Brent rebuild details to know before you accept that lottery spot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem whatever trade-offs the principal might see as acceptable is that her perspective is unique. It's simply her place if work.

A large chunk of families who would bear the costs of an absurd swing space are not the same families that will benefit from the future improvements.

And this is the biggest challenge that cuts both ways. Depending on what is being asked for (and no it isn’t gardens) could set the school up with a better situation for the next 60 years. But that is hard to take when you won’t see any of the benefits of the renovation and that is a large percentage of the current school body. Current K students would be back for their 4th grade year.

This is right but I don't think anyone we have talked to is against the modernization or the timeline its on. Everyone agrees some pain is to be expected, and maybe you get a year or two of a brand new school, but also kids in the future will benefit. Our family understands the sacrifice and broader community benefits, and we're ok with that. So far, I haven't met anyone who is just fully anti-modernization. That's not a rational position to have at all.

But that isn't really the issue -- the swing space selection is the issue. The extreme bussing is the issue (not bussing, but bussing an hour to Columbia Heights). The impossibility of parent drop-ins for volunteering or doctors appointments. The swing space is causing these things, and it doesn't seem like it's for any good reason at all.

We'd take trailers at RFK. Or Garfield Park, which was mentioned at one point.

The other problem is that Norah pretty confidently shared two schools that were being chosen between to be swing spaces over the last year. Neither were great, but they were a lot closer. Pain, but that's how it goes with a modernization. But neither of them was Meyer, which came out of nowhere and is the worst possible idea.

[Anonymous]

I'd trade Brent staying on the Hill for no Brent families sending their kids to Latin.

[Anonymous]

The same thing is happening at Burroughs in NE. At first, they were supposed to move to Meyer during construction. However, the parents complained about the commute and DCPS gave in and purchased trailers for the field beside the school. However, now the neighbors don’t want trailers on community green space. Another DCPS mess!!! I would also avoid Burroughs too. Renovation will take 2 years and then those trailers will serve as the new swing space for other Ward 5 schools. No thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

I should be surprised that DCPS doesn't have some distance policy on swing spaces. Should be surprised, but I'm not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS and the Brent principal surprised parents before spring break announcing that the swing space for the Brent modernization will be at Meyer in Columbia Heights and will now be two years instead of the expected 18 months. The plan now calls for kids to be on a bus an hour earlier than current drop off because of the significant bus time/traffic issues. It’s the furthest swing space DCPS has ever assigned.

They’re pretty dismissive of a much more preferable spot at RFK — or anywhere else that would keep drop off times normal, make it possible for parents to get to school during the day for appointments or events, and would keep the strong Brent community together.

We took a lottery spot last year and are now looking to drop out, but of course this was all rolled out when it was too late for the lottery this year.

This is more of a PSA — we feel burned and people should know before they make decisions.

If you took a lottery spot then you could just go to your in boundary school instead of busing across town.

[Anonymous]

Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

We don't really care of it's RFK, Garfield, Emory, or wherever. Just that it's not an hour bus ride from Brent.

It's not reasonable just to say "well, it's Meyer or else." Try harder DCPS. This isn't impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

There absolutely is an RFK site and it does not involve NPS. It needs trailers, which DCPS seems unwilling to pay for, and instead wants to move kids to Columbia Heights.

[Anonymous]

Where is this hour bus ride coming from? It would take an hour to walk the three miles.

[Anonymous]

Wait so why not Emery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait so why not Emery?

nobody knows. There's been a lot of undercommunication so far which seems like its feeding a lot of this thread, whether the issues are legitimate or not. It's been dealt with terribly by DCPS and Brent admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait so why not Emery?

nobody knows. There's been a lot of undercommunication so far which seems like its feeding a lot of this thread, whether the issues are legitimate or not. It's been dealt with terribly by DCPS and Brent admin.

Hmmm wonder if Langley gets Emery. It would certainly be convenient!

[Anonymous]

RFK is about to be demolished and have tons of waste and chemicals. I’m not sure why folks continue to propose that as a solution when it’s not a viable option, AND it would also require busing from Brent.

Brent is one of the only schools that hasn’t been modernized and it is a great school and a decrepit building. We can’t risk losing the funds for a brand new school because people don’t want their kids on a bus. People will get used to the commute. Kids will get used to the commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quick pop in here that people who think any neighborhood park or “RFK” are viable, alternate sites are barking up an imaginary tree. There is a 0% chance the National Park Service is going to suddenly turn over Garfield for a trailer village, even if the neighborhood wouldn’t go absolutely bonkers at that proposal. There is no “RFK site” to speak of and the school admin and leadership have been pretty clear in community presentations that the trade off is getting a modernization done at all vs. spending years negotiating a pretend alternate site that doesn’t currently exist. Meanwhile Brent is full of rats, bugs, leaks, and malfunctioning toilets, sinks, and HVAC. That’s the real trade off IMO.

There absolutely is an RFK site and it does not involve NPS. It needs trailers, which DCPS seems unwilling to pay for, and instead wants to move kids to Columbia Heights.

So....there's an empty lot that no one has offered to provide infrastructure for, when the Mayor doesn't even want to fund actual teachers? Great, this is definitely a real option the community should focus energy on at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RFK is about to be demolished and have tons of waste and chemicals. I’m not sure why folks continue to propose that as a solution when it’s not a viable option, AND it would also require busing from Brent.

Brent is one of the only schools that hasn’t been modernized and it is a great school and a decrepit building. We can’t risk losing the funds for a brand new school because people don’t want their kids on a bus. People will get used to the commute. Kids will get used to the commute.

RFK demo and cleanup will be done far before Brent would need a space on the lots (like, a year+ before)

Agree with modernization 100%. Brent needs to be rebuilt, and soon. But I don't agree that we should be just conceding to DCPS that there's no meaningful difference in the commute times and what it will do to kids, parents, and the community. It's 10 minutes on a bus between Brent and RFK at the worst. Meyer is going to be 3x as long every day, at least. That's not something we or DCPS should be forcing our kids to "get used to." It's unacceptable when DCPS hasn't done enough or doesn't have enough will to find a more viable alternative, RFK or not.