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

[Anonymous]

So Maret parents think it's okay for DC taxpayers to pay millions in fixing up the Ellington field and creating a field at Hardy instead of paying a smaller amount to maintain jelleff? Just so they can keep their access to Jellef? This is such a horrible suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Maret: third-tier private that can’t even find room for a field on their sprawling campus.

It’s no wonder the truly influential and connected choose the other dc private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turtle Park (DPR) has a nice field. UDC has a nice soccer field. Both are closer to Maret than Jelleff.

Maret already uses all of UDC facilities too. That's why the Murch (and now Eaton) kids couldn't play there when they were in swing space.

Wow, really?! They seem to be spending a lot of money on leasing public lands...don't they have enough dough to buy themselves a big ole plot of land for sports? Maybe they need to increase tuition some more.

They already charge 45k/year and are one of the most expensive private schools in the area. They must have some really gullible parents who aren’t asking tough enough questions about where their tuition dollars are going, given that no other area private is making such use of public facilities.

The Maret community views this as a prudent deal for the school and a fair one overall, in light of Maret’s financial commitment to DC/Jelleff and limited use preference. Lots of other teams and youth use Jelleff throughout the week, including weekends. The Maret agreement has minimal impact. Critics are making more of a principled point than a practical one.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.
Of course Maret parents view it this way. They are getting what they want for their kids and that is all that matters to them. The kids at the B&GCGW are simply not as important or deserving. You should go tell those kids that you consider the impact on their ability to get outside and play after school on the field right under their noses to be minimal. But neither you nor any Maret parent or Admin would have the nerve. Those kids are actually more deserving and you should know that.

Just as you accuse the Maret parents of raising straw men, the B&GCGW reference is a straw man. This whole issue started because Hardy wanted access to the fields. THe B&GCGW issue was just one that they seized on to make their cause more appealing. If Maret just gave up its right to use the facilities, the Hardy parents would be all over it, without a care given to the B&GCGW kids.
You know it's true.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.

I'm not sure how this addresses the point that the Hardy parents caterwauling about this are using the Boys and Girls Club as a convenient stalking horse, when their real interest has absolutely nothign to do with the boys and girls clubs. They want the field for their own school, and their own kids.

I'd like to believe that if the field were put back in the public portfolio DPR would find a way to allocate it between competing public interests. That is, after all, what they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turtle Park (DPR) has a nice field. UDC has a nice soccer field. Both are closer to Maret than Jelleff.

Maret already uses all of UDC facilities too. That's why the Murch (and now Eaton) kids couldn't play there when they were in swing space.

Wow, really?! They seem to be spending a lot of money on leasing public lands...don't they have enough dough to buy themselves a big ole plot of land for sports? Maybe they need to increase tuition some more.

They already charge 45k/year and are one of the most expensive private schools in the area. They must have some really gullible parents who aren’t asking tough enough questions about where their tuition dollars are going, given that no other area private is making such use of public facilities.

The Maret community views this as a prudent deal for the school and a fair one overall, in light of Maret’s financial commitment to DC/Jelleff and limited use preference. Lots of other teams and youth use Jelleff throughout the week, including weekends. The Maret agreement has minimal impact. Critics are making more of a principled point than a practical one.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.
Of course Maret parents view it this way. They are getting what they want for their kids and that is all that matters to them. The kids at the B&GCGW are simply not as important or deserving. You should go tell those kids that you consider the impact on their ability to get outside and play after school on the field right under their noses to be minimal. But neither you nor any Maret parent or Admin would have the nerve. Those kids are actually more deserving and you should know that.

Just as you accuse the Maret parents of raising straw men, the B&GCGW reference is a straw man. This whole issue started because Hardy wanted access to the fields. THe B&GCGW issue was just one that they seized on to make their cause more appealing. If Maret just gave up its right to use the facilities, the Hardy parents would be all over it, without a care given to the B&GCGW kids.
You know it's true.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.

I'm not sure how this addresses the point that the Hardy parents caterwauling about this are using the Boys and Girls Club as a convenient stalking horse, when their real interest has absolutely nothign to do with the boys and girls clubs. They want the field for their own school, and their own kids.

I'd like to believe that if the field were put back in the public portfolio DPR would find a way to allocate it between competing public interests. That is, after all, what they do.

