Eastern High School on Capitol Hill underwent a $75 million dollar renovation? WTF?

[Anonymous]

I would like to state that I participated in the entire process for rebuilding and relaunching of Eastern High School. The "daycare" was not on our agenda, it was thrust upon us through a need that was vetted through DCPS. As a previous poster stated, each time we would discuss architectural plans the space was designated as miscellaneous. Even through numerous walk-throughs it was depicted as unused space with various purposes. It was not until the week of school opening that we saw signs designated the actual space as a daycare. Did we go bonkers? YES WE DID. Did DCPS try to calm our nerves with useless data? YES THEY DID. Eventually, it will be a win/win type situation for Eastern High School.

If this is true that the original poster is of the Wilson clan then by all accounts your child's school must be pretty much on the ball. NOT!!! As I have WTF issues with Wilson too but that's not a worry of mine. Should it be?

Let me leave you with this observation, many state they are of the Capitol Hill area but with this recent revelation (posting) I think many are residing on the Comatose Hill area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these expenses are stupid. The building may change, but the teachers stay the same. What's the point?

What school does your child(ren) attend?

I am a Central Office employee. There have been a number of schools with multi million dollar renovations. Some schools like Savoy and Walker Jones were built from the ground up. They are as beautiful as any private school. Has that changed the actual school? I'm afraid not. I continue to hear young children being berated by their teachers and teachers teaching as if we are still in the 50s. The test scores have not gone up. On the other hand I've been to really old facilities with strong principals and strong teachers. Those children are thriving because principals and teachers are important to school.
There is another problem with the renovations. Because OPEFM is slow and disorganized, they are putting all their resources into building new facilities. That means older schools in ALL quadrants receive NO help fixing broken windows and fighting rodent infestation which is PREVALENT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think these expenses are stupid. The building may change, but the teachers stay the same. What's the point?

To make a counter-point would be useless. For God's sake what do you ALL want, we have done everything possible for the relaunching of Eastern High School? I am truly exhausted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you certain that the "day care center" doesn't serve an educational purpose? For example, my aunt taught child development classes for years in a suburban HS. They had a "day care center" a/k/a a child development lab that was open to the community's children, and gave the students opportunities for education, training and observation.

Not to mention, it keeps the mother in school instead of being a high-school dropout with no diploma and a new baby on welfare. If that's not an educational purpose, I'm not sure I know what is.

Instead of resenting the money being spent to ensure safe, quality day-care for her child and keeping her in school, contemplate how much it will cost us all for her to never complete her education and raise her child to repeat the cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you certain that the "day care center" doesn't serve an educational purpose? For example, my aunt taught child development classes for years in a suburban HS. They had a "day care center" a/k/a a child development lab that was open to the community's children, and gave the students opportunities for education, training and observation.

Not to mention, it keeps the mother in school instead of being a high-school dropout with no diploma and a new baby on welfare. If that's not an educational purpose, I'm not sure I know what is.

Instead of resenting the money being spent to ensure safe, quality day-care for her child and keeping her in school, contemplate how much it will cost us all for her to never complete her education and raise her child to repeat the cycle.

Amen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these expenses are stupid. The building may change, but the teachers stay the same. What's the point?

What school does your child(ren) attend?

I am a Central Office employee. There have been a number of schools with multi million dollar renovations. Some schools like Savoy and Walker Jones were built from the ground up. They are as beautiful as any private school. Has that changed the actual school? I'm afraid not. I continue to hear young children being berated by their teachers and teachers teaching as if we are still in the 50s. The test scores have not gone up. On the other hand I've been to really old facilities with strong principals and strong teachers. Those children are thriving because principals and teachers are important to school.
There is another problem with the renovations. Because OPEFM is slow and disorganized, they are putting all their resources into building new facilities. That means older schools in ALL quadrants receive NO help fixing broken windows and fighting rodent infestation which is PREVALENT.

So you are a Central Office employee who's aware of the millions being poured into the schools, notably the high schools, yet you JUST found out that Eastern's modernization cost $75 million and you go on this ridiculous tirade?! Hmmm....! No wonder Rhee made a point of getting rid of dead weight down there. Unfortunately she wasn't as successful as she might have thought because you're still working there! Plus, your train of thought is all over the place. You go from rambling about the "Home of the Ramblers" to criticizing teaching methods in elementary schools then onward to pest infestation.

