Getting the GDS mojo back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If 2015-16 was sort of GDS's version of "annus horribilis" the coming academic year promises to be much better. The school has dealt with last year's distractions. And hopefully DC sees the light and green-lights the campus consolidation and the exciting plans for Wisconsin Ave!

What happened that merited "annus Horribilis"?

[Anonymous]

If 2015-16 was sort of GDS's version of "annus horribilis" the coming academic year promises to be much better. The school has dealt with last year's distractions. And hopefully DC sees the light and green-lights the campus consolidation and the exciting plans for Wisconsin Ave!

I hope so. But for this to be true, GDS must have done a lot of hard work over the summer. Not only working with the District and neighbors but also with parents. There is nothing magic about time off unless you take advantage of it. There is a huge opportunity for leadership to reboot. I believe they have one shot. Now. But if the same issues emerge, there will probably be a need for change. I don't necessarily blame the Admin entirely. There also needs to be some gut checking with parents and students about what is really productive input and what is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If 2015-16 was sort of GDS's version of "annus horribilis" the coming academic year promises to be much better. The school has dealt with last year's distractions. And hopefully DC sees the light and green-lights the campus consolidation and the exciting plans for Wisconsin Ave!

I hope so. But for this to be true, GDS must have done a lot of hard work over the summer. Not only working with the District and neighbors but also with parents. There is nothing magic about time off unless you take advantage of it. There is a huge opportunity for leadership to reboot. I believe they have one shot. Now. But if the same issues emerge, there will probably be a need for change. I don't necessarily blame the Admin entirely. There also needs to be some gut checking with parents and students about what is really productive input and what is not.

That hasn't happened. The hope appears to be that most of the people who were profoundly disillusioned by the administration's behavior last year have left and that those who remain can be driven out or bullied into silence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That hasn't happened. The hope appears to be that most of the people who were profoundly disillusioned by the administration's behavior last year have left and that those who remain can be driven out or bullied into silence.

How could yo POSSIBLY know that, without school being back in session for another 2 weeks. Just another person spreading the hate online because you have no life otherwise.

[Anonymous]

It's a small community and people talk -- even over the summer. About communications with administrators, about what has (or hasn't) happened on campus committees. Funny how someone who says it's all over/nothing to see here/we've turned the corner doesn't get asked how she could possibly know that. Critics aren't inherently haters or people who have no lives. They're often people who are involved, care, and have more information than most parents.

[Anonymous]

Once again the trolls on this thread really make for an impossible discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 2015-16 was sort of GDS's version of "annus horribilis" the coming academic year promises to be much better. The school has dealt with last year's distractions. And hopefully DC sees the light and green-lights the campus consolidation and the exciting plans for Wisconsin Ave!

I hope so. But for this to be true, GDS must have done a lot of hard work over the summer. Not only working with the District and neighbors but also with parents. There is nothing magic about time off unless you take advantage of it. There is a huge opportunity for leadership to reboot. I believe they have one shot. Now. But if the same issues emerge, there will probably be a need for change. I don't necessarily blame the Admin entirely. There also needs to be some gut checking with parents and students about what is really productive input and what is not.

That hasn't happened. The hope appears to be that most of the people who were profoundly disillusioned by the administration's behavior last year have left and that those who remain can be driven out or bullied into silence.

This year will be better. The senior class is amazing, so even Ivy admits should soar.

[Anonymous]

the mojo is definitely back. GDS rocks!

[Anonymous]

"Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it people like me." Daily affirmations by Stuart Smalley.

[Anonymous]

The GDS Wisconsin Ave Plan will definitely move forward this year. I bet that the board and administration spent a lot of time building relationships with Mayor Bowser and her people over the summer, reminding them of GDS's unique history in DC and educating them on how the PUD is a WIN-WIN for the school and the city.

[Anonymous]

How much money has the school raised for the project thus far and who is their development partner?

[Anonymous]

" I bet that the board and administration spent a lot of time building relationships with Mayor Bowser and her people over the summer, reminding them of GDS's unique history in DC."

GDS' history is absolutely irrelevant to the development issue. I'm not rooting against GDS by any means but statements like this don't improve perception of the school. This is a decision that GDS will eventually win on the merits of the project, not its social history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:" I bet that the board and administration spent a lot of time building relationships with Mayor Bowser and her people over the summer, reminding them of GDS's unique history in DC."

GDS' history is absolutely irrelevant to the development issue. I'm not rooting against GDS by any means but statements like this don't improve perception of the school. This is a decision that GDS will eventually win on the merits of the project, not its social history.

I am not a GDS parent but you, PP, are incredibly naive and worse if you actually belive this. History and reputation play a huge part in all politics and that is what this project's pass or fail will be about, politics.

[Anonymous]

Hard to get close to Bowser when you alienate URMs.....

[Anonymous]

The neighbors vote too. As nice as GDS tradition may be, it does not help the neighborhood -- which worries about more practical issues such as traffic, public school crowding etc.

And although I think GDS is a fine school, the people using this language about history are either trolling or tone deaf. You won't get what you want by saying GDS should get special treatment under the zoning rules.