Maret uses about 10% of the time on the field, according to Delano Hunter's testimony. There doesn't seem to be public controversy necessitating Council hearings for the other 90%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turtle Park (DPR) has a nice field. UDC has a nice soccer field. Both are closer to Maret than Jelleff.

Maret already uses all of UDC facilities too. That's why the Murch (and now Eaton) kids couldn't play there when they were in swing space.

Wow, really?! They seem to be spending a lot of money on leasing public lands...don't they have enough dough to buy themselves a big ole plot of land for sports? Maybe they need to increase tuition some more.

They already charge 45k/year and are one of the most expensive private schools in the area. They must have some really gullible parents who aren’t asking tough enough questions about where their tuition dollars are going, given that no other area private is making such use of public facilities.

The Maret community views this as a prudent deal for the school and a fair one overall, in light of Maret’s financial commitment to DC/Jelleff and limited use preference. Lots of other teams and youth use Jelleff throughout the week, including weekends. The Maret agreement has minimal impact. Critics are making more of a principled point than a practical one.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.
Of course Maret parents view it this way. They are getting what they want for their kids and that is all that matters to them. The kids at the B&GCGW are simply not as important or deserving. You should go tell those kids that you consider the impact on their ability to get outside and play after school on the field right under their noses to be minimal. But neither you nor any Maret parent or Admin would have the nerve. Those kids are actually more deserving and you should know that.

Just as you accuse the Maret parents of raising straw men, the B&GCGW reference is a straw man. This whole issue started because Hardy wanted access to the fields. THe B&GCGW issue was just one that they seized on to make their cause more appealing. If Maret just gave up its right to use the facilities, the Hardy parents would be all over it, without a care given to the B&GCGW kids.
You know it's true.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.

I'm not sure how this addresses the point that the Hardy parents caterwauling about this are using the Boys and Girls Club as a convenient stalking horse, when their real interest has absolutely nothign to do with the boys and girls clubs. They want the field for their own school, and their own kids.

No, it directly addresses the attempt by the PP to ascribe the venal motivations of Maret families and administrators to Hardy parents. We know Maret won’t share. Hardy parents have said they want to share. I doubt Maret even knew the B&GC kids were there. They don’t even care to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turtle Park (DPR) has a nice field. UDC has a nice soccer field. Both are closer to Maret than Jelleff.

Maret already uses all of UDC facilities too. That's why the Murch (and now Eaton) kids couldn't play there when they were in swing space.

Wow, really?! They seem to be spending a lot of money on leasing public lands...don't they have enough dough to buy themselves a big ole plot of land for sports? Maybe they need to increase tuition some more.

They already charge 45k/year and are one of the most expensive private schools in the area. They must have some really gullible parents who aren’t asking tough enough questions about where their tuition dollars are going, given that no other area private is making such use of public facilities.

The Maret community views this as a prudent deal for the school and a fair one overall, in light of Maret’s financial commitment to DC/Jelleff and limited use preference. Lots of other teams and youth use Jelleff throughout the week, including weekends. The Maret agreement has minimal impact. Critics are making more of a principled point than a practical one.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.
Of course Maret parents view it this way. They are getting what they want for their kids and that is all that matters to them. The kids at the B&GCGW are simply not as important or deserving. You should go tell those kids that you consider the impact on their ability to get outside and play after school on the field right under their noses to be minimal. But neither you nor any Maret parent or Admin would have the nerve. Those kids are actually more deserving and you should know that.

Just as you accuse the Maret parents of raising straw men, the B&GCGW reference is a straw man. This whole issue started because Hardy wanted access to the fields. THe B&GCGW issue was just one that they seized on to make their cause more appealing. If Maret just gave up its right to use the facilities, the Hardy parents would be all over it, without a care given to the B&GCGW kids.
You know it's true.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.

I'm not sure how this addresses the point that the Hardy parents caterwauling about this are using the Boys and Girls Club as a convenient stalking horse, when their real interest has absolutely nothign to do with the boys and girls clubs. They want the field for their own school, and their own kids.

I'd like to believe that if the field were put back in the public portfolio DPR would find a way to allocate it between competing public interests. That is, after all, what they do.

