Murch meeting tonight on swing space

[Anonymous]

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

Who would provide it?

[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.

Why don't they take some of the $200 million being spent on Duke Ellington if there are other schools in need? Heck, something like 25%-30% of DE's students don't even live in the District of Columbia. DC taxpayers are subsidizing this outlandish project while other schools like Murch are getting nickel and dimed. Why??

[Anonymous]

What about going further East using space at Roosevelt? I know the one time I went there it was empty.

[Anonymous]

Murch is an amazing school with an incredible community. DCPS has under invested in this school for more than 50 years and should be extremely flexible and responsive to this gem of a school that promotes inclusive education with excellence. The principal is responsive, the teachers are creative and prepared. The school community is welcoming of families with extremely diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. I wish that these qualities were present in more schools in our city. Murch is a highly sought out model school, despite the major issues with the current decrepit school building.

The school has had to make do with inadequate space for decades. Create a swing space that lets the school flourish even if it costs significantly more money. The Murch families, staff and children deserve this. As a DC taxpayer with a child at a different elementary school I would love to see my tax dollars used to support quality swing space for Murch during construction.

The status quo school building is entirely unacceptable, inadequate and perhaps even placing children at risk. The swing space must significantly improve on the current physical infrastructure of the school. This cannot wait and may be costly, but must be done. The kids desperately need to be out of the current building as quickly as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why don't they take some of the $200 million being spent on Duke Ellington if there are other schools in need? Heck, something like 25%-30% of DE's students don't even live in the District of Columbia. DC taxpayers are subsidizing this outlandish project while other schools like Murch are getting nickel and dimed. Why??

Do you actively try to get the Post or City Paper to look into this? Or ask the City Council to investigate? I am guessing you are the same person (or one of a few) that lament the DE cost on various threads so I was just wondering if your efforts go beyond DCUM? (I'm not criticizing, I am genuinely curious and feel like the issue needs attention)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Murch is an amazing school with an incredible community. DCPS has under invested in this school for more than 50 years and should be extremely flexible and responsive to this gem of a school that promotes inclusive education with excellence. The principal is responsive, the teachers are creative and prepared. The school community is welcoming of families with extremely diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. I wish that these qualities were present in more schools in our city. Murch is a highly sought out model school, despite the major issues with the current decrepit school building.

The school has had to make do with inadequate space for decades. Create a swing space that lets the school flourish even if it costs significantly more money. The Murch families, staff and children deserve this. As a DC taxpayer with a child at a different elementary school I would love to see my tax dollars used to support quality swing space for Murch during construction.

The status quo school building is entirely unacceptable, inadequate and perhaps even placing children at risk. The swing space must significantly improve on the current physical infrastructure of the school. This cannot wait and may be costly, but must be done. The kids desperately need to be out of the current building as quickly as possible.

This. Especially given that the significantly more expensive swing space at Lafayette is actually nicer than the facilities Murch kids have endured for over a decade. How DC could justify spending LESS than that on Murch's swing space is indefensible.

[Anonymous]

What about the temporary classroom building at Hearst? It's doubtful that it is being dismantled soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about the temporary classroom building at Hearst? It's doubtful that it is being dismantled soon.

Hearts enrollment is less than half of Murch's. They would have to at least double the amount of trailers already at Heart. Lafayette's enrollment is closer in number to Murch's.

[Anonymous]

The Hearst trailer only served a couple of grades with a small cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about going further East using space at Roosevelt? I know the one time I went there it was empty.

It's under renovation now. Scheduled to open next fall with the Roosevelt students + students who will be the first dual language MacFarland middle school students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Hearst trailer only served a couple of grades with a small cafeteria.

Plus, Sidwell will begin construction in the not too distant future further aggravating an already frustrating and at times dangerous traffic situation out front of Hearst. No way that street could handle another 50+ car drop-offs every morning. Maybe if they used buses to bring the Much kids in or made the street one-way, but those are likely non starters for various reasons.

[Anonymous]

It seems like UDC is the best option, maybe the Murch PTA should get in front of this and start researching options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like UDC is the best option, maybe the Murch PTA should get in front of this and start researching options?

Hilarious that you think this hasn't been going on for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like UDC is the best option, maybe the Murch PTA should get in front of this and start researching options?

Hilarious that you think this hasn't been going on for years.

Or that the PTA has any say. If that was the case Murch would have been renovated years ago.

I personally think Murch is leaning towards UDC which means DCPS will force us to Lafayette.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like UDC is the best option, maybe the Murch PTA should get in front of this and start researching options?

Hilarious that you think this hasn't been going on for years.

Or that the PTA has any say. If that was the case Murch would have been renovated years ago.

I personally think Murch is leaning towards UDC which means DCPS will force us to Lafayette.

Probably. Since DCPS's modus operandi seems to be to make choices so as to piss off the biggest number of people.