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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t Hardy step up to the plate and reconfigure the school property to provide for a playing field on site?! They may not have if by September, but if they start working it (including downtown) then they could have a nice field by 2021-22.

Once again, public schools aren't independent entities like private schools. "Hardy" can't step up and do anything, they are reliant on DCPS and the entire DC government. The same DC government that just decided it would rather give away a $20 million+ public asset than let Hardy use it.

+1. The more relevant question is why Maret can’t step up to the plate and get its own field with the 50k/year they charge in tuition, like other self-respecting private schools.

Because they don't need to. They already have a field to use.

A public field gifted to them at a below market rate to them by a soon to be indicted politician whose soon attended Maret is not a option most legitimate private schools would choose.

Not gifted. Maret is paying. And other private schools, such as GDS, would eagerly consider a similar transaction if they had the need.

It’s a great deal for DPR. Maret uses the park facilities for 10 weeks in the fall and spring during the week and the facilities are renovated and maintained at no cost to DPR. No one was using the park during that time. Hardy people are just rich people from Georgetown and Palisades. It’s so funny hearing them claim poverty. Also make exaggerated claims of the facility being “given” away.

You are not particularly educated on this issue, are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t Hardy step up to the plate and reconfigure the school property to provide for a playing field on site?! They may not have if by September, but if they start working it (including downtown) then they could have a nice field by 2021-22.

Once again, public schools aren't independent entities like private schools. "Hardy" can't step up and do anything, they are reliant on DCPS and the entire DC government. The same DC government that just decided it would rather give away a $20 million+ public asset than let Hardy use it.

+1. The more relevant question is why Maret can’t step up to the plate and get its own field with the 50k/year they charge in tuition, like other self-respecting private schools.

Because they don't need to. They already have a field to use.

A public field gifted to them at a below market rate to them by a soon to be indicted politician whose soon attended Maret is not a option most legitimate private schools would choose.

Not gifted. Maret is paying. And other private schools, such as GDS, would eagerly consider a similar transaction if they had the need.

It’s a great deal for DPR. Maret uses the park facilities for 10 weeks in the fall and spring during the week and the facilities are renovated and maintained at no cost to DPR. No one was using the park during that time. Hardy people are just rich people from Georgetown and Palisades. It’s so funny hearing them claim poverty. Also make exaggerated claims of the facility being “given” away.

You clearly do not understand Hardy’s unique urban culture and history as the leading middle school for students of color in DC. Maret’s exclusionary appropriation of the Jelleff field perpetuates privilege, discrimination and exclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article was disappointing. No mention of the role of DC government, it's almost as if the field just fell there and it was left to Hardy parents and Maret parents to figure out what to do with it.

Also total false equivalence between the wealth of the two schools. They want us to believe that 25% scholarship is the same as 40% economically disadvantaged? Right.

Ian Cameron (husband of Susan Rice and Maret board President) lists his career as journalist. Ben Bradlee’s grandkids went to Maret, and the son of journalist Martha Raddatz worked in their comms department for years (Martha was married to Ben Bradlee Jr.) so yeah, I think the Washington Post articles have been purposefully missing the point. Because no one who has a brain would equate the populations of the 9 public schools plus boys and girls club who asked for access to the public recreation center of Jelleff to that of Maret’s 40k/year student body.

Not one mention of bowser or DPR or Evans. What a crap article.

The article really misses the point-no mention that Maret is getting a facility that DC bought for $15 mn a decade ago for just $95k. And not to mention Jack Evans and all the lobbying he did as a Maret parent is inexcusable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article was disappointing. No mention of the role of DC government, it's almost as if the field just fell there and it was left to Hardy parents and Maret parents to figure out what to do with it.

Also total false equivalence between the wealth of the two schools. They want us to believe that 25% scholarship is the same as 40% economically disadvantaged? Right.

Ian Cameron (husband of Susan Rice and Maret board President) lists his career as journalist. Ben Bradlee’s grandkids went to Maret, and the son of journalist Martha Raddatz worked in their comms department for years (Martha was married to Ben Bradlee Jr.) so yeah, I think the Washington Post articles have been purposefully missing the point. Because no one who has a brain would equate the populations of the 9 public schools plus boys and girls club who asked for access to the public recreation center of Jelleff to that of Maret’s 40k/year student body.

Not one mention of bowser or DPR or Evans. What a crap article.

The article really misses the point-no mention that Maret is getting a facility that DC bought for $15 mn a decade ago for just $95k. And not to mention Jack Evans and all the lobbying he did as a Maret parent is inexcusable.

You most have gone to Hardy for math , as you have no concept that the District’s purchase price for the asset has nothing to do with the fair use fee charge to Maret for 2 hours per day for 5 days during the week for 4 months per year.

