Why is the Foxhall Community Citizens Association scared of public school children?

[Anonymous]

Was it the NIMBYs that have delayed the opening of these two schools by 12+ months or was it the general incompetence of DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was it the NIMBYs that have delayed the opening of these two schools by 12+ months or was it the general incompetence of DCPS?

DCPS has made no progress here or at least have not revealed anything to the community since last summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was it the NIMBYs that have delayed the opening of these two schools by 12+ months or was it the general incompetence of DCPS?

Yeah, I despise the NIMBYs. Their arguments are poor; their argumentation is horrid; their sense of entitlement extreme. But I don’t think this is their fault; I think it is a mix of DC incompetence/complacency/hesitancy mixed with a dose of electoral politics that has produced the delay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it the NIMBYs that have delayed the opening of these two schools by 12+ months or was it the general incompetence of DCPS?

Yeah, I despise the NIMBYs. Their arguments are poor; their argumentation is horrid; their sense of entitlement extreme. But I don’t think this is their fault; I think it is a mix of DC incompetence/complacency/hesitancy mixed with a dose of electoral politics that has produced the delay.

+1 to all of this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it the NIMBYs that have delayed the opening of these two schools by 12+ months or was it the general incompetence of DCPS?

Yeah, I despise the NIMBYs. Their arguments are poor; their argumentation is horrid; their sense of entitlement extreme. But I don’t think this is their fault; I think it is a mix of DC incompetence/complacency/hesitancy mixed with a dose of electoral politics that has produced the delay.

That and Bowser taking care of her friends.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

The most vociferous opponent (an FCCA stalwart) of Foxhall ES and MacArthur HS posted the following to the Glover Park listserv on Friday (edited for brevity):

“During the Democracy for DC (D4DC) Ward-3 councilperson candidate debate last night, all candidates talked about the importance of access to high-quality public schools.
Some focused on public-school over-crowding in Ward 3 (more than others).
Some acknowledged the very large disparities in public-school quality across Wards (more than others).
Schools were also mentioned when candidates talked about reducing crime in DC (e.g. more and better after-school programs to keep kids off the streets).

We should be asking candidates for more specifics about their proposals for improving “equitable” access to high-quality public schools in DC. Schools are a really important part of a neighborhood, so they are an important issue for all elected positions (Mayor, Councilperson, and ANC commissioners)

Schools are also a reason why the ANC redistricting process currently underway in the city is very important. The local ANC is an effective way that a neighborhood can deal with issues about their schools.

Two New Schools in the very southwestern corner of Ward 3

Two capital expenditure proposals that have been in the budget since July of 2020 are two new schools that will be located in the very southwestern corner of Ward 3. The first of these new schools is the new 1000-student high school at the MacArthur Blvd and Q-street location . . .

The second new school will be a 550-student elementary school (the Foxhall School), to be built across the street from the new high school on Hardy Park. Chancellor Ferebee recently announced that the proposed Foxhall School will be populated by moving students from Key Elementary and Stoddert Elementary schools to the new school. [ED: Source???]

The proposed location of the new elementary school has been controversial as a solution to over-crowding in Ward 3 schools. FS Key elementary School enrollment has been declining since 2017 and enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year is 319 students. It currently has the smallest enrollment of Ward 3 elementary schools . . .

Residents in ANC 3B (the home of Stoddert Elementary School) do not want to have to drive their kids to the Foxhall school when they have a wonderful school within walking distance. As a result of their engagement, funds for the expansion of Stoddert Elementary School were reinstated in the FY 2022 budget. Moreover, the western part of Ward 3 (ANC 3D) grew by very little during the past 10 years (compared to other parts of Ward 3 and other parts of DC). This is especially true when one excludes population growth at the two universities in ANC 3D (AU and the GW Mt Vernon Campus).

So why is the mayor so committed to putting a new elementary school in this particular location? Who will have to attend the Foxhall School? Why isn't DCPS trying to locate a new elementary school in a part of Ward 3 where elementary schools currently have very large enrollments? Why isn’t the city doing more to improve the quality of public schools in the parts of DC where there has been a lot of population growth? Is the most equitable solution to access to quality education one that expands Ward 3 capacity and then make students in other Wards travel long distances to attend these schools?

Schools are really important. The coming election represents a great opportunity for DC residents to ask candidates for more specifics about their solutions to improving “equitable” access to high-quality local public schools in DC”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

On queue with the above prediction, Frumin responded as follows:

“Thank you [name redacted]. See my website here for responses to many of the questions you raise.

In short, I think MacArthur should be renovated promptly in its existing envelope where it likely will serve 700 students and without a 500 seat set aside for citywide seats. The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. It can and should be a great school and have the benefit of helping to relieve overcrowding at Wilson which is an urgent priority.

We really need to look for an alternative to Foxhall, not forsake the funding, but the Mayor already is suggesting it will be years before it happens and we should use those years to explore alternatives. Certainly it should not be 550 seats.

