Thoughts on the new Churchill principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

Mrs. Heckert started the job July 1st. She supposedly was trained for it.

The PTA did not generate the dumb idea of putting buses in the main pick-up loop for students which happens to also be the student parking lot. Other options need to be considered on the grounds of safety considerations for the students who exit that side of the building and use that parking lot. If Mrs. Heckert would walk outside and actually observe the traffic issues, perhaps she could come up with a better solution.

Staggering the buses regarding their arrival to Churchill would be one. Having the buses park on the side street that is in front of the bus entrance and wait till there is room to enter the bus loop is another solution if the problem the bus lot is too crowded. Closing the small faculty lot to parents in the afternoon and parking the Special Ed buses there would be a third.

Finally, 20 days to email a response is too long for an administrator. Within 48 hours is what is expected of MCPS employees.

Any job takes time to get up to speed. I guess your better than most perfect at your job in two months.

[Anonymous]

Catfights and henfights are only fun when some pushing, slapping, clawing and spitting is involved.

Churchill parents, you disappoint!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

Mrs. Heckert started the job July 1st. She supposedly was trained for it.

The PTA did not generate the dumb idea of putting buses in the main pick-up loop for students which happens to also be the student parking lot. Other options need to be considered on the grounds of safety considerations for the students who exit that side of the building and use that parking lot. If Mrs. Heckert would walk outside and actually observe the traffic issues, perhaps she could come up with a better solution.

Staggering the buses regarding their arrival to Churchill would be one. Having the buses park on the side street that is in front of the bus entrance and wait till there is room to enter the bus loop is another solution if the problem the bus lot is too crowded. Closing the small faculty lot to parents in the afternoon and parking the Special Ed buses there would be a third.

Finally, 20 days to email a response is too long for an administrator. Within 48 hours is what is expected of MCPS employees.

October is bus safety month! Starting October 1st, we will be making an adjustment to our afternoon bus pick up. We currently have almost 50 buses that pick up in our front bus loop on Gainsborough which creates a very unsafe area for many of our students as they cross in between, in front, and behind the buses. In addition, the front bus loop is simply not big enough for all of the buses. I have worked with the PTSA, WCHS security, and leadership from the MCPS bus depot to find a workable solution to this safety hazard.



According to her latest email, this was not her decision alone but brought in different players to figure out a solution.

[Anonymous]

The September PTA meeting was canceled. She obviously is trying to cover her butt and double down with her latest email. One person doesn't make up the PTSA. The membership should have been informed and allowed to weigh in which is done by a vote. The vote did not happen so her email is inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Mrs. Heckert is creating a more dangerous safety hazard than currently exists.

Signed - Active WCHS PTSA Member

[Anonymous]

To say she has worked with the PTSA when the September membership meeting was canceled creates a credibility problem with Mrs. Heckert. Many parents have already pointed out Mrs. Heckert has problems with being responsive to parents who reach out to her directly via email. I am greatly disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mrs. Heckert is creating a more dangerous safety hazard than currently exists.

Signed - Active WCHS PTSA Member

Completely agree and there are other options besides trying to squeeze more traffic into that small lot filled with students.

Another WCHS Parent

[Anonymous]

Seems to me that things must be going pretty well if your biggest beef is the bus loop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

Mrs. Heckert started the job July 1st. She supposedly was trained for it.

The PTA did not generate the dumb idea of putting buses in the main pick-up loop for students which happens to also be the student parking lot. Other options need to be considered on the grounds of safety considerations for the students who exit that side of the building and use that parking lot. If Mrs. Heckert would walk outside and actually observe the traffic issues, perhaps she could come up with a better solution.

Staggering the buses regarding their arrival to Churchill would be one. Having the buses park on the side street that is in front of the bus entrance and wait till there is room to enter the bus loop is another solution if the problem the bus lot is too crowded. Closing the small faculty lot to parents in the afternoon and parking the Special Ed buses there would be a third.

Finally, 20 days to email a response is too long for an administrator. Within 48 hours is what is expected of MCPS employees.

October is bus safety month! Starting October 1st, we will be making an adjustment to our afternoon bus pick up. We currently have almost 50 buses that pick up in our front bus loop on Gainsborough which creates a very unsafe area for many of our students as they cross in between, in front, and behind the buses. In addition, the front bus loop is simply not big enough for all of the buses. I have worked with the PTSA, WCHS security, and leadership from the MCPS bus depot to find a workable solution to this safety hazard.



According to her latest email, this was not her decision alone but brought in different players to figure out a solution.

That's even more scary that several heads put together couldn't see the hazard of adding buses to the already problematic lot. I agree it will make it more dangerous. I also agree that a 4-way stop at the exit would help with issues along Victory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

Mrs. Heckert started the job July 1st. She supposedly was trained for it.

The PTA did not generate the dumb idea of putting buses in the main pick-up loop for students which happens to also be the student parking lot. Other options need to be considered on the grounds of safety considerations for the students who exit that side of the building and use that parking lot. If Mrs. Heckert would walk outside and actually observe the traffic issues, perhaps she could come up with a better solution.

Staggering the buses regarding their arrival to Churchill would be one. Having the buses park on the side street that is in front of the bus entrance and wait till there is room to enter the bus loop is another solution if the problem the bus lot is too crowded. Closing the small faculty lot to parents in the afternoon and parking the Special Ed buses there would be a third.

