Potomac Schools new 70 million dollar gym

[Anonymous]

I love private schools spending absurd amounts of money on athletic facilities for students who are terrible at sports. Private school in a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:70 million. seriously? To play in the MAC?
Could some of that money I’ve been used for teacher salaries or tuition?

A single donee contributed a very large portion with other heavy hitters pitching in for rest.

They still fund plenty for salaries, benefits and other school needs

Mac or no Mac plenty of Potomac grads in the past years head to ivys with squash, track and field and other scholarships that are not football or bball.

Genius actually. New center is sure to have a upgraded squash court and track!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70 million. seriously? To play in the MAC?
Could some of that money I’ve been used for teacher salaries or tuition?

A single donee contributed a very large portion with other heavy hitters pitching in for rest.

They still fund plenty for salaries, benefits and other school needs

Mac or no Mac plenty of Potomac grads in the past years head to ivys with squash, track and field and other scholarships that are not football or bball.

Genius actually. New center is sure to have a upgraded squash court and track!

Any bets? Mine is on the Cap One guy (purposely omitting specific names).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70 million. seriously? To play in the MAC?
Could some of that money I’ve been used for teacher salaries or tuition?

A single donee contributed a very large portion with other heavy hitters pitching in for rest.

They still fund plenty for salaries, benefits and other school needs

Mac or no Mac plenty of Potomac grads in the past years head to ivys with squash, track and field and other scholarships that are not football or bball.

Genius actually. New center is sure to have a upgraded squash court and track!

Any bets? Mine is on the Cap One guy (purposely omitting specific names).

It was nowhere near $70M. And I’m sure they’ll name it soon, and not after either of the Capital One guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprising. Have you ever been to their auction? Whole tables of parents will each give $10k on a whim.

As a parent considering the school, would you say that those who cannot do this are left out socially or otherwise? I mean, we would be full pay, but really just barely. There is no way we'd be throwing $10k around.

Not that I'm well versed in typical construction costs around here, but $70m seems an awful lot for a gym.

You'll be fine. For every Ted Leonsis - whom I have come across in work, charity events and their lovely children - there are families like you.

I am grateful for the donors - heavy hitters in tech, A&D, investment mgmt. Wouldn't blink to invite them over to my tiny colonial (except they are very busy working, running companies).

Great school, work hard culture, open minded, sweet kids. I guess in contrast to some of the DC super liberal schools with a preference for the community activist and academic elite, here you just might get a dose of capitalism and entrepreneurialism. (GASP!)

You were doing so well. Then you had to be a judgmental jerk at the end. Open minded?

My thoughts exactly! Why ruin it all with that snark?

[Anonymous]

Why do people even given money to schools that already have so much money? It seems pointless. The donation makes zero difference to people's lives -- it's like donating $1 million to Jeff Bezos. Give the money to a school that actually needs it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people even given money to schools that already have so much money? It seems pointless. The donation makes zero difference to people's lives -- it's like donating $1 million to Jeff Bezos. Give the money to a school that actually needs it.

Agree. This speaks volumes about the community's real values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people even given money to schools that already have so much money? It seems pointless. The donation makes zero difference to people's lives -- it's like donating $1 million to Jeff Bezos. Give the money to a school that actually needs it.

Give to a poor school, and you can change the trajectory of thousands of kids' lives. Or you can give to Potomac so kids can stare at a slightly more fancy Jumbotron in the gym.

[Anonymous]

I had two kids at Potomac on almost 100% financial aid and I am very grateful for that opportunity. Both kids are doing very well financially and they are giving back to Potomac with their annual donation. The tuition at Potomac only covers about 82% of teachers salaries so the school relies on donation from all families, especially wealthy families. If it were not for those wealthy families, my kids would not have been able to attend Potomac and get to be where they are at now.

It is not just a gym. It is an academic and athletic center.