[Anonymous]

Someone should let the WaPo reporter know that Hardy could have two field choices. First, Hardy admin has made a choice to use the school property to provide a free parking lot for staff instead of building a bigger field on the north side of the school. Second, with a few phone calls why can’t Hardy use the Western High field currently taken by Duke Ellington? It’s just a short walk away. My advice to Hardy is stop whinging and trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the Maret community. Focus on the needs of the Hardy kids over the perks of the staff. And get off your a$$ and don’t roll over at the first ‘no’ from the DCPS bureaucrats downtown.

[Anonymous]

Or we could just list all the other private schools that get to use Jelleff courtesy of Maret. Oh wait, maybe that's why Maret doesn't roll over - it's the whole private school network ensuring the timeslot remains reserved for the $pecial ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone should let the WaPo reporter know that Hardy could have two field choices. First, Hardy admin has made a choice to use the school property to provide a free parking lot for staff instead of building a bigger field on the north side of the school. Second, with a few phone calls why can’t Hardy use the Western High field currently taken by Duke Ellington? It’s just a short walk away. My advice to Hardy is stop whinging and trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the Maret community. Focus on the needs of the Hardy kids over the perks of the staff. And get off your a$$ and don’t roll over at the first ‘no’ from the DCPS bureaucrats downtown.

Oh look, it’s the poster who spouts about magically converting a small amount of parking into a large field. You can post the same assertions here 400 times and it won’t make them any more realistic.

Besides, nothing about Hardy’s situation impacts the reality that Maret’s sweetheart deal was born in corruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone should let the WaPo reporter know that Hardy could have two field choices. First, Hardy admin has made a choice to use the school property to provide a free parking lot for staff instead of building a bigger field on the north side of the school. Second, with a few phone calls why can’t Hardy use the Western High field currently taken by Duke Ellington? It’s just a short walk away. My advice to Hardy is stop whinging and trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the Maret community. Focus on the needs of the Hardy kids over the perks of the staff. And get off your a$$ and don’t roll over at the first ‘no’ from the DCPS bureaucrats downtown.

Oh look, it’s the poster who spouts about magically converting a small amount of parking into a large field. You can post the same assertions here 400 times and it won’t make them any more realistic.

Besides, nothing about Hardy’s situation impacts the reality that Maret’s sweetheart deal was born in corruption.

Nothing about Hardy’s situation impacts the reality that it will always be a decidedly second-tier, also-ran to Deal. Academically, athletically, basically. But at least Hardy has its school uniforms. So there’s that.

How is this relevant? Is this all you have?

Let’s compare the needs of the kids in the B&GCGW with those of the affluent children at Maret. Thoughts?

We’re waiting....

No, I didn’t think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article was disappointing. No mention of the role of DC government, it's almost as if the field just fell there and it was left to Hardy parents and Maret parents to figure out what to do with it.

Also total false equivalence between the wealth of the two schools. They want us to believe that 25% scholarship is the same as 40% economically disadvantaged? Right.

Ian Cameron (husband of Susan Rice and Maret board President) lists his career as journalist. Ben Bradlee’s grandkids went to Maret, and the son of journalist Martha Raddatz worked in their comms department for years (Martha was married to Ben Bradlee Jr.) so yeah, I think the Washington Post articles have been purposefully missing the point. Because no one who has a brain would equate the populations of the 9 public schools plus boys and girls club who asked for access to the public recreation center of Jelleff to that of Maret’s 40k/year student body.

Not one mention of bowser or DPR or Evans. What a crap article.

The article really misses the point-no mention that Maret is getting a facility that DC bought for $15 mn a decade ago for just $95k. And not to mention Jack Evans and all the lobbying he did as a Maret parent is inexcusable.

You most have gone to Hardy for math , as you have no concept that the District’s purchase price for the asset has nothing to do with the fair use fee charge to Maret for 2 hours per day for 5 days during the week for 4 months per year.

You must have gone to Maret for math and not understand the concept that the most desirable hours carry a higher price. Do you expect Dc public school kids to play their games at noon on a weekday? At midnight? If Maret were so sure that the 95k/year that they’re paying to a city that is “flush with cash” is appropriate they wouldn’t have been so averse to a public consultation process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone should let the WaPo reporter know that Hardy could have two field choices. First, Hardy admin has made a choice to use the school property to provide a free parking lot for staff instead of building a bigger field on the north side of the school. Second, with a few phone calls why can’t Hardy use the Western High field currently taken by Duke Ellington? It’s just a short walk away. My advice to Hardy is stop whinging and trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the Maret community. Focus on the needs of the Hardy kids over the perks of the staff. And get off your a$$ and don’t roll over at the first ‘no’ from the DCPS bureaucrats downtown.

