If Fenty Loses ...

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I don't think a Fenty loss would be the end of the world. Or even necessarily a set-back. There are a huge number of middle-class folks who are living in areas of DC now that were unimaginable a decade or two ago.

They have political power, they vote, and as someone posted upthread, they're less mobile than they were in the past (i.e. less able to pack up and move to the 'burbs). This loss of mobility may be negative equity, fear of a long commute, or just changing preferences, but they're not going anywhere, and that means the schools are going to improve.

[Anonymous]

So are you saying that the JKLM schools, are sharing some of the funds they raise (in the $250K-$500K range) with low income schools?

sigh. Ok, let me try again. No. The money raised by PTAs of wealthy schools isn't "spread around". But that money goes towards making the school less of a clusterfuck. Which means DCPS has to spend fewer resources de-clustering it.

Some folks here seem to think that the "spectacular educational opportunities of Mann" come at the expense of Whittier. That's exactly ass-backwards.

Close down every middle-class elementary school in the city, and banish the students and parents to the hinterlands, and it won't improve failing schools one whit.

I think the most provocative thing Rhee has said (and the most true) is that "We need to get middle-class families into the system." Probably so provocative because it's so true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some folks here seem to think that the "spectacular educational opportunities of Mann" come at the expense of Whittier. That's exactly ass-backwards.

You misunderstood me. I said that the $$$ spent by Mann parents to improve Mann has no effect on Whittier. It's a very different concept.

[Anonymous]

And you misunderstood me--I never claimed that PTA money would be distributed evenly to all schools, but rather that having wealthy schools strengthens the system overall.

Yes, money spent by Mann parents to improve Mann has an effect on Whittier. A small one. And money spent by the parents at 5 different middle-class elementary schools has a larger effect. The effect of 20 such schools is larger still.

And the effects are not linear.

[Anonymous]

The greater the percentage of DCPS schools are healthy, the easier it is to fix the ones that aren't. This seems obvious.

Is it easier to repair a car that has a broken transmission, a worn clutch, a broken transaxle, and a leaky radiator, or a car that just has a worn clutch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And you misunderstood me--I never claimed that PTA money would be distributed evenly to all schools, but rather that having wealthy schools strengthens the system overall.

Yes, money spent by Mann parents to improve Mann has an effect on Whittier. A small one. And money spent by the parents at 5 different middle-class elementary schools has a larger effect. The effect of 20 such schools is larger still.

And the effects are not linear.

I did misunderstand you, and I appreciate your clarifying.

[Anonymous]

I think the most provocative thing Rhee has said (and the most true) is that "We need to get middle-class families into the system." Probably so provocative because it's so true.

I agree with you, simply for the reason that the middle class has the time, education and motivation to keep a more watchful eye on system spending. During the decades when the Marion Barry patronage graft machine was running DCPS, the middle class (of all races) had fled the city, and the upper class either went private all the way, or else sent their kids to the select NW elementaries where the parents called the shots and filled the PTA coffers. So long as the graft machine tread carefully around the JLKMO schools, they were free to pillage the rest. An invested middle class---which cannot afford $26K/yr plus for private, does not (or cannot move), and is more sensitive to DC taxes than the upper class, is going to scrutinize the spending.

[Anonymous]

Ok, since everyone on this list has the time, education and motivation to watch spending, please go take a look at the school budgets.

Then come back and explain why there is variance on the per pupil funding to the tune of $3k. Why are there schools that can afford an assistant principal when they have 250 children in the building? How can Sousa afford 2 assistant principals?

Seriously, all the budget are on the web. If I were a Maury parent I would be furious at the disparity between my school and Brent. Why?

Mind you, this disparity is due to Michelle Rhee's shift to a "CSM model" instead of per pupil funding.

I think the graft machine is still treading careful about the schools that have parents that can push back. I still think the children at the lower income schools are stuck.

And I also think the broken car analogy is weak. How about you have a neighbor that has missed lunch and one that hasn't eaten in a week. Who would you feed first? It would be easier to just pick up a salad for the guy that skipped lunch, but I personally would feed the one who had gone a long period of time without eating.

To each his own, I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Then come back and explain why there is variance on the per pupil funding to the tune of $3k. Why are there schools that can afford an assistant principal when they have 250 children in the building? How can Sousa afford 2 assistant principals?

I'd like to take a look; give me a link...

And I also think the broken car analogy is weak. How about you have a neighbor that has missed lunch and one that hasn't eaten in a week. Who would you feed first?

Better yet, you have a neighbor who hasn't eaten all day, and you have a neighbor who's in a coma, and lying in a hospital bed.

You've only got one sandwich; which neighbor would you give it to?

[Anonymous]

Normally I would just paste the link, but why don't you use your superior analytical skills, go to the DCPS website and search for "school budgets 2010." Seriously, if the middle class are going to be the watch dogs of the DCPS budget, you're gonna have to master a google search.