If the relevant funds in the Capital Improvement Plan are not used fully by these two projects, they should be used elsewhere in the Ward to address overcrowding.

And, an urgent priority is to give Stoddert as large of an addition as the community seeks to address overcrowding there. I know sounds have been made that all that can be done is to take Stoddert to something like 516, but clearly there are ways to add more capacity and if it is needed to fully serve the existing Stoddert boundary, it should be delivered ASAP.

In my blog post, I outline some of the work I have done in this area and how it informs my thinking on these subjects. Again, see here“

[Anonymous]

Wondering if the Foxhall Elementary School might work better as a middle school. The research the city did showed a need for an additional Middle School, and Hardy's population is rapidly expanding. It doesn't sound as though there is a need for another elementary school especially if Stoddert is expanded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if the Foxhall Elementary School might work better as a middle school. The research the city did showed a need for an additional Middle School, and Hardy's population is rapidly expanding. It doesn't sound as though there is a need for another elementary school especially if Stoddert is expanded.

According to who? According to those who have opposed opening a public school of any size - with or without any new construction - there isn’t. According to everyone who knows the specifics and is objective, there sure as heck is. There is not a single school WOTP that offers PK3 and PK4 is heavily oversubscribed at all of them. The school that serves families from Foxhall - Key ES - is overcrowded to the point of having the upper grades in trailers and obscenely short lunch times because the cafeteria is tiny. There is no land at all to expand Key ES and Stoddert ES is in the same boat. Neither Key nor Stoddert nor Hyde is by any stretch “walkable” for families in Foxhall and families must travel farther to get to school than anywhere else in the city. There is also the small matter of the baby boom which is going to stretch Key and Stoddert even further unless a new school is opened. The Community Working Group looked at all these factors and determined that, yes, Foxhall needs an ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

On queue with the above prediction, Frumin responded as follows:

“Thank you [name redacted]. See my website here for responses to many of the questions you raise.

In short, I think MacArthur should be renovated promptly in its existing envelope where it likely will serve 700 students and without a 500 seat set aside for citywide seats. The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. It can and should be a great school and have the benefit of helping to relieve overcrowding at Wilson which is an urgent priority.

We really need to look for an alternative to Foxhall, not forsake the funding, but the Mayor already is suggesting it will be years before it happens and we should use those years to explore alternatives. Certainly it should not be 550 seats.

If the relevant funds in the Capital Improvement Plan are not used fully by these two projects, they should be used elsewhere in the Ward to address overcrowding.

And, an urgent priority is to give Stoddert as large of an addition as the community seeks to address overcrowding there. I know sounds have been made that all that can be done is to take Stoddert to something like 516, but clearly there are ways to add more capacity and if it is needed to fully serve the existing Stoddert boundary, it should be delivered ASAP.

In my blog post, I outline some of the work I have done in this area and how it informs my thinking on these subjects. Again, see here“

That seems like a reasonable response. What is your objection to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

On queue with the above prediction, Frumin responded as follows:

“Thank you [name redacted]. See my website here for responses to many of the questions you raise.

In short, I think MacArthur should be renovated promptly in its existing envelope where it likely will serve 700 students and without a 500 seat set aside for citywide seats. The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. It can and should be a great school and have the benefit of helping to relieve overcrowding at Wilson which is an urgent priority.

We really need to look for an alternative to Foxhall, not forsake the funding, but the Mayor already is suggesting it will be years before it happens and we should use those years to explore alternatives. Certainly it should not be 550 seats.

If the relevant funds in the Capital Improvement Plan are not used fully by these two projects, they should be used elsewhere in the Ward to address overcrowding.

And, an urgent priority is to give Stoddert as large of an addition as the community seeks to address overcrowding there. I know sounds have been made that all that can be done is to take Stoddert to something like 516, but clearly there are ways to add more capacity and if it is needed to fully serve the existing Stoddert boundary, it should be delivered ASAP.

In my blog post, I outline some of the work I have done in this area and how it informs my thinking on these subjects. Again, see here“

That seems like a reasonable response. What is your objection to it?

NP. Nothing. I think Frumin gets it about right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

On queue with the above prediction, Frumin responded as follows:

“Thank you [name redacted]. See my website here for responses to many of the questions you raise.

In short, I think MacArthur should be renovated promptly in its existing envelope where it likely will serve 700 students and without a 500 seat set aside for citywide seats. The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. It can and should be a great school and have the benefit of helping to relieve overcrowding at Wilson which is an urgent priority.

We really need to look for an alternative to Foxhall, not forsake the funding, but the Mayor already is suggesting it will be years before it happens and we should use those years to explore alternatives. Certainly it should not be 550 seats.

If the relevant funds in the Capital Improvement Plan are not used fully by these two projects, they should be used elsewhere in the Ward to address overcrowding.

And, an urgent priority is to give Stoddert as large of an addition as the community seeks to address overcrowding there. I know sounds have been made that all that can be done is to take Stoddert to something like 516, but clearly there are ways to add more capacity and if it is needed to fully serve the existing Stoddert boundary, it should be delivered ASAP.