Finally, 20 days to email a response is too long for an administrator. Within 48 hours is what is expected of MCPS employees.

October is bus safety month! Starting October 1st, we will be making an adjustment to our afternoon bus pick up. We currently have almost 50 buses that pick up in our front bus loop on Gainsborough which creates a very unsafe area for many of our students as they cross in between, in front, and behind the buses. In addition, the front bus loop is simply not big enough for all of the buses. I have worked with the PTSA, WCHS security, and leadership from the MCPS bus depot to find a workable solution to this safety hazard.



According to her latest email, this was not her decision alone but brought in different players to figure out a solution.

That's even more scary that several heads put together couldn't see the hazard of adding buses to the already problematic lot. I agree it will make it more dangerous. I also agree that a 4-way stop at the exit would help with issues along Victory.

My take on it is that it won't necessarily make things more dangerous--it seems like parents' cars will be kept out of the lot until after the buses leave, and there will be extra personnel directing traffic. Both of these things could actually improve safety in the lot. I don't know how things have been going in the bus lot, but it seems like it is the hazards there that she is responding to.

It will be more inconvenient--which is what most parents are reaching to-- but safety > parent convenience.

Of course, as one of those inconvenienced, I'd like to see them come up with a better solution, but arguing that this is more dangerous may not be the most convincing argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are so judgmental so quickly. The new principal, who has seen the school operate for little less than a month is trying to solve a problem that Dr. Benz did nothing about for the 3 years we had to endure her.


Give the new Principal credit for at least looking for solutions. It may not work and then they will have to try something different. Many of the ideas were generated from the PTA with the study. So far, it is better than it has been in the past.

So far, she seems to be reaching out to the students and talking to them unlike the ghost of the principal we had before. She is going to all the junior and senior english classes to ask what is on the mind of the students.

There seems to be more spirit at the school. The last few football games were well attended by students.

As far as communication, she answered my email in 20 days as well. I never had any emails answered by Dr. Benz or Bradley Rohner in 3 years so she gets points in my book.

Mrs. Heckert started the job July 1st. She supposedly was trained for it.

The PTA did not generate the dumb idea of putting buses in the main pick-up loop for students which happens to also be the student parking lot. Other options need to be considered on the grounds of safety considerations for the students who exit that side of the building and use that parking lot. If Mrs. Heckert would walk outside and actually observe the traffic issues, perhaps she could come up with a better solution.

Staggering the buses regarding their arrival to Churchill would be one. Having the buses park on the side street that is in front of the bus entrance and wait till there is room to enter the bus loop is another solution if the problem the bus lot is too crowded. Closing the small faculty lot to parents in the afternoon and parking the Special Ed buses there would be a third.

Finally, 20 days to email a response is too long for an administrator. Within 48 hours is what is expected of MCPS employees.

October is bus safety month! Starting October 1st, we will be making an adjustment to our afternoon bus pick up. We currently have almost 50 buses that pick up in our front bus loop on Gainsborough which creates a very unsafe area for many of our students as they cross in between, in front, and behind the buses. In addition, the front bus loop is simply not big enough for all of the buses. I have worked with the PTSA, WCHS security, and leadership from the MCPS bus depot to find a workable solution to this safety hazard.



According to her latest email, this was not her decision alone but brought in different players to figure out a solution.

That's even more scary that several heads put together couldn't see the hazard of adding buses to the already problematic lot. I agree it will make it more dangerous. I also agree that a 4-way stop at the exit would help with issues along Victory.

My take on it is that it won't necessarily make things more dangerous--it seems like parents' cars will be kept out of the lot until after the buses leave, and there will be extra personnel directing traffic. Both of these things could actually improve safety in the lot. I don't know how things have been going in the bus lot, but it seems like it is the hazards there that she is responding to.

It will be more inconvenient--which is what most parents are reaching to-- but safety > parent convenience.

Of course, as one of those inconvenienced, I'd like to see them come up with a better solution, but arguing that this is more dangerous may not be the most convincing argument.

The parents will be held back until 2:40. But will the students as well? That is where the risk is if not.

[Anonymous]

Hundreds of students exit through that area. These are walkers, student drivers, as well as children being picked up either by parents or the public buses. There is a Ride On Bus stop across the street from the Victory lot exit. Students walk through the lot and one police officer will not be able to provide safety for students walking in front of, in between, and behind buses to get to their destination. That is the danger of the proposed plan.

There is the faculty lot that does not have the students walking through the area. The faculty lot is also a bigger lot with wider lanes. It could be repainted or cones placed for a second bus loop. This would be a doable option and a better option.

To push through a decision without listening to parental and student input is not a great way to start tenure.

[Anonymous]

I would prefer the police officer to focus on the drug problems and safety problems in the school. A crossing guard should be brought in to direct traffic.

[Anonymous]

Gainsborough is a wide street. Why not change the parking signs on Gainsborough for the stretch of curb that runs parallel to the bus loop to end parking there during school days? The overflow buses can use that area to park. Children can follow the school sidewalk to make it to those buses. The students currently parking there can relocate to park in the other spots designated along Victory, Gainsborough, and Tuckerman Lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mrs. Heckert is creating a more dangerous safety hazard than currently exists.

Signed - Active WCHS PTSA Member who tries to run the school

fixed that for you . . .