I have to say, there are some truly heartless posters on this site. My child attends school with some of the children you would so quickly write off. They are lovely children and deserve no less than your child.

To answer the original question, while I doubt Fenty will lose, I hope he does. Rhee is a hypocrite and lacks the experience and skill to fix an urban schools system.

[Anonymous]

I have to say, there are some truly heartless posters on this site. My child attends school with some of the children you would so quickly write off. They are lovely children and deserve no less than your child.

In lieu of an argument, you've got insults and misericordium. Everyone here is trying to figure out how to make DCPS stronger; you'd rather nurse your resentments than strengthen the system and give the underserved kids a chance.

[Anonymous]

if the middle class are going to be the watch dogs of the DCPS budget, you're gonna have to master a google search.

And if you're going to be the savior of the underclass, you'll probably need to learn how to cut 'n' paste a hyperlink...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, since everyone on this list has the time, education and motivation to watch spending, please go take a look at the school budgets.

Then come back and explain why there is variance on the per pupil funding to the tune of $3k. Why are there schools that can afford an assistant principal when they have 250 children in the building? How can Sousa afford 2 assistant principals?
Seriously, all the budget are on the web. If I were a Maury parent I would be furious at the disparity between my school and Brent. Why?

Mind you, this disparity is due to Michelle Rhee's shift to a "CSM model" instead of per pupil funding.

I think the graft machine is still treading careful about the schools that have parents that can push back. I still think the children at the lower income schools are stuck.

And I also think the broken car analogy is weak. How about you have a neighbor that has missed lunch and one that hasn't eaten in a week. Who would you feed first? It would be easier to just pick up a salad for the guy that skipped lunch, but I personally would feed the one who had gone a long period of time without eating.

To each his own, I suppose.

I am no expert at this but my understanding is that the principal and LSRT are responsible for making these decisions, no? And schools are allowed to change their core staff. So if there is a difference between Brent and Maury you would have to ask the principals and LSRT(s) why they made those decisions, I think. Then if you look at the budget guidelines on the DCPS website you will see that some schools are "catalyst" schools and "full servive schools" and "autonomous" schools and on and on. Each type has different staffing requirements. It is too simplistic to just pull two different schools out of the air and try to compare budgets.

Then when you throw in the "projected" enrollment figures that schools have to turn in to determine exactly how much money they get, it complicates things even further. So if your principal tries to be ambitious (because they don't want to be closed down) and makes an uneducated guess about enrollment and the enrollment plan doesn't pan out - then your budget is screwed. Also aren't more dollars allocated if you have students that are special ed or Title I school? If you are trying to argue that there is some big discrepancy between schools and the amount of money they receive - I don't think it's that cut and dry. And you really have to ask the school community why they make particular budget decisions - again it comes down to parents watching the ball. I know the one meeting I make at my kids school is when they are discussing the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then we will be back at square one. Again, it is not who replaces Rhee, it is about the person who be able to handle the power to independently run a school system. If Fenty loses....will the replacement be able to tell his Superintendent/Chancellor that you have free reign? It would be quite demoralizing to say to the incoming you can do only some of the things that the previously leader has done. Remember what has made all of the previous superintendents successful? It was that they continued with some of the management and/or educational style of the previous leader. Case in point Rhee...made amazing ground because of what she adapted from Janey...and he did so...from those who proceeded him. It is when they try to change the recipe of sorts and all of sudden...there's smoke in the kitchen.

Rhee has done great by me...for the two schools that I deal with and one is in Ward 7 and the other is in Ward 6. I have not had any qualms with the Mayor when and if he or she leaves...and for the Superintendents/Chancellor they all have been quite approachable, acceptable, agreeable and enjoyable to be in their presence when it comes to educatonal issues. In a matter of days the new Eastern will open...and it was 3-years ago this week when she met with the small group of concern parents regarding Eastern...and what she told us then...has pretty much come to reality at this point.

If I had my druthers, I would love to see the replacement of Rhee, if Fenty loses to be a homegrown replacement at the helm of Superintendent...merely because of the fact that outsiders who gain power in this city are not respected. Yet, it takes one to give respect to get respect too.

I will predict if the other candidate wins...I can guarantee that Paul Lawrence Dunbar Senior High School will get all the amenities than one would want for his high-school alma-mater.

Great, because I can't imagine how that would be a bad thing. I'm not planning to send my children there, but I'd love to see great things happen for THAT school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think a Fenty loss would be the end of the world. Or even necessarily a set-back. There are a huge number of middle-class folks who are living in areas of DC now that were unimaginable a decade or two ago.

They have political power, they vote, and as someone posted upthread, they're less mobile than they were in the past (i.e. less able to pack up and move to the 'burbs). This loss of mobility may be negative equity, fear of a long commute, or just changing preferences, but they're not going anywhere, and that means the schools are going to improve.

Of course there are - but Fenty has nothing to do with that. If you care about that even a little bit, then you owe your thanks to Tony Williams.