Maret uses about 10% of the time on the field, according to Delano Hunter's testimony. There doesn't seem to be public controversy necessitating Council hearings for the other 90%.

You’re quoting statistics that have an intent to mislead. The Maret field is empty during the late evening and night and most of the day because 1) people aren’t playing sports on a field at midnight and ii) kids are in school during most of the day. It’s far more accurate to say that Maret is taking up 90% of the desirable hours at Jelleff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turtle Park (DPR) has a nice field. UDC has a nice soccer field. Both are closer to Maret than Jelleff.

Maret already uses all of UDC facilities too. That's why the Murch (and now Eaton) kids couldn't play there when they were in swing space.

Wow, really?! They seem to be spending a lot of money on leasing public lands...don't they have enough dough to buy themselves a big ole plot of land for sports? Maybe they need to increase tuition some more.

They already charge 45k/year and are one of the most expensive private schools in the area. They must have some really gullible parents who aren’t asking tough enough questions about where their tuition dollars are going, given that no other area private is making such use of public facilities.

The Maret community views this as a prudent deal for the school and a fair one overall, in light of Maret’s financial commitment to DC/Jelleff and limited use preference. Lots of other teams and youth use Jelleff throughout the week, including weekends. The Maret agreement has minimal impact. Critics are making more of a principled point than a practical one.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.
Of course Maret parents view it this way. They are getting what they want for their kids and that is all that matters to them. The kids at the B&GCGW are simply not as important or deserving. You should go tell those kids that you consider the impact on their ability to get outside and play after school on the field right under their noses to be minimal. But neither you nor any Maret parent or Admin would have the nerve. Those kids are actually more deserving and you should know that.

Just as you accuse the Maret parents of raising straw men, the B&GCGW reference is a straw man. This whole issue started because Hardy wanted access to the fields. THe B&GCGW issue was just one that they seized on to make their cause more appealing. If Maret just gave up its right to use the facilities, the Hardy parents would be all over it, without a care given to the B&GCGW kids.
You know it's true.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.

+1. Maret parents have left the boys and girls club aftercare kids in the basement of Jelleff and have no qualms about doing it for another decade even though they have begged to share the field. But well...Maret can keep touting its social bonafides, but people know the school’s real character based upon its detrimental actions to less priviliged children.

Who are these wretched waifs left to waste away in the Jelleff basement for another decade, as they beg to come up onto the sunny field? Do they go to school during the day? I live near Jelleff, and I don't see any children walking over once the neighborhood schools let out.

You could actually go over and say hi. You could probably even get cleared to be a volunteer! Wouldn’t it be great to actually have a leg to stand on tather than spouting nonsense as you do now.

+1. Perhaps you wouldn’t be so quick to say children at the boys and girls club don’t exist if you got out of your bubble and interacted with your community every once in a while.

Only in Maret-land, would someone doubt the existence of underprivileged aftercare kids at the Boys and Girls club (whose existence has been documented by a variety of sources, including the Washington Post.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So Maret parents think it's okay for DC taxpayers to pay millions in fixing up the Ellington field and creating a field at Hardy instead of paying a smaller amount to maintain jelleff? Just so they can keep their access to Jellef? This is such a horrible suggestion.

Hardy parents think that Maret parents should pony up for capital improvements and maintenance at Jelleff so that Hardy kids can use it. Isn’t the better question to ask Mayor “Vision Zero” why she is wasting taxpayer money on her crony consultants (most of whom live in PG County, not even in DC), and having to use private money as gap filler to maintain our recreation facilities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turtle Park (DPR) has a nice field. UDC has a nice soccer field. Both are closer to Maret than Jelleff.

Maret already uses all of UDC facilities too. That's why the Murch (and now Eaton) kids couldn't play there when they were in swing space.

Wow, really?! They seem to be spending a lot of money on leasing public lands...don't they have enough dough to buy themselves a big ole plot of land for sports? Maybe they need to increase tuition some more.

They already charge 45k/year and are one of the most expensive private schools in the area. They must have some really gullible parents who aren’t asking tough enough questions about where their tuition dollars are going, given that no other area private is making such use of public facilities.

