DME Meeting at SWS June 5th

[mmusselman]

Yes, let's please cut #3, and the other LT parents (myself included) some slack. Obviously, this issue is personal for us. But we came to this meeting, literally running to and from our kids' spring performance, to represent our school and our kids' best interests. I'm sure we could have been more eloquent and less emotional. But I don't think it is a prerequisite to be a polished public speaker to comment at an open forum like this. It's a shame that anonymous posters feel that it's appropriate to trash their neighbors.

Sincerely,
Meghan Musselman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my only objection to the LT folks was the person who characterized all SWS famlies as "commuters" in relation to the LT OOB students. Many of us have followed the school to 3 different locations. We were prepared to follow it to SE waterfront if Van Ness was in play. I'm sure there's some limit at which the predominantly Cap Hill based school community would have travelled, but the core of the current school community is on or near the Hill with some exceptions. FWIW - SWS won the DCPS "Golden Bike" award for the highest % of students who biked/scooted to school on Bike to School Day this year.

The ANC Lady lost all credit with me the second she claimed the increase in diversity the school would see with a proximity preference. It's such a load of crap this line of reasoning -- there wasn't a single AA family whose hand's popped up when the DME asked who was a neighbor not at the school. Not one. (Then she stroked Tommy when he walked in ...eww.) There are plenty of reasons one could argue for proximity preference, but an increase in diversity is not it people, so let it rest.

I agree the LT parents were put on the spot, and they were perhaps a little crazed as a result. I disagree with the pp's assessment that 75% of the people in the room were for proximity. I'd say it was split down the middle based on whether or not you're currently enrolled. I only heard two SWS parents state they were supportive of proximity preference (one an immediate neighbor) - everyone else said their main concern was to maintain it as an opt-in school and one of the parents made what I thought was a very good point: that even with proximity acting as an opt-in solution vs. a finite boundary, the school would, for all intents, eventually become an IB school with proximity pref., and as such, this would degrade the curriculum over time.

The argument that RE isn't specialized doesn't hold water for me, and perhaps if you were all actually parents at the school it would be more clear that this place is unique. It's very different to have an isolated "RE" program in preschool than it is to have an entire culture who uses the same language, a whole environment thoughtfully constructed to teach children to make certain connections in their lives and the fact that SWS is attempting to carry that from one grade to the next. It's a very different model from the traditional, direct instruction environment that most of us grew up in, and many people need to adjust to it (parents that is.) I thought one of the most poignant moments of the meeting was when the Principal spoke at the end about how some people might think they want in "Oh, it's a successful, warm, fuzzy program - Let me in!" But when push comes to shove, when you find yourself at that 5th parent meeting/event/field trip/art display of the month, when you friend's Kindergartener from another school is rattling off sight words that your kindergartener has no clue what they are, it dawns on you just how unique, this type of education takes a commitment people. It IS specialized.

The argument that it will be a commuter school without proximity is a total falsehood as well, as most of the parents who won spots this year are from the hill - if not the immediate neighborhood! That stated the only valid argument I have yet to hear is the one that the neighbors are in a special position to benefit the school. I agree with this, wholeheartedly. I'm just not convinced it's enough to override the benefits of the school remaining a true city-wide school, especially with the new lottery process.

To the neighbor at the end, saying "we won't ruin your school" -- I beg to differ. If you're using false logic, such as an increase in diversity, and if you want to argue that the curriculum is not unique, in my opinion you WILL hurt the program and I'd rather not have you around.

Care to explain the reasons you believe proximity preference would degrade the curriculum over time?

[Anonymous]

It's the school you go to because you don't want to go to your IB school. Not because you're invested in the model. You could care less about RE, but you know you'll move before you put up with that damn Cobbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the school you go to because you don't want to go to your IB school. Not because you're invested in the model. You could care less about RE, but you know you'll move before you put up with that damn Cobbs.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

A different thread says that Cobbs is leaving! I wonder if this will take some of the wind out of the proximity boosters' sails?

[Anonymous]

mmusselman wrote:Yes, let's please cut #3, and the other LT parents (myself included) some slack. Obviously, this issue is personal for us. But we came to this meeting, literally running to and from our kids' spring performance, to represent our school and our kids' best interests. I'm sure we could have been more eloquent and less emotional. But I don't think it is a prerequisite to be a polished public speaker to comment at an open forum like this. It's a shame that anonymous posters feel that it's appropriate to trash their neighbors.

