What are the odds that MacArthur will open in August '23?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also the new mendelson budget delayed funding by a year. (it is up on the budget website) Doubt this causes a veto. I'm guessing it will be for current 6th graders or even the incoming 5th graders.

The DCPS folks in the presentation were quite categorical that the initial renovations would not be affected by the Mendleson actions. This is going forward.

DCPS is known for being able to stick to schedule, especially when funding is in flux...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also the new mendelson budget delayed funding by a year. (it is up on the budget website) Doubt this causes a veto. I'm guessing it will be for current 6th graders or even the incoming 5th graders.

The DCPS folks in the presentation were quite categorical that the initial renovations would not be affected by the Mendleson actions. This is going forward.

DCPS is known for being able to stick to schedule, especially when funding is in flux...

I think you meant that as sarcasm, but in fact, the funding for this year's renovations is not in flux. All that Mendelson and the council may do is sabotage DCPS's plans for achieving full capacity and programming in the next couple of years.

[Anonymous]

I was befuddled about the digression Superintendent Martin made talking about dcps high schools with alternative programming. Did anyone make sense of that?

It seems the only way to take pressure off Jackson-Reed and to treat the IB students fairly is to have a solid, challenging college-prep curriculum ready to go.

It makes me nervous that Spr. Martin has a big role in this as the changes she made at Wilson made it less attractive for serious students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was befuddled about the digression Superintendent Martin made talking about dcps high schools with alternative programming. Did anyone make sense of that?

It seems the only way to take pressure off Jackson-Reed and to treat the IB students fairly is to have a solid, challenging college-prep curriculum ready to go.

It makes me nervous that Spr. Martin has a big role in this as the changes she made at Wilson made it less attractive for serious students.

+1. That was in response to a question about programming but ended up as a digression about the various options within DCPS. While that may all be well and good, the question was the scope of offerings for THIS class of Hardy 7th graders. While in the long run the school may be a good one, not having a clear plan from the outset is troubling. If the funding for the initial phase was never in question, why isn't a principal identified? Compounding matters is that if a large fraction (say 40%) is from the lottery, then they really don't know what would be needed in terms of course breadth. They did not reassure me at all when they said "everything is on the table" or "AP courses MAY be offered" etc. Slick powerpoint aside, they were unprepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting tonight -- can anyone give a readout?

Bit of a disaster. The DCPS folks had a nice presentation prepared but were totally unprepared for the actual plans. They talked at length about parking, traffic, initial refurbishment etc. but were completely silent about the things that matter most -- academic programming, sports, extracurriculars, grandfathering etc. They can't move forward with the curriculum (IB or AP) without a principal in place (or so they said) and the hiring cannot be done without input from a working group. There is a traffic study ongoing and there are some talks with WMATA about transportation but these were woefully inadequate.

Overall, it was a chaotic mess, just like the rest of DCPS. While eventually the school may grow into a viable alternative for Jackson/Reed, the first cohort (current Hardy 7th graders) and perhaps the next will suffer with poor offerings, lack of high-school level sports and facilities, ongoing construction and an overall messy high school experience.

I couldn’t watch- are you indicating that DCPS will provide no grandfathering? It’s go to new unformed school with no full curriculum and uncompetitive/no teams/extra curriculars or GTFO out DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was befuddled about the digression Superintendent Martin made talking about dcps high schools with alternative programming. Did anyone make sense of that?

It seems the only way to take pressure off Jackson-Reed and to treat the IB students fairly is to have a solid, challenging college-prep curriculum ready to go.

It makes me nervous that Spr. Martin has a big role in this as the changes she made at Wilson made it less attractive for serious students.

+1. That was in response to a question about programming but ended up as a digression about the various options within DCPS. While that may all be well and good, the question was the scope of offerings for THIS class of Hardy 7th graders. While in the long run the school may be a good one, not having a clear plan from the outset is troubling. If the funding for the initial phase was never in question, why isn't a principal identified? Compounding matters is that if a large fraction (say 40%) is from the lottery, then they really don't know what would be needed in terms of course breadth. They did not reassure me at all when they said "everything is on the table" or "AP courses MAY be offered" etc. Slick powerpoint aside, they were unprepared.

