Assault outside Wilson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate to say it, but it seems like Principal Martin is out of her league - way out of her league. I suspect it is not a coincidence that all these problems are happening just as she takes over.
Signed,

Parent of a Wilson student

+1. But this should be no surprise to anyone, just look at her resume.

The surprise is why Kaya and Bowser selected her. Do they care about education or about tribal politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has Principal reviewed the records of OOB kids and sent back to home school those that don't meet the required attendance and gpa? I think this is at discretion of the Principal.

I doubt that the principal will. The mayor doesn't even want to enforce tickets for parking on snow emergency routes. Do you think that there's the political will to follow through and start kicking OOB kids out of Wilson who fall below standard? The mayor's "base" wouldn't like that at all, and DCPS (which reports to the mayor) knows that.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Principal reviewed the records of OOB kids and sent back to home school those that don't meet the required attendance and gpa? I think this is at discretion of the Principal.

I doubt that the principal will. The mayor doesn't even want to enforce tickets for parking on snow emergency routes. Do you think that there's the political will to follow through and start kicking OOB kids out of Wilson who fall below standard? The mayor's "base" wouldn't like that at all, and DCPS (which reports to the mayor) knows that.

It took me some digging to find this, but if you look at the first post on this page:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/465166.page

It contains a letter from Christopher Rinkus at DCPS. He says this:

Second, there are currently over one hundred out-of-boundary students attending Wilson who are noncompliant with the DCPS out-of-boundary attendance policy. The policy mandates that an out-of-boundary student cannot have more than ten unexcused absences. Wilson has mailed out notification that out-of-boundary students may be excluded from enrolling at Wilson next year if they fail to maintain good attendance this year. In years past, these notifications have been sent, but not enforced. This year, the policy will be enforced.

So, they had an announced policy to do this, at least.

Moreover, just to remind everyone that Wilson had its budget cut while enrollment increased. I don't know if there is a relationship between that and the increase in violent incidents, but it would make sense that attempting to manage more students with fewer resources would result in additional problems.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Principal reviewed the records of OOB kids and sent back to home school those that don't meet the required attendance and gpa? I think this is at discretion of the Principal.

I doubt that the principal will. The mayor doesn't even want to enforce tickets for parking on snow emergency routes. Do you think that there's the political will to follow through and start kicking OOB kids out of Wilson who fall below standard? The mayor's "base" wouldn't like that at all, and DCPS (which reports to the mayor) knows that.

It took me some digging to find this, but if you look at the first post on this page:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/465166.page

It contains a letter from Christopher Rinkus at DCPS. He says this:

Second, there are currently over one hundred out-of-boundary students attending Wilson who are noncompliant with the DCPS out-of-boundary attendance policy. The policy mandates that an out-of-boundary student cannot have more than ten unexcused absences. Wilson has mailed out notification that out-of-boundary students may be excluded from enrolling at Wilson next year if they fail to maintain good attendance this year. In years past, these notifications have been sent, but not enforced. This year, the policy will be enforced.

So, they had an announced policy to do this, at least.

Moreover, just to remind everyone that Wilson had its budget cut while enrollment increased. I don't know if there is a relationship between that and the increase in violent incidents, but it would make sense that attempting to manage more students with fewer resources would result in additional problems.

also, the most recent events took place outside of the school, where students are not being supervised by school personnel and are not their responsibility

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate to say it, but it seems like Principal Martin is out of her league - way out of her league. I suspect it is not a coincidence that all these problems are happening just as she takes over.
Signed,

Parent of a Wilson student

+1. But this should be no surprise to anyone, just look at her resume.

The surprise is why Kaya and Bowser selected her. Do they care about education or about tribal politics?

Do you really think the last Wilson prinicpal could have prevented an assault by wilson students at a metro stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Principal reviewed the records of OOB kids and sent back to home school those that don't meet the required attendance and gpa? I think this is at discretion of the Principal.

