Murch- Getting screwed again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The UDC campus is already a mess right now between the student center and other construction. Even if they started building the Murch swing space today, just can't see how it would be ready by August. Have they even done traffic studies to see how the surrounding houses will be impacted by the additional traffic? Have to imagine the embassies are not thrilled with this, let alone the surrounding home owners.

They need to adjust both the light at Conn Ave/Van Ness St. and the light at Van Ness St./Reno, which is incredibly fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

SIT member, have you had any luck getting Mary Cheh to advocate? Is she just MIA in all this? She is really the only person we have any direct sway with, in terms of our votes. The Murch community is a HUGE part of her constituency. Is she helping us at all? How?

As you can read in the NW Current, Cheh said she was "frustrated upon hearing news of budget woes and plans to do everything in her power to help secure additional funding" and that "it was unacceptable." She also said it was her "top priority item." From what I gather, she is as outraged by this bizarre turn of events as anybody. So, yeah, we are very heartened by that. (Not sure what makes you think I'm on the SIT. For all you know I could just be a mouse in the corner. One of many at Murch!)

Only SIT members met with DGS last night, and your account seemed to be first person. But maybe you take really careful notes when chatting on the playground!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Murch 3rd grade parent here. Yes the last two years will be in the swing space but honestly, the swing space is nicer Thant the current facility so we are a bit excited about it. I have heard some grumbling from other 3rd grade parents but no one seems to be bailing. Once they said we were staying put for the 2 years I think most people get relieved. Now to keep the pressure on for the reno.

I was very disappoint Cheh wasn't there. Her kids went to Murch! I am pretty sure she is elected to attend these sort of meetings. She is not elected to teach on Wed nights.

Another 3rd grade parent here, and I agree. They said the trailers will be like the nice ones Lafayette got, so those swing space trailers are a huge improvement over the school and the trailers our kids are in now. We calmed done after we learned it would two years.

[Anonymous]

It is odd that Bowser and Henderson are out to the country at the exact same time this news (as well as DCPS school budgets) is announced. Hide and seek?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is odd that Bowser and Henderson are out to the country at the exact same time this news (as well as DCPS school budgets) is announced. Hide and seek?

They're back. Bowser has an open event tonight on the budget at Roosevelt High School. Details on the DC.gov website

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope someone will post about the community meeting here. I want to hear how DGS and DCPS explain themselves when they compare the nickel and diming they are doing to Murch when compared the the blank checks they've been writing for other renovation projects.

It's surreal, but it is what it is. DCPS loves to play Robin Hood 2.0: steal from wealthy taxpayers to pay for huge projects in areas that vote for the Mayor.

NP. I have not read this whole thread and I'm probably jumping into a snake pit--but I don't think this is true? Shepherd Park/Colonial Village largely voted for Bowser--heck, she even lives here now--yet there are similar frustrations that the Shepherd Elementary community has had with cuts to their renovation project, including:

1) upgrade to full kitchen removed--it seems Shepherd is one of the only renovation projects in recent years in which a full kitchen will not be a part of the modernization. So kids will have to continue with "heat and eat" options.

2) renovations to gym/auditorium removed--as a result, there are acoustic problems that interfere with concerts and other activities. Also, the gym is too small to have home games, so all basketball games are "away" games (which is too bad since the boys' team has now made it to the citywide semi-finals).

3) underground parking was nixed (although I honestly am okay with this, as it seems this is not needed as much as the other parts of the project that were removed)

Despite these cuts, the budget has increased from $20 to 30 million. There was a petition campaign last year to get these items reinstated, but to no avail. There was even a meeting with DGS and Brandon Todd a few weeks ago (planned for months), and still, it seems no changes to the current situation will be made--so I don't think this is a question of political favoritism.

Of course, you can say that that Shepherd's renovations will only benefit 330 kids--however, the student population is growing, as they may be adding another PK class next year, and there are lots of new families moving in to the neighborhood. So the size of the school is sure to grow (although I certainly hope not too much).

My point is not to detract from the validity of the Murch community's argument. It sounds like the full scope of renovations at Murch sorely needs to be done. It's just to say that no school community seems spared from DGS's incompetence (except perhaps Ellington). Maybe we should all band together in some way, looking for renovation problems experienced by multiple schools--I dunno, perhaps that would get more recognition/traction. But then again, I haven't been in DC long, so perhaps too optimistic about how things work.

These are similar issues and frustrations as those faced by Murch with the ludicrous "redesign" -- A functional cafeteria (with a kitchen) and a functional gym that can hold the whole student body and actually allow a PE program more than once a week should not be things that are eliminated from any design proposal. Good luck!

Shepherd PP here. I think the issue with Shepherd's gym/auditorium is not that it's too small to allow the whole school to assemble--it's that the basketball court is too short for regulation games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope someone will post about the community meeting here. I want to hear how DGS and DCPS explain themselves when they compare the nickel and diming they are doing to Murch when compared the the blank checks they've been writing for other renovation projects.

It's surreal, but it is what it is. DCPS loves to play Robin Hood 2.0: steal from wealthy taxpayers to pay for huge projects in areas that vote for the Mayor.