No one is hiring now for a position that starts so far out in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting tonight -- can anyone give a readout?

Bit of a disaster. The DCPS folks had a nice presentation prepared but were totally unprepared for the actual plans. They talked at length about parking, traffic, initial refurbishment etc. but were completely silent about the things that matter most -- academic programming, sports, extracurriculars, grandfathering etc. They can't move forward with the curriculum (IB or AP) without a principal in place (or so they said) and the hiring cannot be done without input from a working group. There is a traffic study ongoing and there are some talks with WMATA about transportation but these were woefully inadequate.

Overall, it was a chaotic mess, just like the rest of DCPS. While eventually the school may grow into a viable alternative for Jackson/Reed, the first cohort (current Hardy 7th graders) and perhaps the next will suffer with poor offerings, lack of high-school level sports and facilities, ongoing construction and an overall messy high school experience.

I couldn’t watch- are you indicating that DCPS will provide no grandfathering? It’s go to new unformed school with no full curriculum and uncompetitive/no teams/extra curriculars or GTFO out DCPS?

Grandfathering options are still not decided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was befuddled about the digression Superintendent Martin made talking about dcps high schools with alternative programming. Did anyone make sense of that?

It seems the only way to take pressure off Jackson-Reed and to treat the IB students fairly is to have a solid, challenging college-prep curriculum ready to go.

It makes me nervous that Spr. Martin has a big role in this as the changes she made at Wilson made it less attractive for serious students.

+1. That was in response to a question about programming but ended up as a digression about the various options within DCPS. While that may all be well and good, the question was the scope of offerings for THIS class of Hardy 7th graders. While in the long run the school may be a good one, not having a clear plan from the outset is troubling. If the funding for the initial phase was never in question, why isn't a principal identified? Compounding matters is that if a large fraction (say 40%) is from the lottery, then they really don't know what would be needed in terms of course breadth. They did not reassure me at all when they said "everything is on the table" or "AP courses MAY be offered" etc. Slick powerpoint aside, they were unprepared.

No one is hiring now for a position that starts so far out in advance.

The new school is slated to open in 15 months. DCPS mentioned that they would not move forward with deciding the curriculum without a leadership team in place, but indicated that families will be notified of a number of decisions by Fall. If there is no leader, who is making these decisions. Families of current 7th graders at Hardy need to plan by Fall (go private or move) by late Fall and this knowledge would certainly be handy. DCPS is rushing this without much of a plan and are really late with decisions.

[Anonymous]

This was the 3rd meeting Ive attended regarding this new HS. I have a current 6th grader at Hardy and a 5th Grader right behind them. The fact that we have no certainty as to what HS they will be able to attend is not comforting.
The fact that DCPS continues to hear the same questions over and over again on these meetings and not be able to answer them is not winning them any community support.
Also, it sounded like the councils possible delay of funding is actually just for part of the addition they want to do as a 1000 seated auditorium. So the council delay of funding actually doesn't actually prevent the school from opening on time it just further screws the first 2 class cohorts that have to attend a barely functioning high school while construction happens.

They also cited that there would be a transportation study done but didn't outline a plan for what would occur should this transportation study yield results that are less than favorable for the location (which i think we can all save the $$ and say DUH of course) since they also want 500 seats to come from "furthest from opportunity) which doesn't likely mean children from the palisades).

All in all not off to a great start and while this may be a good school option 5 years after it opens, I am not thrilled to be on the cusp and be potentially forced into this. Will be keeping my eyes on the grandfather clause and planning accordingly.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate that you all are so eager for your kids to join the 40 person AP classes at Wilson. Meanwhile I’m contemplating moving from Ward 3 to Ward 2 to get a smaller school with appropriately sized classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was befuddled about the digression Superintendent Martin made talking about dcps high schools with alternative programming. Did anyone make sense of that?

