Does Boundaries/Feeders Decisionmaking Pit Ward 6 against Ward 7?

[Anonymous]

I watched part of the boundaries and feeders roundtable and it definitely seemed like Ward 6 was all about "give me a neighborhood school, allow us Hill families to walk to our schools." The implication being, allow us a preference to our schools that allows Hill families to fill these schools, because witnesses would not say that they don't have a chance to get into their school if the people beating them out for seats were their neighbors - they would be asking for expansion, etc.

On the other hand, Council Member Alexander and the Ward 7 education witnesses all seemed very spooked that a process had been foisted on them that would pull the rug out from under them, that is, no longer allow access to their most reasonably accessible good schools, those on Capitol Hill, and put them in schools they would not trust, with only a small corps of academically successful students and no enticements to stay.

Between the two sides, I have to admit I feel more sympathetic to the Ward 7 families.

[Anonymous]

I guess it is about what principles you want to uphold

neighborhood schools for neighborhood kids

OR

safety valves for students in wards with abysmal schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched part of the boundaries and feeders roundtable and it definitely seemed like Ward 6 was all about "give me a neighborhood school, allow us Hill families to walk to our schools." The implication being, allow us a preference to our schools that allows Hill families to fill these schools, because witnesses would not say that they don't have a chance to get into their school if the people beating them out for seats were their neighbors - they would be asking for expansion, etc.

On the other hand, Council Member Alexander and the Ward 7 education witnesses all seemed very spooked that a process had been foisted on them that would pull the rug out from under them, that is, no longer allow access to their most reasonably accessible good schools, those on Capitol Hill, and put them in schools they would not trust, with only a small corps of academically successful students and no enticements to stay.

Between the two sides, I have to admit I feel more sympathetic to the Ward 7 families.

I assume that you also think a band-aid is the best treatment for a bullet wound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched part of the boundaries and feeders roundtable and it definitely seemed like Ward 6 was all about "give me a neighborhood school, allow us Hill families to walk to our schools." The implication being, allow us a preference to our schools that allows Hill families to fill these schools, because witnesses would not say that they don't have a chance to get into their school if the people beating them out for seats were their neighbors - they would be asking for expansion, etc.

On the other hand, Council Member Alexander and the Ward 7 education witnesses all seemed very spooked that a process had been foisted on them that would pull the rug out from under them, that is, no longer allow access to their most reasonably accessible good schools, those on Capitol Hill, and put them in schools they would not trust, with only a small corps of academically successful students and no enticements to stay.

Between the two sides, I have to admit I feel more sympathetic to the Ward 7 families.

I assume that you also think a band-aid is the best treatment for a bullet wound.

You know it is relative, but I am willing to tell education-focused families east of the Park in western Ward 4 and Ward 1 to suck it up and turn around their local schools, because it may not be the same as getting that Janney/Deal/Wilson experience, but it will help the City tremendously and many of the schools are OK.

On the other hand, I just can't think doing the same is OK for Ward 7. Those who are there in many ways get a terribly bad eduational experience. Say what you want about how I would set the line on that one, but I really am not in the mood to tell parents they have to go send their kids to a place where less than 20% of the kids can meet proficiency tests.

[Anonymous]

If I understand your argument, it's perfectly acceptable to send Capitol Hill students -- for example those who attend Brent -- to schools they would not trust, with only a small corps of academically successful students and no enticements to stay (e.g., Jefferson or EH), but not okay for students from Ward 7 because . . .

[Anonymous]

A change to boundaries or feeders is a zero sum game. Some win and some lose with any change.

[Anonymous]

Not all of Ward 6 is "the Hill"

[Anonymous]

What is the point when people say "all of Ward 6 is not the Hill". What are you trying to say?

[Anonymous]

Not all crackheads are mayors of Canadian cities.

[Anonymous]

The art is not to make it zero sum. Offer something significant to those who lose IB/OOB/feeder access to the more desirable schools.

[Anonymous]

When Eastern wanted to go to Ward 7 because the majority of Eastern's population is from Ward 7, then Ward 6 cried foul. They [ward 6] made all of these notions and motions that Eastern belongs to Ward 6 and here it is two years later and there's not enough Ward 6 students in Eastern to make it salveageable. You only wanted Eastern in your demographics to make your real estate property lucrative...to the sellers/buyers market. Bamboozled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When Eastern wanted to go to Ward 7 because the majority of Eastern's population is from Ward 7, then Ward 6 cried foul. They [ward 6] made all of these notions and motions that Eastern belongs to Ward 6 and here it is two years later and there's not enough Ward 6 students in Eastern to make it salveageable. You only wanted Eastern in your demographics to make your real estate property lucrative...to the sellers/buyers market. Bamboozled.

Hi Word Salad lady!

[Anonymous]

I wanted Eastern and my house to stay in Ward 6, because friends in Kingman Park (WOR but Ward 7) say that Council Member Alexander is totally useless. They try to call her with problems but end up getting more help from Tommy Wells and his staff.

Also, I think we need to start by getting the Maryland kids out of Hill schools. I think principals of at least 2 Hill schools are aware that there are MD kids in the school - not turning a blind eye, they know the MD kids. They aren't doing anything about this because losing those kids would threaten their numbers. So let's get the MD kids out. Ward 7 kids are as deserving as any others in DC to good schools.

[Anonymous]

OP you misunderstood what was going on. Alexander was concerned about Ward 7 being able to access Wilson in Ward 3, not a Hill elementary school. The Hill folks were focused on allowing neighborhood kids to go to SWS. SWS is already almost all Hill kids, but it's new citywide status means its next door neighbors don't have a right to attend currently.

[Anonymous]

I don't think Alexander was only talking about Wilson, though she referenced it as an alumna. The panelists were talking about access to Eastern and places like Watkins and Alexander wanted them to maintain access. Ward 7 kids go all over the place, but I am sure Ward 6 is a top destination.