NP. I have not read this whole thread and I'm probably jumping into a snake pit--but I don't think this is true? Shepherd Park/Colonial Village largely voted for Bowser--heck, she even lives here now--yet there are similar frustrations that the Shepherd Elementary community has had with cuts to their renovation project, including:

1) upgrade to full kitchen removed--it seems Shepherd is one of the only renovation projects in recent years in which a full kitchen will not be a part of the modernization. So kids will have to continue with "heat and eat" options.

2) renovations to gym/auditorium removed--as a result, there are acoustic problems that interfere with concerts and other activities. Also, the gym is too small to have home games, so all basketball games are "away" games (which is too bad since the boys' team has now made it to the citywide semi-finals).

3) underground parking was nixed (although I honestly am okay with this, as it seems this is not needed as much as the other parts of the project that were removed)

Despite these cuts, the budget has increased from $20 to 30 million. There was a petition campaign last year to get these items reinstated, but to no avail. There was even a meeting with DGS and Brandon Todd a few weeks ago (planned for months), and still, it seems no changes to the current situation will be made--so I don't think this is a question of political favoritism.

Of course, you can say that that Shepherd's renovations will only benefit 330 kids--however, the student population is growing, as they may be adding another PK class next year, and there are lots of new families moving in to the neighborhood. So the size of the school is sure to grow (although I certainly hope not too much).

My point is not to detract from the validity of the Murch community's argument. It sounds like the full scope of renovations at Murch sorely needs to be done. It's just to say that no school community seems spared from DGS's incompetence (except perhaps Ellington). Maybe we should all band together in some way, looking for renovation problems experienced by multiple schools--I dunno, perhaps that would get more recognition/traction. But then again, I haven't been in DC long, so perhaps too optimistic about how things work.

These are similar issues and frustrations as those faced by Murch with the ludicrous "redesign" -- A functional cafeteria (with a kitchen) and a functional gym that can hold the whole student body and actually allow a PE program more than once a week should not be things that are eliminated from any design proposal. Good luck!

Shepherd PP here. I think the issue with Shepherd's gym/auditorium is not that it's too small to allow the whole school to assemble--it's that the basketball court is too short for regulation games.

P.S. Good luck to Murch too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Shepherd PP here. I think the issue with Shepherd's gym/auditorium is not that it's too small to allow the whole school to assemble--it's that the basketball court is too short for regulation games.

Is there such thing as "regulation" in elementary school? I think of the DCPS elementaries I know and not many have a "normal" gym.

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain the need for Shepherd's atrium to me? Because every day I drive by and observe its construction and I truly, truly do not get it. Is it adding more classrooms? No. Is it towering above the existing structures? Yes. Does it look like it will look impressive when done? Sure. But what is it FOR, compared to a gym or a cafeteria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Shepherd PP here. I think the issue with Shepherd's gym/auditorium is not that it's too small to allow the whole school to assemble--it's that the basketball court is too short for regulation games.

Is there such thing as "regulation" in elementary school? I think of the DCPS elementaries I know and not many have a "normal" gym.

Whoops, I may've mischaracterized the issue. I recall discussions that the gymnasium was too short for games, and I assumed it was the basketball court itself, but don't know for sure (I'm not on the SIT). In any case, no home games are played at Shepherd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Shepherd PP here. I think the issue with Shepherd's gym/auditorium is not that it's too small to allow the whole school to assemble--it's that the basketball court is too short for regulation games.

Is there such thing as "regulation" in elementary school? I think of the DCPS elementaries I know and not many have a "normal" gym.

Whoops, I may've mischaracterized the issue. I recall discussions that the gymnasium was too short for games, and I assumed it was the basketball court itself, but don't know for sure (I'm not on the SIT). In any case, no home games are played at Shepherd.

Maybe they can play in the atrium?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is odd that Bowser and Henderson are out to the country at the exact same time this news (as well as DCPS school budgets) is announced. Hide and seek?

More like Ignore and Who cares.

[Anonymous]

DCPS is treating the Murch SIT like, well, you know.

[Anonymous]

Post article on the Murch matter:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/parents-say-dc-is-scaling-back-school-renovation-plans-due-to-miscalculation/2016/02/25/e207e10c-dbc4-11e5-925f-1d10062cc82d_story.html

And a pretty funny article on the website at the same time, about what Bowser and Henderson are learning at Cuban schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/parents-say-dc-is-scaling-back-school-renovation-plans-due-to-miscalculation/2016/02/25/e207e10c-dbc4-11e5-925f-1d10062cc82d_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UDC campus is already a mess right now between the student center and other construction. Even if they started building the Murch swing space today, just can't see how it would be ready by August. Have they even done traffic studies to see how the surrounding houses will be impacted by the additional traffic? Have to imagine the embassies are not thrilled with this, let alone the surrounding home owners.

They need to adjust both the light at Conn Ave/Van Ness St. and the light at Van Ness St./Reno, which is incredibly fast.

Does anyone attend Murch who lives south of Van Ness? If not, why should these lights matter much?