Murch meeting tonight on swing space

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly off-topic, but was the impact to aftercare discussed at all. What will become of Murch Extended Day and Language Immersion by Capitol Language Services. Both of my kids attend Spanish immersion. If they go to Lafayette or any other "on the table" option, how will they get to the church for aftercare. Or, will that be provided?

Buses would be provided if the school used swing space at Lafayette or UDC. The SIT also discussed with DCPS the need to allow multiple bus times so that students could participate in after-school activities before going to after care - just as they do now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha! We have been on he wait list for Lafayette aftercare for over a year, so don't count in it at Lafayette.

You do realize they would still be separate schools, don't you? No one at Murch wants to enroll in Lafayette's aftercare. They want to make sure DCPS figures out a way to get them to the aftercare programs they already use and like near Murch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to understand how a traffic study conducted in late December would reveal anything useful. School's out, people are off from work. UDC is only $3.5 million more than the cheapest solution? Why are they even debating? $3.5? That's like the cost of two houses in those neighborhoods. It's peanuts.

People care because it is $3.5 million dollars less than can be spent on the school construction, which already has a budget of $10 million less than Lafayette had for their less extensive and less complex renovation. And because there are other schools across the city that badly need renovation money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to understand how a traffic study conducted in late December would reveal anything useful. School's out, people are off from work. UDC is only $3.5 million more than the cheapest solution? Why are they even debating? $3.5? That's like the cost of two houses in those neighborhoods. It's peanuts.

People care because it is $3.5 million dollars less than can be spent on the school construction, which already has a budget of $10 million less than Lafayette had for their less extensive and less complex renovation. And because there are other schools across the city that badly need renovation money.

They'll just get additional monies approved. Isn't that what Duke Ellington did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly off-topic, but was the impact to aftercare discussed at all. What will become of Murch Extended Day and Language Immersion by Capitol Language Services. Both of my kids attend Spanish immersion. If they go to Lafayette or any other "on the table" option, how will they get to the church for aftercare. Or, will that be provided?

Buses would be provided if the school used swing space at Lafayette or UDC. The SIT also discussed with DCPS the need to allow multiple bus times so that students could participate in after-school activities before going to after care - just as they do now.

so taxpayers will fund multiple buses all afternoon for two years, maybe 30 months? Is that included in these estimates of 6-8 million?

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't the aftercare just be at UDC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't the aftercare just be at UDC?

Many Murch families use private providers who are located nearby the school one or more days a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly off-topic, but was the impact to aftercare discussed at all. What will become of Murch Extended Day and Language Immersion by Capitol Language Services. Both of my kids attend Spanish immersion. If they go to Lafayette or any other "on the table" option, how will they get to the church for aftercare. Or, will that be provided?

Buses would be provided if the school used swing space at Lafayette or UDC. The SIT also discussed with DCPS the need to allow multiple bus times so that students could participate in after-school activities before going to after care - just as they do now.

so taxpayers will fund multiple buses all afternoon for two years, maybe 30 months? Is that included in these estimates of 6-8 million?

This is pretty standard when swinging off site. Taxpayers seemed not to have a problem with it in the past. You have one now? For elementary school kids?!?!

[Anonymous]

I should add it isn't "all" afternoon. I mean really.

[Anonymous]

It is fair to ask what the cost estimates include and if sing costs come out if th overall site specific budget.

[Anonymous]

to my Chevy Chase neighbors who are in the Lafayette zone, please stop acting douchy and entitled.

[Anonymous]

I agree it is fair to ask these questions. Murch has been asking these questions for years now. Years. It was three years ago this month that Murch had to pull together a campaign to fight for the budget that they did get. Now, due to what appears to be a poorly managed process on the part of DGS and DCPS, more of that hard-won budget may be siphoned off from the construction budget to cover the costs of swing space. And the the swing space options are disappointing to say the least.

This process has badly failed the students at Murch. And you are arguing over buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slightly off-topic, but was the impact to aftercare discussed at all. What will become of Murch Extended Day and Language Immersion by Capitol Language Services. Both of my kids attend Spanish immersion. If they go to Lafayette or any other "on the table" option, how will they get to the church for aftercare. Or, will that be provided?

Buses would be provided if the school used swing space at Lafayette or UDC. The SIT also discussed with DCPS the need to allow multiple bus times so that students could participate in after-school activities before going to after care - just as they do now.

so taxpayers will fund multiple buses all afternoon for two years, maybe 30 months? Is that included in these estimates of 6-8 million?

What workable alternative would you propose given your vast knowledge of the situation and expertise? Maybe DGS will hire you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't the aftercare just be at UDC?

Many Murch families use private providers who are located nearby the school one or more days a week.

And to be clear, this is because there is no other aftercare option, not because they prefer a private aftercare option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is fair to ask what the cost estimates include and if sing costs come out if th overall site specific budget.

Swing comes out of the construction budget.