrolled. Without grandfathering, boundary changes could solve the immediate problem. As it is, with grandfathering the immediate problem will remain.

Personally, I don't think DCPS should corner itself into maintaining grandfathering.

But, to all those who oppose this addition and say boundary changes should solve the problem, know that boundary changes ONLY solve the problem if DCPS abandons grandfathering. Are you prepared to abandon grandfathering? That means your OOB kid at Hearst may not be able to maintain his slot and his feeder "rights." You may not want to cut your nose to spite your face.

Not sure why you used Hearst in your example, but it was either a "throw out," or you are simply unaware of the school's current status.

At this point, nobody at Hearst (which had it's main building renovated this summer and is days away from breaking ground on a great expansion) is concerned about what's going on at Janney. Hearst families-- who quietly flew under the Ward 3 radar for years in a building that had not been touched in 8 decades-- are over the moon about our own renovation, which when completed will be a beautiful campus located on some of the best green space in the city. Since we do have a large and highly active OOBs population (overwhelmingly from Wards 4 & 1), the boundary changes and issue of grandfathering are of concern to our community, but not as it relates to Janney or any other Ward 3 school. Hearst has always been an open and welcoming community, but the reality is that most JKLMM families have never had an interest in our little school...and that's okay. Their misperceptions and the fact that Hearst's boundaries are ridiculously small are the reason why we are not overcrowded and consider ourselves the best kept secret.

You can question how Janney was able to get additional funding after their renovations were completed and as other schools were still waiting, but you can't hate them for pushing for more space. They are overcrowded and they did what any active community would do...fight for their kids. Janney families worked hard to get the best facility for their children in the same way we at Hearst worked for ours. Hearst families IBs and OOBs fought for our renovations, even as some on this board discounted us. (Yes it is possible to have a racially diverse student population from every ward in the city and still have an incredibly committed, caring and active community).

If your school is in line for a renovation, know that it's a very frustrating process, but that if you have an active and vocal community, you can get it done. We need to support each other and learn from each others experiences. Not begrudge one another. That's counter productive.

Thank you to the Hearst community from an IB family in the pipeline!

+1. Cannot wait until September to get there. The feel we got from the Open House was awesome!

[Anonymous]

My kid was in a trailer six years ago at Janney. When did the trailers arrive at Murch?

Just wondering, do we compare years of trailers at the two schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was in a trailer six years ago at Janney. When did the trailers arrive at Murch?

Just wondering, do we compare years of trailers at the two schools?

Years ago also. More arrive this summer. Murch still busses kids in too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boundary review doesn't solve anything if we take as given grandfathering. I agree with you if DCPS hadn't announced a commitment to maintain the "rights" for all students currently enrolled. Without grandfathering, boundary changes could solve the immediate problem. As it is, with grandfathering the immediate problem will remain.

Personally, I don't think DCPS should corner itself into maintaining grandfathering.

But, to all those who oppose this addition and say boundary changes should solve the problem, know that boundary changes ONLY solve the problem if DCPS abandons grandfathering. Are you prepared to abandon grandfathering? That means your OOB kid at Hearst may not be able to maintain his slot and his feeder "rights." You may not want to cut your nose to spite your face.

Not sure why you used Hearst in your example, but it was either a "throw out," or you are simply unaware of the school's current status.

At this point, nobody at Hearst (which had it's main building renovated this summer and is days away from breaking ground on a great expansion) is concerned about what's going on at Janney. Hearst families-- who quietly flew under the Ward 3 radar for years in a building that had not been touched in 8 decades-- are over the moon about our own renovation, which when completed will be a beautiful campus located on some of the best green space in the city. Since we do have a large and highly active OOBs population (overwhelmingly from Wards 4 & 1), the boundary changes and issue of grandfathering are of concern to our community, but not as it relates to Janney or any other Ward 3 school. Hearst has always been an open and welcoming community, but the reality is that most JKLMM families have never had an interest in our little school...and that's okay. Their misperceptions and the fact that Hearst's boundaries are ridiculously small are the reason why we are not overcrowded and consider ourselves the best kept secret.

You can question how Janney was able to get additional funding after their renovations were completed and as other schools were still waiting, but you can't hate them for pushing for more space. They are overcrowded and they did what any active community would do...fight for their kids. Janney families worked hard to get the best facility for their children in the same way we at Hearst worked for ours. Hearst families IBs and OOBs fought for our renovations, even as some on this board discounted us. (Yes it is possible to have a racially diverse student population from every ward in the city and still have an incredibly committed, caring and active community).

If your school is in line for a renovation, know that it's a very frustrating process, but that if you have an active and vocal community, you can get it done. We need to support each other and learn from each others experiences. Not begrudge one another. That's counter productive.

Thank you to the Hearst community from an IB family in the pipeline!

+1. Cannot wait until September to get there. The feel we got from the Open House was awesome!

+2. new IB parent starting next year. When we bought pre kid 7 years ago we assumed we would move to MD. Very psyched we are getting a brand new school on the rise and don't have to move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hearst was renovated inside, and is awaiting a large expansion. I would believe it is now up to snuff for the Janney children.

it's not the builidng but the number of oobs that cause janney families to turn up their noses. I predict if the redistrict janney families to hearst the ib numbers will go up a little but most janney come hearst familes will peel off to private school.

[Anonymous]

Let the redistricting begin...

[Anonymous]

Guess what, Janney will not continue to get renovations every three years for ever, the kids will need to go somewhere if all the projections are true. And not all will go private. Private school is actually an enormous sum for two kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's much worse that they just spend $120 million on Roosevelt with no plan on how to fill the school.

+1. Exactly. That is the money that could have funded a dozen more valuable renovations.

Ideally this will get feeders with boundary review, so will not be a waste...

It does have feeders, west and trusdell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was in a trailer six years ago at Janney. When did the trailers arrive at Murch?

Just wondering, do we compare years of trailers at the two schools?

Murch has had trailers continuously since my little brother, who is now 42, was in PreK there. Maybe earlier, but that's as far back as my experience with the school goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let the redistricting begin...

And may the odds be ever in your favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let the redistricting begin...

Indeed. But isn't that exactly what Janney families are proposing...tighter boundaries....FOR DEAL MS?!?!

It will be interesting to hear the Janney arguments to justify keeping their elementary boundaries the same while shrinking Deal boundaries based on geography.

Let's hear it.

[Anonymous]

I'm pissed that they are getting more renovation money. What about Hearst? Which truly needs it! And oyster? and Eaton? Wake up people! Spread the wealth and take care of some of the other well deserving elementary schools nearby in your neighborhoods! This is absurd!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hearst families IBs and OOBs fought for our renovations, even as some on this board discounted us. (Yes it is possible to have a racially diverse student population from every ward in the city [b]and still have an incredibly committed, caring and active community

And don't forget the Hearst students from PG County, too!

+1
There seem to be a noticeable number of Hearst students who arrive daily in cars with MD license plates. Makes you wonder.

It doesn't make me wonder at all, because I know many of them well enough to know why. For instance, one set of siblings is regularly dropped off by their grandparents, who have MD plates, but the family lives in-bound. I assume the grandparents live in Bethesda or somewhere nearby, and they help out with drop off/pick up. Another kid I know has divorced parents and the Dad lives in Silver Spring. I'm sure this is the case with most of the families.

Yes the number of grandparents from MD is truly remarkable. They all look to be in their 30s! There's an appreciable amount of DC residency scamming going on at Hearst.