DCPS students shafted again - sign petition to keep Jelleff field public

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those in the neighborhood, the Palisades Citizens' Association will be discussing Jelleff at their monthly Town Hall today (Wednesday) at the Palisades Rec Center from 7pm to 8:30pm. Councilmember Robert White will also be in attendance.

Resolution opposing the extension passed easily.

Not surprising because it’s a rotten deal for DC that only benefits Maret, but does the resolution have any effect to reverse the Maret deal?

I agree. Tear up the deal and pay Maret back its money.

Market didn't give any money. They also haven't produced any receipts so we don't know how much they actually spent and how they accounted it.

Maret paid DC a substantial amount for use of the field. It would be a shame in Bowser and her friends had pocketed it for themselves.

For first 10 years, Maret paid for turf and fencing and pool renovations. Bowser was not in office in the early years of the deal, but Jack Evans was.

But we don't know how much they actually spent and whether those repairs were done as (inflated) charitable contributions. I find it very interesting that they've not provided any details on that.

I agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a protest or something that would draw larger media attention?

This all came to light in August, nearly two and a half months ago. In that time, there have been articles, press coverage, and hearings, and the result has been zero consensus on the Council to unwind the deal, and public statements from the Mayor saying that it will remain in place.

It's over. Let it go. Your recourse now is at the ballot box.

...says the Maret defender.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a dog in this hunt. My kids don't attend Hardy, or Maret, or any DCPS school. I don't even live in the city. But anyone who thinks this is going to change at this point is naive, bordering on delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a protest or something that would draw larger media attention?

This all came to light in August, nearly two and a half months ago. In that time, there have been articles, press coverage, and hearings, and the result has been zero consensus on the Council to unwind the deal, and public statements from the Mayor saying that it will remain in place.

It's over. Let it go. Your recourse now is at the ballot box.

...says the Maret defender.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a dog in this hunt. My kids don't attend Hardy, or Maret, or any DCPS school. I don't even live in the city. But anyone who thinks this is going to change at this point is naive, bordering on delusional.

You don't sound like the most qualified person to be opining on this topic. Why are you even paying attention to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a protest or something that would draw larger media attention?

This all came to light in August, nearly two and a half months ago. In that time, there have been articles, press coverage, and hearings, and the result has been zero consensus on the Council to unwind the deal, and public statements from the Mayor saying that it will remain in place.

It's over. Let it go. Your recourse now is at the ballot box.

...says the Maret defender.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a dog in this hunt. My kids don't attend Hardy, or Maret, or any DCPS school. I don't even live in the city. But anyone who thinks this is going to change at this point is naive, bordering on delusional.

You don't sound like the most qualified person to be opining on this topic. Why are you even paying attention to it?

One thing is certain. Any student and family at Hardy contemplating a switch to Maret at some point needs to contemplate somewhere else. The Hardy association with be toxic for the Maret staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a protest or something that would draw larger media attention?

This all came to light in August, nearly two and a half months ago. In that time, there have been articles, press coverage, and hearings, and the result has been zero consensus on the Council to unwind the deal, and public statements from the Mayor saying that it will remain in place.

It's over. Let it go. Your recourse now is at the ballot box.

...says the Maret defender.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a dog in this hunt. My kids don't attend Hardy, or Maret, or any DCPS school. I don't even live in the city. But anyone who thinks this is going to change at this point is naive, bordering on delusional.

You don't sound like the most qualified person to be opining on this topic. Why are you even paying attention to it?

One thing is certain. Any student and family at Hardy contemplating a switch to Maret at some point needs to contemplate somewhere else. The Hardy association with be toxic for the Maret staff.

Most Hardy families could never afford $45k/year Maret. And the ones who could will definitely want to avoid Maret after learning about the social values the school has represented with this jelleff backroom deal supported by a corrupt Maret parent politician.

[Anonymous]

Maret may win the battle to gain exclusive afterschool access to its cheapie public field at the cost of less than 100k/year (ie two Maret student tuitions). But it’s losing the war of public opinion. Private school parents pay a premium to send their kids to schools that people admire. Between the sex abuse and this Jelleff mess, I predict far fewer people will apply to send their kids to Maret.

[Anonymous]

I don't blame Market for the original corruption. That's how things have been done by and with Jack Evans. I do however take exception to how they've handled themselves regarding the extension. They've had the opportunity to do what's right and have atively chosen not to.

We can afford to send our kids there and were looking but now aren't. They're neither moral enough nor rich enough to justify their reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a protest or something that would draw larger media attention?

This all came to light in August, nearly two and a half months ago. In that time, there have been articles, press coverage, and hearings, and the result has been zero consensus on the Council to unwind the deal, and public statements from the Mayor saying that it will remain in place.

It's over. Let it go. Your recourse now is at the ballot box.

...says the Maret defender.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a dog in this hunt. My kids don't attend Hardy, or Maret, or any DCPS school. I don't even live in the city. But anyone who thinks this is going to change at this point is naive, bordering on delusional.

