Cheh letter to OSSE on Ellington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

Weird quote which makes me wonder about its authenticity.

Why would she be particularly engaged on charters - none are in her Ward and hardly any of her constituents attend them.

More kids in-bounds for Hardy attend Latin and Basis than Hardy.

And that proves what exactly? I'd love to see a citation for that BTW. Also isn't a good part of the Hardy boundaries in Ward 2?

The PP said hardly any Ward 3 students attend charters. South of Massachusetts Avenue charter students are not uncommon.

Source is the DME materials that were prepared for the boundary review. Sticky on the forum index.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Biggest issue in Ward 3 is school crowding. She has done nothing to address it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Biggest issue in Ward 3 is school crowding. She has done nothing to address it.

She was a big advocate of giving away the old Hardy School, which is the only potential facility for expanding capacity in her ward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Huh? You seriously need to pay attention. And clearly you are not zoned for Eaton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Huh? You seriously need to pay attention. And clearly you are not zoned for Eaton.

What do you mean? Eaton is still heavily OOB, even majority OOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Huh? You seriously need to pay attention. And clearly you are not zoned for Eaton.

What do you mean? Eaton is still heavily OOB, even majority OOB.

Eaton is now majority IB.

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Eaton+Elementary+School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

Weird quote which makes me wonder about its authenticity.

Why would she be particularly engaged on charters - none are in her Ward and hardly any of her constituents attend them.

I know Cheh fairly well and disagree with her on a bunch of stuff but she is very well informed on almost every city issue I've engaged with her on though I've not gone around with her on school policy but I would be very surprised to learn she is not well informed on the issue.

But I have engaged with her on some infrastructure and policy issues around 2 Ward 3 Schools and she and her staff were very on top of both issues before I'd even reached out and were responsive after I did. And she has most certainly delivered the money necessary to get Ward 3 Schools modernized - I know there is some angst among the Eaton community right now about funding but when Janney, Deal, Hearst, Wilson & Murch all needed more money she came through on each school.

This is patently untrue with Murch, where she sent her children. She did not give one solid shit when Browser tried her shenanigans with the renovation. Grosso even did more, which is pretty amazing. Cheh didn't lift a finger until the Murch kids did that video and she realized she was being utterly tin-eared.

[Anonymous]

I say let the kids stay the rest of the year but sue the hell out of the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington bell schedule - http://www.ellingtonschool.org/about/bell-schedule/

There are ten class periods a day. Six regular classes, three art classes and lunch.

The academic classrooms are fully used periods 1-7.

So 70% of the day.

70% of Ellington's day, but all but 45 minutes of a regular school's day. So the notion that another school could share is a bit ridiculous. It is an arts school -- pianos playing in the halls,saxophones in the lunchroom. Another school in the space would not be able to get any work done, as a very basic issue. But more important it is a safe space culturally for the creative. Hard to explain to non-creatives how incredibly important it is to have a culture that respects the arts in order for creates to thrive. Many very expensive private schools in DC claim they have arts program. They do. But they also have jock cultures or otherwise foster cultures that do not respect the choice to pursue arts as a vocation. You can't just throw some other school culture into that mix and expect it to go well. But can you expand the definition of "arts" to include other related and supporting fields? Done smartly --absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

Weird quote which makes me wonder about its authenticity.

Why would she be particularly engaged on charters - none are in her Ward and hardly any of her constituents attend them.

I know Cheh fairly well and disagree with her on a bunch of stuff but she is very well informed on almost every city issue I've engaged with her on though I've not gone around with her on school policy but I would be very surprised to learn she is not well informed on the issue.

But I have engaged with her on some infrastructure and policy issues around 2 Ward 3 Schools and she and her staff were very on top of both issues before I'd even reached out and were responsive after I did. And she has most certainly delivered the money necessary to get Ward 3 Schools modernized - I know there is some angst among the Eaton community right now about funding but when Janney, Deal, Hearst, Wilson & Murch all needed more money she came through on each school.

This is patently untrue with Murch, where she sent her children. She did not give one solid shit when Browser tried her shenanigans with the renovation. Grosso even did more, which is pretty amazing. Cheh didn't lift a finger until the Murch kids did that video and she realized she was being utterly tin-eared.

This is an utterly silly and specious argument. I wasn't involved in the Murch modernization but was involved with the Wilson and Deal ones and in both cases up until the decision of record was made there was consternation about whether the money would be in the budget for the full renovation. But in the two cases I was involved with Cheh came through as she also did with Murch and apparently twice with Janney (and actually twice with Deal). So I'm sorry as a Murch parent you were stressed out about the budget process (and a typical one at that) but Ward 3 schools have been well funded because of Cheh and presumably Eaton will eventually be as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Biggest issue in Ward 3 is school crowding. She has done nothing to address it.

She was a big advocate of giving away the old Hardy School, which is the only potential facility for expanding capacity in her ward.

