Why re-district JKLM; why won't DCPS build additions and/or a new ES in Upper NW? Q from Cap Hill

[Anonymous]

+100. The option of seriously advanced math at a DCPS ES!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
And DCPS might very well be right, although it still remains unclear what space could be reconfured in the minds of those demanding that Brent accommodate in future years. The cutodial closet, cafeteria/all-purpose room, library?

Of course it also remains unclear how much Brent will be in demand down the track. The school population will almost certainly continue to rise steadily, but whether that will be at a rate of 10-15% a year (as for the past two years) or more, is anybody's guess.

DC Charter will surely continue to open and expand schools, mostly language immersion, attractive to some IB Brent families. And SWS always gets a few Brent families. Brent will need a 3rd K class in SY 2015-2016 if most of the 31 on the preschool waiting list turn up, I'm guessing that 2/3 will. But will that mean a 3rd K class every year from now on...?

Some of the demand for Brent is going to come from greater challenge in the upper grades than any other DCPS HIll school is providing. E.g. last night at the PTA meeting, Principal Young announced the fall introduction of 6th grade math for advanced 5th graders, and upper grades math classes meeting at the same time, so that a 3rd grader could take 4th, or even 5th grade math. Excellent!

The sky is not falling. Maybe Brent loses PS in a year or two (and in exchange is able to accommodate substantialy all of the IB cohort for PK), maybe some IB parents opt for charters, maybe some IB blocks get redistricted or given the option to attend VanNess. PK can accommodate about 60 students, while K, 1 and 2 can accommodate about 75 students each. Third gade may present a challenge in 2014-15 without some pressure relief, but there will be no trailers on the playground or roof and common areas such as the all-purpose room used for lunch and assemblies will not be sacrificed. Anyone who advocates for this simply does not understand the culture of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+100. The option of seriously advanced math at a DCPS ES!

Brent is also willing to supplement Investgations with more intensive math facts curriculum.

[Anonymous]

The sky is not falling. Maybe Brent loses PS in a year or two (and in exchange is able to accommodate substantialy all of the IB cohort for PK), maybe some IB parents opt for charters, maybe some IB blocks get redistricted or given the option to attend VanNess. PK can accommodate about 60 students, while K, 1 and 2 can accommodate about 75 students each. Third gade may present a challenge in 2014-15 without some pressure relief, but there will be no trailers on the playground or roof and common areas such as the all-purpose room used for lunch and assemblies will not be sacrificed. Anyone who advocates for this simply does not understand the culture of the school.

I wouldn't be so sure that there won't ever be a trailer or two at Brent. The school can't see a significant increase in the number of K kids YoY without something giving eventually. JKLM tried and failed. The culture of the school is great; DCPS and planning, not so much.

Van Ness doesn't exist yet and, even if it did, future tunnel work under the highway could make it hard to access for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Don't be so sure about trailers. Last I checked, Brent is in the midst of an historic district. In order to deploy trailers, DCPS will have to contend with opposition from parents, neighbors, ANC 6B, the Historic Preservation Office, Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Commission on Fine Arts, etc. DCPS also has to ensure its own compliance with recess and PE requirements under the Healthy Schools Act. Even if all of these obstacles could be surmounted, many parents would look to other options as there would be no room for the Xmas tree sale, Fall Festival, outdoor activities for students on PTA nights, International Night, and family events for a 400+ student body in the AP room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't be so sure about trailers. Last I checked, Brent is in the midst of an historic district. In order to deploy trailers, DCPS will have to contend with opposition from parents, neighbors, ANC 6B, the Historic Preservation Office, Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Commission on Fine Arts, etc. DCPS also has to ensure its own compliance with recess and PE requirements under the Healthy Schools Act. Even if all of these obstacles could be surmounted, many parents would look to other options as there would be no room for the Xmas tree sale, Fall Festival, outdoor activities for students on PTA nights, International Night, and family events for a 400+ student body in the AP room.

Right, but then parents and community groups initially fought trailers at Murch and Lafayette tooth and nail, and got nowhere. More than ten years after the first trailer arrived, each school has half a dozen, and one temporary building. Trailers are now seen as the lesser of the evils, preferable to kids being pushed to distant charters or under-performing neighboring schools. NW parents threatened to look to other options when the trailer discussion started, but few did (helping explain more than 700 kids at Lafayette).

Classroom trailers and boundary changes have something in common - if a municipality really wants them, they come.

[Anonymous]

Advanced math will really come in handy for what? Private MS? Suburban MS? Lottery for BASIS in 6th? Surely won't be needed at EH or Jefferson or Stuart Hobson. Can't be used OOB at Deal. Maybe Howard Math and Tech MS?

[Anonymous]

Maybe Jefferson doesn't have advanced math now, but why couldn't it in a couple years?

[Anonymous]

Classroom trailers and boundary changes have something in common - if a municipality really wants them, they come.

Murch dad. Ain't that the truth.

You Brent'ites should visit Van Ness to get your heads around our trailer situation. We pitched fits when trailers arrived, but no longer. Trailers are MUCH better than school boundary battles and being pushed to low performing, hard scrabble schools.

DCPS is actually pretty good about tucking trailers in corners, moving fences if necessary. You would be surprised where they can fit one or two. Parents think they can fight trailers, but they cannot because they are in no position to either re-district or build a school out!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advanced math will really come in handy for what? Private MS? Suburban MS? Lottery for BASIS in 6th? Surely won't be needed at EH or Jefferson or Stuart Hobson. Can't be used OOB at Deal. Maybe Howard Math and Tech MS?

I just want a happy ES with strong academics for now. Brent seems promising. We'll figure the next step out eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advanced math will really come in handy for what? Private MS? Suburban MS? Lottery for BASIS in 6th? Surely won't be needed at EH or Jefferson or Stuart Hobson. Can't be used OOB at Deal. Maybe Howard Math and Tech MS?

What kind of snarky comment is that? So without a strong MS feed, Brent shouldn't bother to teach advanced ES math?

Brent can't solve the MS feed, but it can solve the lack of math challenge for advanced learners that plagues every other public Hill ES.

Go, Principal Young! And go away jerk PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Classroom trailers and boundary changes have something in common - if a municipality really wants them, they come.

Murch dad. Ain't that the truth.

You Brent'ites should visit Van Ness to get your heads around our trailer situation. We pitched fits when trailers arrived, but no longer. Trailers are MUCH better than school boundary battles and being pushed to low performing, hard scrabble schools.

DCPS is actually pretty good about tucking trailers in corners, moving fences if necessary. You would be surprised where they can fit one or two. Parents think they can fight trailers, but they cannot because they are in no position to either re-district or build a school out!!




Generally I agree, my ES has trailers and they're not that bad, the kids think it's cool being in their own building. However -- adding trailers doesn't make the cafeteria bigger, or the gym, or the playground, or the library, or the office. The kids eat in three shifts at my school, with about 15 minutes for lunch. It takes all day to get recess in. They've cut out science for all grades, and had to cut library and computer way back. There aren't enough parking spaces for the teachers, or even enough mailboxes in the office. I could go on, but the summary is that crowding degrades every aspect of school life. Our poor principal has aged ten years since the trailers went in.