I doubt that the principal will. The mayor doesn't even want to enforce tickets for parking on snow emergency routes. Do you think that there's the political will to follow through and start kicking OOB kids out of Wilson who fall below standard? The mayor's "base" wouldn't like that at all, and DCPS (which reports to the mayor) knows that.

It took me some digging to find this, but if you look at the first post on this page:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/465166.page

It contains a letter from Christopher Rinkus at DCPS. He says this:

Second, there are currently over one hundred out-of-boundary students attending Wilson who are noncompliant with the DCPS out-of-boundary attendance policy. The policy mandates that an out-of-boundary student cannot have more than ten unexcused absences. Wilson has mailed out notification that out-of-boundary students may be excluded from enrolling at Wilson next year if they fail to maintain good attendance this year. In years past, these notifications have been sent, but not enforced. This year, the policy will be enforced.

So, they had an announced policy to do this, at least.

Moreover, just to remind everyone that Wilson had its budget cut while enrollment increased. I don't know if there is a relationship between that and the increase in violent incidents, but it would make sense that attempting to manage more students with fewer resources would result in additional problems.

also, the most recent events took place outside of the school, where students are not being supervised by school personnel and are not their responsibility

But, if the kids are using their DC One card to access the Metro, then the school has a role here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Principal reviewed the records of OOB kids and sent back to home school those that don't meet the required attendance and gpa? I think this is at discretion of the Principal.

I doubt that the principal will. The mayor doesn't even want to enforce tickets for parking on snow emergency routes. Do you think that there's the political will to follow through and start kicking OOB kids out of Wilson who fall below standard? The mayor's "base" wouldn't like that at all, and DCPS (which reports to the mayor) knows that.

It took me some digging to find this, but if you look at the first post on this page:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/465166.page

It contains a letter from Christopher Rinkus at DCPS. He says this:

Second, there are currently over one hundred out-of-boundary students attending Wilson who are noncompliant with the DCPS out-of-boundary attendance policy. The policy mandates that an out-of-boundary student cannot have more than ten unexcused absences. Wilson has mailed out notification that out-of-boundary students may be excluded from enrolling at Wilson next year if they fail to maintain good attendance this year. In years past, these notifications have been sent, but not enforced. This year, the policy will be enforced.

So, they had an announced policy to do this, at least.

Moreover, just to remind everyone that Wilson had its budget cut while enrollment increased. I don't know if there is a relationship between that and the increase in violent incidents, but it would make sense that attempting to manage more students with fewer resources would result in additional problems.

also, the most recent events took place outside of the school, where students are not being supervised by school personnel and are not their responsibility

But, if the kids are using their DC One card to access the Metro, then the school has a role here.

The metro card is a DCPS-wide benefit, not a special Wilson deal. Perhaps you think One Cards should be taken from kids who assault people in Metro. that's another issue.

[Anonymous]

So to repeat the question asked above...what can we, as parents of DCPS students do about this situation?

For those of you who have kids who have been in DCPS for awhile what would you recommend to those of us who are new to the system?

My child has a long time before he reaches high school, what can I do now? (and please, don't say move or go private - that's not going to happen/help)

[Anonymous]

What are these kids doing while they're actually *in* school? Do they go to class?

[Anonymous]

The Wilson administration should take some responsibility for the area around the school. It's not good enough for them to say "Not our problem" as soon as the kids leave school property. Wilson kids have been stealing from CVS and harassing people around the Metro for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So to repeat the question asked above...what can we, as parents of DCPS students do about this situation?

For those of you who have kids who have been in DCPS for awhile what would you recommend to those of us who are new to the system?

My child has a long time before he reaches high school, what can I do now? (and please, don't say move or go private - that's not going to happen/help)

Insist that DCPS, Chancellor Henderson and the Wilson Principal enforce the policy they, themselves touted after the boundary review process whereby they said that students who are OOB and have truancy issues are required to return to their IB school. Do it. Now. And demand that these particular students (and others who are also arrested for violent crimes) be expelled from Wilson and then DCPS must decide if they are to be expelled from the DCPS system entirely, or if they can attend their IB school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Wilson administration should take some responsibility for the area around the school. It's not good enough for them to say "Not our problem" as soon as the kids leave school property. Wilson kids have been stealing from CVS and harassing people around the Metro for years.

