Watkins Parents: How pleased are you? How optimistic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Because the windows were literally falling apart and being held together with a lick and a promise. And some duct tape. The old windows offered little protection from the elements. If Watkins didn't take the allocation this year for the windows, they would have most likely lost it and wouldn't get it back later for the larger renovation. There is so much to fix in Watkins that you need to jump on the money whenever it comes in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

They've proceeded like this in virtually all schools. It's just a "price to pay" for proceeding in phases, which in turn is a "price to pay" for making sure all schools are getting their fair share of renovation $$$ at some point. Once the HVAC is in, they can take out the units and fit the new window panes in a matter of days. It's been done many a times around the District.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Because the windows were literally falling apart and being held together with a lick and a promise. And some duct tape. The old windows offered little protection from the elements. If Watkins didn't take the allocation this year for the windows, they would have most likely lost it and wouldn't get it back later for the larger renovation. There is so much to fix in Watkins that you need to jump on the money whenever it comes in.

+1. That type of "use it or lose it" "take what you can when you can" approach isn't specific to DCPS. It's how most federal and government funding works. And since our esteemed new Mayor seems not to give to shakes about Ward 6 and wants to want to spend money only in Ward 4 I think it speaks well for Watkins that the took and spent the money when it was available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Because the windows were literally falling apart and being held together with a lick and a promise. And some duct tape. The old windows offered little protection from the elements. If Watkins didn't take the allocation this year for the windows, they would have most likely lost it and wouldn't get it back later for the larger renovation. There is so much to fix in Watkins that you need to jump on the money whenever it comes in.

Kids were wearing coats in class on cold days because of those windows. Making the kids suffer another year doesn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

This is what the windows used to look like: