Watkins Parents: How pleased are you? How optimistic?

[Anonymous]

See this article about modernization funding. How will Watkins be affected? Do IB parents need to mobilize?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/proposed-rule-changes-would-govern-how-dc-schools-spend-funds/2015/04/29/dddd6e48-ee9a-11e4-8abc-d6aa3bad79dd_story.html

[Anonymous]

Why doesn't the DC Council start with oversight on making sure projects come in or clase to budget. Millions have been thrown away on high school modernizations. I also don't recall anyone from the Cluster raising questions about how funds were utilized for modernizing Stuart-Hobson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See this article about modernization funding. How will Watkins be affected? Do IB parents need to mobilize?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/proposed-rule-changes-would-govern-how-dc-schools-spend-funds/2015/04/29/dddd6e48-ee9a-11e4-8abc-d6aa3bad79dd_story.html

I'm no expert on these things, though my layperson's reading is that we should remain vigilant -- that "mobilization" is premature.

[Anonymous]

I haven't followed the details about the Watkins renovation, but this article has me concerned: http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/stuart-hobson-middle-school-addition-completed. While the improvements to Stuart Hobson look amazing, the massive cuts to Watkins are troubling.

Has the Watkins renovation been put on hold, or just drastically cut? What's the current budget and timeframe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I haven't followed the details about the Watkins renovation, but this article has me concerned: http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/stuart-hobson-middle-school-addition-completed. While the improvements to Stuart Hobson look amazing, the massive cuts to Watkins are troubling.

Has the Watkins renovation been put on hold, or just drastically cut? What's the current budget and timeframe?

I'd like to know as well. Where can we find out more? Who can we contact?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I haven't followed the details about the Watkins renovation, but this article has me concerned: http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/stuart-hobson-middle-school-addition-completed. While the improvements to Stuart Hobson look amazing, the massive cuts to Watkins are troubling.

Has the Watkins renovation been put on hold, or just drastically cut? What's the current budget and timeframe?

I'd like to know as well. Where can we find out more? Who can we contact?

Okay, I'm a Cluster parent who just searched my email inbox for old updates. Drawing from an early April 2015 update, it seems like almost $40 million has been allocated to Watkins for its renovatIon over perhaps four fiscal years. It seems money from this current FY was reallocated, resulting in a delay of the classroom renovations until next year, which will also "allow for more comprehensive master planning of the space," or some such justification--but it seems the renovation is still planned.

Whether things get cut along the way or further delayed, who knows. In any case, I just enrolled my child in Watkins for next year, so I will now be following these issues more closely!!

[Anonymous]

Any updates on Watkins modernization? Has the funding been cut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any updates on Watkins modernization? Has the funding been cut?

The modernization is still happening.

New windows will be delivered thus week and installed this summer. I think other HVAC improvements happen this summer, too.

About $30 million has then been budgeted for the next two years. Fuller renovation will be made over summers '16 and '17.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any updates on Watkins modernization? Has the funding been cut?

The modernization is still happening.

New windows will be delivered thus week and installed this summer. I think other HVAC improvements happen this summer, too.

About $30 million has then been budgeted for the next two years. Fuller renovation will be made over summers '16 and '17.

I didn't see Watkins listed in this "Final Education FY16 Budget Committee Report." Does that mean anything? http://www.scribd.com/doc/265431330/Final-Education-FY16-Budget-Committee-Report

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any updates on Watkins modernization? Has the funding been cut?

The modernization is still happening.

New windows will be delivered thus week and installed this summer. I think other HVAC improvements happen this summer, too.

About $30 million has then been budgeted for the next two years. Fuller renovation will be made over summers '16 and '17.

I didn't see Watkins listed in this "Final Education FY16 Budget Committee Report." Does that mean anything? http://www.scribd.com/doc/265431330/Final-Education-FY16-Budget-Committee-Report

That report's potentially concerning, but DGS did host a community meeting on May 19th (i.e., Tuesday of this week) at Watkins to discuss the renovation plans. A bunch of city officials were there, including somebody from the Mayor's office. The whole discussion was on the basis of the renovation moving forward.

If there have been any changes, Peabody/Watkins parents have not been informed yet.

[Anonymous]

And here's a copy of the renovation plan presented at the May 19th meeting:

http://dgs.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dgs/publication/attachments/Updated_Watkins%20ES%20Community%20Presentation-2015-05-19_0.pdf

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much, PP. I was unable to attend that meeting. Would you able to share a bit of what was discussed (or point me to where I could find meeting minutes if there are any)? Thank you very much for your help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you very much, PP. I was unable to attend that meeting. Would you able to share a bit of what was discussed (or point me to where I could find meeting minutes if there are any)? Thank you very much for your help.

I don't think there are minutes (yet), but the mtg was pretty uneventful. Presenters went over the attached plan and discussed the phased renovation timeline.

At one point controversy broke out over the proposed size of the gym, and whether regulations required a pool....

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how the phase 1 updates to Watkins went this summer?

[Anonymous]

I am disappointed that they left the room by room air conditioning units in there, despite the fresh new windows. Particularly since my understanding is that they will replace the HVAC next year.

And if so, that begs the question: why didn't they just wait to do the windows until AFTER the HVAC was replaced?