It hasn't been given away so the premise of your post is completely false and she has never been the main or even a public advocate for the lease deal you are referring to. I'm not a fan of that deal at all but don't consider it to be a big deal either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

Weird quote which makes me wonder about its authenticity.

Why would she be particularly engaged on charters - none are in her Ward and hardly any of her constituents attend them.

I know Cheh fairly well and disagree with her on a bunch of stuff but she is very well informed on almost every city issue I've engaged with her on though I've not gone around with her on school policy but I would be very surprised to learn she is not well informed on the issue.

But I have engaged with her on some infrastructure and policy issues around 2 Ward 3 Schools and she and her staff were very on top of both issues before I'd even reached out and were responsive after I did. And she has most certainly delivered the money necessary to get Ward 3 Schools modernized - I know there is some angst among the Eaton community right now about funding but when Janney, Deal, Hearst, Wilson & Murch all needed more money she came through on each school.

hand in the till for her district doesn't = knowledge on public education

Well the previous poster said "she barely GAF" and I think the funds she has come up with utterly disprove that. I'm not too concerned about the knowledge bit - Cheh is pretty damn bright and education is a much bigger flash point in other wards (I'm astonished at all the consternation about this from fellow Ward 3 residents who are likely just as privileged as we are) so politically it makes sense for her to let other Councilmembers have a bigger role on this - its not like her constituents are really suffering and she is smart enough to know how silly most of this bitching is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

Biggest issue in Ward 3 is school crowding. She has done nothing to address it.

She was a big advocate of giving away the old Hardy School, which is the only potential facility for expanding capacity in her ward.

It hasn't been given away so the premise of your post is completely false and she has never been the main or even a public advocate for the lease deal you are referring to. I'm not a fan of that deal at all but don't consider it to be a big deal either.

The video of when the Council voted to give it away is here:
http://dc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=3637

Actual vote is at 4:17, she voted in favor. Back up a bit from that and you can here her wax eloquent on why she thinks it's a good idea. There's no way a deal like this happens in DC without the support of the ward councilmember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

She cares deeply about some Ward 3 schools. She's always available to do a legislative favor for Maret, GDS or Lab. Ward 3 public schools? Not so much.

You seriously need to provide some example of how she has not cared about or delivered for Ward 3 schools - I'm not a Mary Cheh fan and could critique her at length but this is one area where I've not heard complaints.

BINGO!

I'm not a fan of the Lab School deal but don't understand the outrage either but what the heck are the other two "deals" she did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These comments about Cheh's interests in the schools beginning and ending with Ward 3 are absurd - is there a Ward in the city that has more out of boundary/Ward kids coming into their boundary to attend school every day?

And it isn't just Deal, Wilson & Ellington that have lots of non Ward 3 kids - Hardy, Hearst & Eaton also have decent percentage of non Ward 3 kids.

Ward 3 can't forever be the DCPS/Council solution to under performing schools - in fact that solution has been one of the obstacles to schools getting better elsewhere because there are too many high SES kids in Ward 3, many of whom could be helping to lift schools elsewhere and are not.

they are absurd -- she barely GAF about the WARD 3 schools, let alone the system, half of which includes charters which don't even exist in her ward. I've interacted with most of the Council on school issues and I was surprised to find Cheh so out of touch on schools in relation to her peers.

Weird quote which makes me wonder about its authenticity.

Why would she be particularly engaged on charters - none are in her Ward and hardly any of her constituents attend them.

I know Cheh fairly well and disagree with her on a bunch of stuff but she is very well informed on almost every city issue I've engaged with her on though I've not gone around with her on school policy but I would be very surprised to learn she is not well informed on the issue.

But I have engaged with her on some infrastructure and policy issues around 2 Ward 3 Schools and she and her staff were very on top of both issues before I'd even reached out and were responsive after I did. And she has most certainly delivered the money necessary to get Ward 3 Schools modernized - I know there is some angst among the Eaton community right now about funding but when Janney, Deal, Hearst, Wilson & Murch all needed more money she came through on each school.

This is patently untrue with Murch, where she sent her children. She did not give one solid shit when Browser tried her shenanigans with the renovation. Grosso even did more, which is pretty amazing. Cheh didn't lift a finger until the Murch kids did that video and she realized she was being utterly tin-eared.

This is an utterly silly and specious argument. I wasn't involved in the Murch modernization but was involved with the Wilson and Deal ones and in both cases up until the decision of record was made there was consternation about whether the money would be in the budget for the full renovation. But in the two cases I was involved with Cheh came through as she also did with Murch and apparently twice with Janney (and actually twice with Deal). So I'm sorry as a Murch parent you were stressed out about the budget process (and a typical one at that) but Ward 3 schools have been well funded because of Cheh and presumably Eaton will eventually be as well.

"I have no idea what actually went on, but I'll throw out an ill-informed opinion anyway."