In my blog post, I outline some of the work I have done in this area and how it informs my thinking on these subjects. Again, see here“

That seems like a reasonable response. What is your objection to it?

First, he is deliberately not correcting the multiple falsehoods and half-truths that the opponent of the new public schools is propagating. He is more than well informed enough to know that much of what she has written is woefully misleading yet chooses to let it stand because he wants to pander to the FCCA constituency. Not good leadership.

Second, he is proposing a pause on Foxhall ES to “explore alternatives”. The alternatives he mentions have been thoroughly explored and found to be unworkable by both the CWG and those in the community genuinely interested in finding a compromise. (Some of these were kiboshed by close associates of the person he is responding to). Again, he knows all of this and is choosing to peddle infeasible alternatives to broaden his appeal to those who don’t know better.

Will this “pause” in Foxhall ES development pause the demographic boom in the neighborhood? Will it pause kids being educated in the trailers at Key? Will it pause the silent lunches at Key? Will it pause the lack of a walkable neighborhood school for families in Foxhall?

He is trying to come off as someone seeking a compromise but his insincere “plan” will only damage DCPS and stoke further division in the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

On queue with the above prediction, Frumin responded as follows:

“Thank you [name redacted]. See my website here for responses to many of the questions you raise.

In short, I think MacArthur should be renovated promptly in its existing envelope where it likely will serve 700 students and without a 500 seat set aside for citywide seats. The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. It can and should be a great school and have the benefit of helping to relieve overcrowding at Wilson which is an urgent priority.

We really need to look for an alternative to Foxhall, not forsake the funding, but the Mayor already is suggesting it will be years before it happens and we should use those years to explore alternatives. Certainly it should not be 550 seats.

If the relevant funds in the Capital Improvement Plan are not used fully by these two projects, they should be used elsewhere in the Ward to address overcrowding.

And, an urgent priority is to give Stoddert as large of an addition as the community seeks to address overcrowding there. I know sounds have been made that all that can be done is to take Stoddert to something like 516, but clearly there are ways to add more capacity and if it is needed to fully serve the existing Stoddert boundary, it should be delivered ASAP.

In my blog post, I outline some of the work I have done in this area and how it informs my thinking on these subjects. Again, see here“

That seems like a reasonable response. What is your objection to it?

"The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. "

That is pandering. One of the things that the Foxhall neighbors have insisted on is that the people who live closest -- them -- should have a greater voice. I'm sorry that's not how democracy works, every voice is equal. And the Foxhallers have already shown themselves unwilling to engage in good faith. Build the school that needs to be built, not the one the neighbors want. And as to the neighbors having a say in the program? Are you kidding me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I don't expect anything until after the election. Should be fun to watch the people running for the Ward 3 council seat try to please everyone while saying nothing.

On queue with the above prediction, Frumin responded as follows:

“Thank you [name redacted]. See my website here for responses to many of the questions you raise.

In short, I think MacArthur should be renovated promptly in its existing envelope where it likely will serve 700 students and without a 500 seat set aside for citywide seats. The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. It can and should be a great school and have the benefit of helping to relieve overcrowding at Wilson which is an urgent priority.

We really need to look for an alternative to Foxhall, not forsake the funding, but the Mayor already is suggesting it will be years before it happens and we should use those years to explore alternatives. Certainly it should not be 550 seats.

If the relevant funds in the Capital Improvement Plan are not used fully by these two projects, they should be used elsewhere in the Ward to address overcrowding.

And, an urgent priority is to give Stoddert as large of an addition as the community seeks to address overcrowding there. I know sounds have been made that all that can be done is to take Stoddert to something like 516, but clearly there are ways to add more capacity and if it is needed to fully serve the existing Stoddert boundary, it should be delivered ASAP.

In my blog post, I outline some of the work I have done in this area and how it informs my thinking on these subjects. Again, see here“

That seems like a reasonable response. What is your objection to it?

"The Hardy community and the neighbors should play important roles in shaping the program and how it relates to the fabric of the community. "

That is pandering. One of the things that the Foxhall neighbors have insisted on is that the people who live closest -- them -- should have a greater voice. I'm sorry that's not how democracy works, every voice is equal. And the Foxhallers have already shown themselves unwilling to engage in good faith. Build the school that needs to be built, not the one the neighbors want. And as to the neighbors having a say in the program? Are you kidding me?

I disagree. I think the bigger issue is DCPS wants to siphon families who are in the Stoddert zone to the new school That is untenable from a logistics standpoint. It would take kids who are walkable to their neighborhood school and force their families to drive. That is stupid. Frumin seems to be more concerned about that, and rightly so. Just because it fits the Foxhall NIMBY narrative doesn't mean it is wrong.

The idea that there would be three schools focus on a two bloc area in a transit poor location is really a bad idea. Yes, the school overcrowding needs to be addressed, but it also needs to be done in a smart manner. What the Mayor is proposing for lower Palisades simply doesn't make any sense.