You don't sound like the most qualified person to be opining on this topic. Why are you even paying attention to it?

One thing is certain. Any student and family at Hardy contemplating a switch to Maret at some point needs to contemplate somewhere else. The Hardy association with be toxic for the Maret staff.

Most Hardy families could never afford $45k/year Maret. And the ones who could will definitely want to avoid Maret after learning about the social values the school has represented with this jelleff backroom deal supported by a corrupt Maret parent politician.

It’s also probably the case that any family, particularly from upper NW, that is thinking of going private for secondary school would probably do it before Hardy. They may make a different calculation if it were Deal for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret may win the battle to gain exclusive afterschool access to its cheapie public field at the cost of less than 100k/year (ie two Maret student tuitions). But it’s losing the war of public opinion. Private school parents pay a premium to send their kids to schools that people admire. Between the sex abuse and this Jelleff mess, I predict far fewer people will apply to send their kids to Maret.

Most independent schools in the District are zealous, even aggressive, when it comes to advocating for their interests, especially for facilities. Any DC resident that has ever engaged in a contested case with a school before the Board of Zoning Appeals or the HPRB can attest to this. The Cathedral schools, WIS, JPDS, GDS, Sidwell, St Patrick’s, etc. all hire aggressive lawyers and negotiate tough deals, overriding community impacts in many cases. It doesn’t seem to hurt their application numbers or donor relationships though. Maret is no different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s also probably the case that any family, particularly from upper NW, that is thinking of going private for secondary school would probably do it before Hardy. They may make a different calculation if it were Deal for middle school.

Hardy has come a long way in recent years and there’s a good argument that, given its much smaller size, it’s preferable to Deal. Having access to a proper field would’ve helped it continue that progression. It sucks that Evans and Bowser want to do what they can to undermine one of the city’s most-improved MSs.

[Anonymous]

The Burleith Citizens Association annual meeting is tonight at Washington International School (lower campus, 36th Street between S and Reservoir).

Jack Evans will be there to give his Ward 2 report from 7:35-7:45pm. Come prepared to ask questions about Jelleff and his recent corruption findings.

Tommy Jones from DPR will be giving an update on the transfer of Ellington Field from 8:05-8:15pm.

Anyone can attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Burleith Citizens Association annual meeting is tonight at Washington International School (lower campus, 36th Street between S and Reservoir).

Jack Evans will be there to give his Ward 2 report from 7:35-7:45pm. Come prepared to ask questions about Jelleff and his recent corruption findings.

Tommy Jones from DPR will be giving an update on the transfer of Ellington Field from 8:05-8:15pm.

Anyone can attend.

I hope someone goes on behalf of the 100 kids without any outdoor space to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a protest or something that would draw larger media attention?

This all came to light in August, nearly two and a half months ago. In that time, there have been articles, press coverage, and hearings, and the result has been zero consensus on the Council to unwind the deal, and public statements from the Mayor saying that it will remain in place.

It's over. Let it go. Your recourse now is at the ballot box.

...says the Maret defender.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a dog in this hunt. My kids don't attend Hardy, or Maret, or any DCPS school. I don't even live in the city. But anyone who thinks this is going to change at this point is naive, bordering on delusional.

You don't sound like the most qualified person to be opining on this topic. Why are you even paying attention to it?

Really?

I pay attention because it's fascinating. And having followed it in the media from the beginning, I'm just as qualified as most other people posting here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Burleith Citizens Association annual meeting is tonight at Washington International School (lower campus, 36th Street between S and Reservoir).

Jack Evans will be there to give his Ward 2 report from 7:35-7:45pm. Come prepared to ask questions about Jelleff and his recent corruption findings.

Tommy Jones from DPR will be giving an update on the transfer of Ellington Field from 8:05-8:15pm.

Anyone can attend.

I hope someone goes on behalf of the 100 kids without any outdoor space to play.

Can't make it tonight, but would love to be there to ask about as many thorny question as time would allow. Someone please record it and post a link here. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret may win the battle to gain exclusive afterschool access to its cheapie public field at the cost of less than 100k/year (ie two Maret student tuitions). But it’s losing the war of public opinion. Private school parents pay a premium to send their kids to schools that people admire. Between the sex abuse and this Jelleff mess, I predict far fewer people will apply to send their kids to Maret.

Most independent schools in the District are zealous, even aggressive, when it comes to advocating for their interests, especially for facilities. Any DC resident that has ever engaged in a contested case with a school before the Board of Zoning Appeals or the HPRB can attest to this. The Cathedral schools, WIS, JPDS, GDS, Sidwell, St Patrick’s, etc. all hire aggressive lawyers and negotiate tough deals, overriding community impacts in many cases. It doesn’t seem to hurt their application numbers or donor relationships though. Maret is no different.

They should have hired a brand manager to help them figure out when to hold em and when to fold em. No doubt others are just as smarmy but the point of a back room deal is to keep it in the back room!