The Maret community views this as a prudent deal for the school and a fair one overall, in light of Maret’s financial commitment to DC/Jelleff and limited use preference. Lots of other teams and youth use Jelleff throughout the week, including weekends. The Maret agreement has minimal impact. Critics are making more of a principled point than a practical one.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.
Of course Maret parents view it this way. They are getting what they want for their kids and that is all that matters to them. The kids at the B&GCGW are simply not as important or deserving. You should go tell those kids that you consider the impact on their ability to get outside and play after school on the field right under their noses to be minimal. But neither you nor any Maret parent or Admin would have the nerve. Those kids are actually more deserving and you should know that.

Just as you accuse the Maret parents of raising straw men, the B&GCGW reference is a straw man. This whole issue started because Hardy wanted access to the fields. THe B&GCGW issue was just one that they seized on to make their cause more appealing. If Maret just gave up its right to use the facilities, the Hardy parents would be all over it, without a care given to the B&GCGW kids.
You know it's true.

No, we know that behavior is true of the Maret parents and Admin. Because that is exactly what they are actually doing. Nice try, though.

I'm not sure how this addresses the point that the Hardy parents caterwauling about this are using the Boys and Girls Club as a convenient stalking horse, when their real interest has absolutely nothign to do with the boys and girls clubs. They want the field for their own school, and their own kids.

The Hardy parents should demand that the WTU members give up their privileged parking perks so that the Hardy kids can have a proper playing field on school property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Maret parents think it's okay for DC taxpayers to pay millions in fixing up the Ellington field and creating a field at Hardy instead of paying a smaller amount to maintain jelleff? Just so they can keep their access to Jellef? This is such a horrible suggestion.

Hardy parents think that Maret parents should pony up for capital improvements and maintenance at Jelleff so that Hardy kids can use it. Isn’t the better question to ask Mayor “Vision Zero” why she is wasting taxpayer money on her crony consultants (most of whom live in PG County, not even in DC), and having to use private money as gap filler to maintain our recreation facilities?

No. Ten years ago Maret entered into a deal to pay for the construction of the field in exchange for ten years of use. Now the ten years are up, and Maret is saying they didn't really mean to sign a ten year deal, they really meant a 19 year deal, so they should get another nine years for their original investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Maret parents think it's okay for DC taxpayers to pay millions in fixing up the Ellington field and creating a field at Hardy instead of paying a smaller amount to maintain jelleff? Just so they can keep their access to Jellef? This is such a horrible suggestion.

Hardy parents think that Maret parents should pony up for capital improvements and maintenance at Jelleff so that Hardy kids can use it. Isn’t the better question to ask Mayor “Vision Zero” why she is wasting taxpayer money on her crony consultants (most of whom live in PG County, not even in DC), and having to use private money as gap filler to maintain our recreation facilities?

No. Ten years ago Maret entered into a deal to pay for the construction of the field in exchange for ten years of use. Now the ten years are up, and Maret is saying they didn't really mean to sign a ten year deal, they really meant a 19 year deal, so they should get another nine years for their original investment.

+1. The city does not need Maret’s paltry 95k/ year for exclusive afterschool access. The city paid 25 mn for Jelleff and committed 15 mn to renovate its rec center. If you don’t believe me, just ask Maret parent and soon to be felon and ex-councilmember Jack Evans who has recently described the city as flush with cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret: third-tier private that can’t even find room for a field on their sprawling campus.

It’s no wonder the truly influential and connected choose the other dc private schools.

This. Between the sex abuse scandals and the poaching of a public field, the only families interested in Maret are those whose kids can’t get into Sidwell, GDS or the Cathedral schools (all of whom have fields of their own.)

[Anonymous]

Dismayed that the Council is not going to oppose this deal. Will it be renewed again in 10 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret: third-tier private that can’t even find room for a field on their sprawling campus.

It’s no wonder the truly influential and connected choose the other dc private schools.

This. Between the sex abuse scandals and the poaching of a public field, the only families interested in Maret are those whose kids can’t get into Sidwell, GDS or the Cathedral schools (all of whom have fields of their own.)

I think you have it backwards. People apply to GDS because Maret is more of a long shot.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t DC (DDOT and Office of Planning) officially on record now as discouraging the provision of off street parking, particularly as a free benefit? So then DC should walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Convert and incorporate an ugly parking lot into a large field on site, so that Hardy kids no longer have to beg for play space.