Take some metamucil, please! Geez!

[Anonymous]

Also, Walker Jones just re-opened this year, and unless you know something I don't, it's too early to know if their test scores went up, and, since they JUST moved, I'd cut them at least one year of slack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these expenses are stupid. The building may change, but the teachers stay the same. What's the point?

What school does your child(ren) attend?

I am a Central Office employee. There have been a number of schools with multi million dollar renovations. Some schools like Savoy and Walker Jones were built from the ground up. They are as beautiful as any private school. Has that changed the actual school? I'm afraid not. I continue to hear young children being berated by their teachers and teachers teaching as if we are still in the 50s. The test scores have not gone up. On the other hand I've been to really old facilities with strong principals and strong teachers. Those children are thriving because principals and teachers are important to school.
There is another problem with the renovations. Because OPEFM is slow and disorganized, they are putting all their resources into building new facilities. That means older schools in ALL quadrants receive NO help fixing broken windows and fighting rodent infestation which is PREVALENT.

I Agee that many of the teachers need to be placed in permanent retirement. But I think central office is top heavy and needs to be swept out as well. You are like the pot calling the kettle black. By the way, my child is not zoned for Eastern. I am zoned for one of those rat infested schools you mentioned. I don't send my child to the IB school, and given the opportunity, I would not have sent my child to A dilapidated Eastern.

[Anonymous]

It can't be that SERIOUS!!! I do believe the OP has put his/her foot into thy mouth. Just by admitting that he/she works for Central Office, gave me solace to feel very sorry for him/her. This person is worried about Eastern but what about McKinley and Phelps which proceeded Eastern in all of this "new" school and attitude appearance?

I am firm believer of the statement...the school that you don't want, just might not want you. If history is any indication on Eastern's future then we will do just fine, matter of fact we are destined for greatness.

Yes, I am a firm believer that Banneker is getting dissed in the whole new school building lottery but will I bash them for things beyond their control, NO! So your assertion that old-school buildings can produce outstanding students too, is validated.

Here's the four T(s) of Eastern Senior High School.

Three years of consistency with a principal
Transformation of the building and faculty
Transition of the school leadership and culture
The Pride of Capitol Hill is in your neighborhood, SO GET OVER IT!!!

As for rodents, I smell a rat of the two-legged kind.

Toodles

[Anonymous]

The Central Office employee never said s/he was the OP. Too many people jump to conclusions on this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Central Office employee never said s/he was the OP. Too many people jump to conclusions on this board.

I think it's safe to believe the OP was in fact the Central Office employee. Seems to be the only one ranting about these refurbished building expenses.

[Anonymous]

God forbid we spend anything on essential infrastructure in this country. You know, we're supposed to be a little more sophisticated in DC than the dumb-fucks in Middle America who begrudge spending a couple million to make sure some bridge on a major interstate doesn't collapse, or to renovate some school building which last saw any TLC sometime in the mid-60s. I guess not.

[Anonymous]

OP, get your ipod and find a version of "Don't Worry, be happy" and hum along and dance.

Has anyone seen the architectural drawings for the "new" Dunbar? It will be quite interesting to see what "frills" they will get, being that Mayor Gray is an alumnus of DHS. My recollection, they will not only get a new school building but an entire new recreational facility in addition to the athletic component.

[Anonymous]

I'm the Central Office employee and no, I am not the OP. I'm just being truthful about what I see and hear in the schools. Please don't shoot the messenger!

I think facilities like Eastern will benefit a very small population and there will be another generation of DCPS kids that will attend schools in rodent infested buildings. The reality is that there are finite resources and if money and limited manpower is directed towards a couple of buildings, then the vast majority suffer. Do you all realize that we have 167 schools? YES, 167 SCHOOLS. This goes beyond JKLMO, Wilson, Watkins, Peabody and Eastern.

Anyways, if I was a potential Eastern parent like y'all then I'd probably be arguing against myself......

[Anonymous]

How much did the Hardy renovation cost?