I haven't heard he Wilson administration say "not our problem" -- I am saying that Wilson Admin can't supervise student's behavior that takes place out of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I basically avoid Tenleytown when the kids are coming in /going out and I'm a pretty hip mom who grew up in DC old Logan circle and old Dupont. We only live a few blocks from the metro but I dont want to deal with the hassle, get cussed at jostled or teased. I've stopped taking metro entirely and only certain bus routes. There are a lot of good kids at Wilson - I know plenty. There needs to be a school (with all its resources: Character ed, counselors, school discipline) and local policing partnership and it needs to start now. And if you live in the neighborhood and see a hassle, call the police. Do not let up. Pot in the alley, belligerence to poassersby : Report it. These few kids are messing it up for a lot of kids and for the neighborhood. I'm really, really tired of it. We have a vibrant community with teens, college students, retirees, office workers, families. These few kids dont know how to behave as part of a community and need to be shown the behavioral lines.

I'm sorry, but DC voters brought that one on themselves. Decriminalization rightly prevents unnecessary arrests, but legal possession/grow and penalties less enforced than jaywalking have created a general we-don't-give-a-f*&!edness about using. Yeah it's restricted for minors, but it's not enforced for anyone anywhere. Are you surprised that teens take their social cues from the grownups?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Did anyone hear anything about a large snowball fight at Wilson this afternoon? From what I understand, snowballs were being thrown at cars and even the police.

There was a fire alarm with immediate dismissal at 3pm. Students who got out of the building first started pegging people with snowballs on their way out of the building. This carried to the metro station and beyond.

My understanding is because of snow all the kids had to exit through the front of the school and it was totally chaotic. Usually for fire drills many students go out on the field but it was covered in snow. It just doesn't sound like it was well thought out to plan a fire drill yesterday.

I don't know if all these incidents are related to Wilson's budget cuts and fewer personnel, but they are very disturbing, even if they take place off campus. This is not our first year there. I don't have an answer but these incidents are becoming too frequent for comfort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Principal reviewed the records of OOB kids and sent back to home school those that don't meet the required attendance and gpa? I think this is at discretion of the Principal.

I doubt that the principal will. The mayor doesn't even want to enforce tickets for parking on snow emergency routes. Do you think that there's the political will to follow through and start kicking OOB kids out of Wilson who fall below standard? The mayor's "base" wouldn't like that at all, and DCPS (which reports to the mayor) knows that.

It took me some digging to find this, but if you look at the first post on this page:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/465166.page

It contains a letter from Christopher Rinkus at DCPS. He says this:

Second, there are currently over one hundred out-of-boundary students attending Wilson who are noncompliant with the DCPS out-of-boundary attendance policy. The policy mandates that an out-of-boundary student cannot have more than ten unexcused absences. Wilson has mailed out notification that out-of-boundary students may be excluded from enrolling at Wilson next year if they fail to maintain good attendance this year. In years past, these notifications have been sent, but not enforced. This year, the policy will be enforced.

So, they had an announced policy to do this, at least.

Moreover, just to remind everyone that Wilson had its budget cut while enrollment increased. I don't know if there is a relationship between that and the increase in violent incidents, but it would make sense that attempting to manage more students with fewer resources would result in additional problems.

also, the most recent events took place outside of the school, where students are not being supervised by school personnel and are not their responsibility

Not so. The schools pay for their ride, and in any event have responsibility for students on their way to and from school. Too often, Wilson's view is that their role stops at the school house door. That's why we've had periodic mayhem in and around the Tenley Metro station for years. More recently, the problematic conduct has taken a more violent and disturbing turn.