Sincerely,
Meghan Musselman

The LT speakers trashed anyone who lives near SWS for being interested in attending the school and trashed SWS parents (who did not choose the Goding location) for existing and not attending LT, regardless of what their IB school is. I understand the extenuating circumstances, but I was not expecting that much venom.

[Anonymous]

Why is there no scope for compromise on the proximity vs. citywide lottery issue at SWS? How about proximity preference for a minority of PreS3 to K seats, after sibling preference, say 25%? Done. Nothing earth-shattering, or unreasonable. I'd probably get the preference, but wouldn't take the spots anyway. We've lotteried in elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

The people who are aiming for preference should read the fine print. You may think the advocacy is for a preference that includes your house but there are a lot of options on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is there no scope for compromise on the proximity vs. citywide lottery issue at SWS? How about proximity preference for a minority of PreS3 to K seats, after sibling preference, say 25%? Done. Nothing earth-shattering, or unreasonable. I'd probably get the preference, but wouldn't take the spots anyway. We've lotteried in elsewhere.

Really? Where are you going? I'm curious where neighborhood folks go now that Brent, Maury and Peabody aren't options anymore.

Proximity preference was a non-starter. Now that Cobbs is leaving, there's no excuses for parents not to go to LT.

[Anonymous]

LT is the only school where people insist that the community must attend. No one says that about the schools when people opt for private or charter or another DCPS. More than anything I find that unappealing.

Signed former LT parent who left for another school not because of Cobbs. Turns out there was another school that was a better fit for my kid. What's so wrong with that? Happening all over this city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LT is the only school where people insist that the community must attend. No one says that about the schools when people opt for private or charter or another DCPS. More than anything I find that unappealing.

Signed former LT parent who left for another school not because of Cobbs. Turns out there was another school that was a better fit for my kid. What's so wrong with that? Happening all over this city.

Community families can send their kids wherever they want to go. I don't recall anyone saying what you wrote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there no scope for compromise on the proximity vs. citywide lottery issue at SWS? How about proximity preference for a minority of PreS3 to K seats, after sibling preference, say 25%? Done. Nothing earth-shattering, or unreasonable. I'd probably get the preference, but wouldn't take the spots anyway. We've lotteried in elsewhere.

Really? Where are you going? I'm curious where neighborhood folks go now that Brent, Maury and Peabody aren't options anymore.

Proximity preference was a non-starter. Now that Cobbs is leaving, there's no excuses for parents not to go to LT.

What do you mean that Brent, Maury and Peabody aren't options anymore? Some of us have lotteried in OOB, just not for prek3. You need luck, granted, but a few OOB spots are still available at in-demand neighborhood schools for prek (just not for Brent this year) on up. You'd be surprised who they will call in the 11th hour right before Count Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is there no scope for compromise on the proximity vs. citywide lottery issue at SWS? How about proximity preference for a minority of PreS3 to K seats, after sibling preference, say 25%? Done. Nothing earth-shattering, or unreasonable. I'd probably get the preference, but wouldn't take the spots anyway. We've lotteried in elsewhere.

Why? Because it's so transparently self-serving; your buffoonery in suggesting it is honestly hilarious. Thank you - too funny!

[Anonymous]

As I said, we're not interested in SWS for our own children, although they are young and we live a couple blocks away. What I take from these SWS threads and tense community meetings is that both the pro and anti proximity preference camps are digging in, waiting for a new mayor to lobby, and there are compelling arguments both ways. OK, so the city could hire a professional mediator to help stakeholders iron out a compromise. This is done to solve a great variety of disputes the world over. George Washington Univ here in DC gives PhDs in conflict resolution/mediation - they've got people who spend their careers mediating conflict, including for school communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there no scope for compromise on the proximity vs. citywide lottery issue at SWS? How about proximity preference for a minority of PreS3 to K seats, after sibling preference, say 25%? Done. Nothing earth-shattering, or unreasonable. I'd probably get the preference, but wouldn't take the spots anyway. We've lotteried in elsewhere.

Really? Where are you going? I'm curious where neighborhood folks go now that Brent, Maury and Peabody aren't options anymore.

Proximity preference was a non-starter. Now that Cobbs is leaving, there's no excuses for parents not to go to LT.

What do you mean that Brent, Maury and Peabody aren't options anymore? Some of us have lotteried in OOB, just not for prek3. You need luck, granted, but a few OOB spots are still available at in-demand neighborhood schools for prek (just not for Brent this year) on up. You'd be surprised who they will call in the 11th hour right before Count Day.

I am pretty sure Maury did not take any OOB for preK this year. Above preK, might take a handful off the waitlist for 2d, 3d, and 4th.