It seems the only way to take pressure off Jackson-Reed and to treat the IB students fairly is to have a solid, challenging college-prep curriculum ready to go.

It makes me nervous that Spr. Martin has a big role in this as the changes she made at Wilson made it less attractive for serious students.

+1. That was in response to a question about programming but ended up as a digression about the various options within DCPS. While that may all be well and good, the question was the scope of offerings for THIS class of Hardy 7th graders. While in the long run the school may be a good one, not having a clear plan from the outset is troubling. If the funding for the initial phase was never in question, why isn't a principal identified? Compounding matters is that if a large fraction (say 40%) is from the lottery, then they really don't know what would be needed in terms of course breadth. They did not reassure me at all when they said "everything is on the table" or "AP courses MAY be offered" etc. Slick powerpoint aside, they were unprepared.

No one is hiring now for a position that starts so far out in advance.

The principal's job should start around July 1. Right now is the perfect time to be hiring.

[Anonymous]

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting tonight -- can anyone give a readout?

Bit of a disaster. The DCPS folks had a nice presentation prepared but were totally unprepared for the actual plans. They talked at length about parking, traffic, initial refurbishment etc. but were completely silent about the things that matter most -- academic programming, sports, extracurriculars, grandfathering etc. They can't move forward with the curriculum (IB or AP) without a principal in place (or so they said) and the hiring cannot be done without input from a working group. There is a traffic study ongoing and there are some talks with WMATA about transportation but these were woefully inadequate.

Overall, it was a chaotic mess, just like the rest of DCPS. While eventually the school may grow into a viable alternative for Jackson/Reed, the first cohort (current Hardy 7th graders) and perhaps the next will suffer with poor offerings, lack of high-school level sports and facilities, ongoing construction and an overall messy high school experience.

I couldn’t watch- are you indicating that DCPS will provide no grandfathering? It’s go to new unformed school with no full curriculum and uncompetitive/no teams/extra curriculars or GTFO out DCPS?

Grandfathering options are still not decided.

They should have known the answer to that question when they announced the school was a go. Complete utter chaos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting tonight -- can anyone give a readout?

As others have said, the DCPS team seemed completely unprepared to address questions of most importance to families impacted by this decision. And they have no excuse not to have anticipated these questions since they are the SAME questions that continue to be asked over and over and over again. Grandfathering should have been decided and explained already, an announcement about what type of curriculum would be offered should already be decided, assurances regarding AP offerings should have been given, assurances about how sports and extra curriculars should have been given, answers about transportation should have been shared. Instead, they wanted to spend time telling everyone "not to worry, there will be a thoughtful process about what to name the school." WTF? Who gives a crap about that? Of course, DCPS devotes its energies on the most ridiculous topics. What about college prep and college counseling? What is their plan to ensure that the first four cohorts that enter this school don't have a crummy high school experience? The idea of having a child in a high school comprised of one grade or just two grades with no track record or visibility with universities is very far from appealing for us. We simply refuse to sacrifice our child's only shot at high school to this mess.

Considering how much is slated to be spent on the renovation, one parent asked whether there might be a pool as part of the planning. I kid you not...the DCPS person SCOFFED. The team running this seems very young and inexperienced without any real understanding of what families of truly concerned about. Where are the experienced professionals in all this? DCPS needs to bring in a seasoned pro who has successfully opened a new high school in a city.

[Anonymous]

At the meeting they also said that construction to the addition will be going on while students attend the school. So those first couple of cohorts are looking at attending school in a construction site. They deserve to enter a school that is complete and beautiful. And I also don't put it past DCPS to announce at the last minute that the first couple of years students assigned to this new, yet unnamed school will suddenly be told they are going to a swing space. The students are being put last in all of this. DCPS needs to slow this down and open the school when it is complete and ready to accept four grades with a full staff, class offerings, etc.