The question I wanted to ask DME Smith this evening

[Anonymous]

Yes, let's just get it over with.Of course nobody wants change --especially any family at one of the good schools in DC. But something needs to be done about the overcrowding and illogical boundaries. I think they've made herculean efforts to listen to parents and do this thoughtfully. It would be a shame to have all this work be for nothing.

[Anonymous]

...the plans contain elements that would be necessary to grow the pie (i.e. new stand alone middle schools)

A little help please. Where do the plans discuss building new stand alone middle schools? I have reviewed the materials, but don't see anything like that.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

...the plans contain elements that would be necessary to grow the pie (i.e. new stand alone middle schools)

A little help please. Where do the plans discuss building new stand alone middle schools? I have reviewed the materials, but don't see anything like that.

Both Proposal B and Proposal C include four new middle schoolsl:

New North MS
New South MS
New City Center MS
New Application MS (probably in Ward 7)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's just get it over with.Of course nobody wants change --especially any family at one of the good schools in DC. But something needs to be done about the overcrowding and illogical boundaries. I think they've made herculean efforts to listen to parents and do this thoughtfully. It would be a shame to have all this work be for nothing.

Do you work for Abby or 21st Century?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

...the plans contain elements that would be necessary to grow the pie (i.e. new stand alone middle schools)

A little help please. Where do the plans discuss building new stand alone middle schools? I have reviewed the materials, but don't see anything like that.

Both Proposal B and Proposal C include four new middle schoolsl:

New North MS
New South MS
New City Center MS
New Application MS (probably in Ward 7)

So...let's do this part FIRST and see how we can grow the pie before we start busing people around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can something be an under the radar maneuver when they invite the public to multiple meetings and hundreds show up? I was actually annoyed this week by three robocalls asking me to attend.

There is nothing about this exercise that will please everyone. Instead of the open-ended question about what is to be accomplished, you're better off asking what do YOU want out of it and delivering that feedback.

There can always be something under the radar and inviting the public for "open discussion" is a good way to keep people from thinking it's happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's just get it over with.Of course nobody wants change --especially any family at one of the good schools in DC. But something needs to be done about the overcrowding and illogical boundaries. I think they've made herculean efforts to listen to parents and do this thoughtfully. It would be a shame to have all this work be for nothing.

But that doesn't mean that the plan has to be implemented. Their herculean efforts are ultimately meant to help the children, right? not just to justify the efforts of the planners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's just get it over with.Of course nobody wants change --especially any family at one of the good schools in DC. But something needs to be done about the overcrowding and illogical boundaries. I think they've made herculean efforts to listen to parents and do this thoughtfully. It would be a shame to have all this work be for nothing.

Do you work for Abby or 21st Century?

Let's get this straight. This process started last November. The DME engaged a couple of educational reform outfits to massage some data before convening several focus groups. This led to a hodge-podge of half-baked ideas being released on April 5, which include changing feeder patters for a few schools (e.g., Eaton, which alrwady feeds to Hardy), building new middle schools and/or WotP HS at locations which have yet to be determined, choice sets including unidentified charter schools, set asides for students at low-performing schools, etc. The DME is now in the midst of hosting a few more Focus group meetings. DC has a lame duck Mayor, a Chancellor who has distanced herself from this process, and a mayoral candidate who is on record as having said he will not implement any of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's just get it over with.Of course nobody wants change --especially any family at one of the good schools in DC. But something needs to be done about the overcrowding and illogical boundaries. I think they've made herculean efforts to listen to parents and do this thoughtfully. It would be a shame to have all this work be for nothing.

Does it occur to you that people pushing back on this process and the some of the current proposal elements are not at all afraid of change and actually welcome it? They simply have concerns that things will get worse rather than better. Not all change is good change. This rosy optimism is cute but not based in reality or understanding of what idea logical solutions based on pipe dreams rather than prior success could set us way back as a school system and a city

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

...the plans contain elements that would be necessary to grow the pie (i.e. new stand alone middle schools)

A little help please. Where do the plans discuss building new stand alone middle schools? I have reviewed the materials, but don't see anything like that.

Both Proposal B and Proposal C include four new middle schoolsl:

New North MS
New South MS
New City Center MS
New Application MS (probably in Ward 7)

So...let's do this part FIRST and see how we can grow the pie before we start busing people around.

So you are in favor of committing up to $1B to acquire property and build new schools without a comprehensive assessment of population trends and needs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

...the plans contain elements that would be necessary to grow the pie (i.e. new stand alone middle schools)

A little help please. Where do the plans discuss building new stand alone middle schools? I have reviewed the materials, but don't see anything like that.

Both Proposal B and Proposal C include four new middle schoolsl:

New North MS
New South MS
New City Center MS
New Application MS (probably in Ward 7)

So...let's do this part FIRST and see how we can grow the pie before we start busing people around.

It needs to be a part of this discussion so that the new mayor and council have a roadmap to follow. That's a lot of money to be spent, no matter how it is done.

Our short term goal should be to get the "grow the pie" options elevated into the final proposal. Stopping the process "dead in its tracks" is not productive, imho.

[Anonymous]

We haven't change the boundaries in 40 years but the race within the boundaries have changed and now the urgency. Hmmmm????

[Anonymous]

You clearly have it all figured out. It's part of the Plan.