One could look at the pristine green space on Maret’s campus and ask why they didn’t convert that into a field. Is it because they don’t have the money to pay for a market rate field like every other private school in DC does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone should let the WaPo reporter know that Hardy could have two field choices. First, Hardy admin has made a choice to use the school property to provide a free parking lot for staff instead of building a bigger field on the north side of the school. Second, with a few phone calls why can’t Hardy use the Western High field currently taken by Duke Ellington? It’s just a short walk away. My advice to Hardy is stop whinging and trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the Maret community. Focus on the needs of the Hardy kids over the perks of the staff. And get off your a$$ and don’t roll over at the first ‘no’ from the DCPS bureaucrats downtown.

One could look at the pristine green space on Maret’s campus and ask why they didn’t convert that into a field. Is it because they don’t have the money to pay for a market rate field like every other private school in DC does?

+1 Some Maret PR person seems desperate to support the narrative that the only public school interested in using Jelleff is Hardy. The reality is that multiple public schools have expressed interest. DC is too short on public green space to gift Jelleff to Maret for a song.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or we could just list all the other private schools that get to use Jelleff courtesy of Maret. Oh wait, maybe that's why Maret doesn't roll over - it's the whole private school network ensuring the timeslot remains reserved for the $pecial ones.

As far as I know it's just the British School. Are there others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone should let the WaPo reporter know that Hardy could have two field choices. First, Hardy admin has made a choice to use the school property to provide a free parking lot for staff instead of building a bigger field on the north side of the school. Second, with a few phone calls why can’t Hardy use the Western High field currently taken by Duke Ellington? It’s just a short walk away. My advice to Hardy is stop whinging and trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the Maret community. Focus on the needs of the Hardy kids over the perks of the staff. And get off your a$$ and don’t roll over at the first ‘no’ from the DCPS bureaucrats downtown.

One could look at the pristine green space on Maret’s campus and ask why they didn’t convert that into a field. Is it because they don’t have the money to pay for a market rate field like every other private school in DC does?

+1 Some Maret PR person seems desperate to support the narrative that the only public school interested in using Jelleff is Hardy. The reality is that multiple public schools have expressed interest. DC is too short on public green space to gift Jelleff to Maret for a song.

I was at the Palisades Citizens Association meeting where they debated a resolution on the Jelleff field. Ian Cameron came, and trotted out Maret's entire list of talking points. Not a single person present was swayed. A resolution condemning the deal passed unanimously.

I'm sure the talking points sound good in the echo chamber of other Maret parents, but outside the bubble they're laughable.

[Anonymous]

Speaking of the echo chamber of Maret parents, the woman quoted in the latest Washington Post article wins the prize for pearl clutcher of the day.
You would think that an adult would be balanced enough to realize that the public school kids who have to travel across the city to get games are in far greater danger than she is at Jelleff where there hasn’t been the remotest hint of violence, even though people are very resentful of Maret.

www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/how-a-fight-over-a-city-athletic-field-turned-into-a-woke-off-of-washingtons-well-off/2019/12/06/fc2d14dc-07c9-11ea-818c-fcc65139e8c2_story.html%3foutputType=amp

Celina Gerbic, a Dupont Circle resident whose 16-year-old son plays soccer on Jelleff’s athletic field, has begun to worry that she could be physically assaulted on the premises. “You feel that way,” she told me, “because of the vehemence and vitriol.” The cause of all these bad feelings is the city’s recent extension of a controversial agreement giving exclusive prime-time field hours at Jelleff to the Maret School, the elite private school in Woodley Park that Gerbic’s son attends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the echo chamber of Maret parents, the woman quoted in the latest Washington Post article wins the prize for pearl clutcher of the day.
You would think that an adult would be balanced enough to realize that the public school kids who have to travel across the city to get games are in far greater danger than she is at Jelleff where there hasn’t been the remotest hint of violence, even though people are very resentful of Maret.

www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/how-a-fight-over-a-city-athletic-field-turned-into-a-woke-off-of-washingtons-well-off/2019/12/06/fc2d14dc-07c9-11ea-818c-fcc65139e8c2_story.html%3foutputType=amp

Celina Gerbic, a Dupont Circle resident whose 16-year-old son plays soccer on Jelleff’s athletic field, has begun to worry that she could be physically assaulted on the premises. “You feel that way,” she told me, “because of the vehemence and vitriol.” The cause of all these bad feelings is the city’s recent extension of a controversial agreement giving exclusive prime-time field hours at Jelleff to the Maret School, the elite private school in Woodley Park that Gerbic’s son attends.

Good grief.