Eliot-Hines Middle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't figure out why on earth the Brent community lets that one particularly vocal parent speak on their behalf. Instead of pushing to close Stuart-Hobson, why aren't Brent parents making a serious effort to change their feeder pattern there based on the vertical alignment of their museum magnet programs? Makes total sense and the Cluster would welcome it. Why not organize around that goal instead of letting him burning bridges with people who should/could be their allies?

Serious question here, not picking a fight. Why would Brent be allowed to feed into SH? Isn't it actually pretty small? How would that capacity be better absorbed or wouldn't it be better served at a revamped Jefferson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't figure out why on earth the Brent community lets that one particularly vocal parent speak on their behalf. Instead of pushing to close Stuart-Hobson, why aren't Brent parents making a serious effort to change their feeder pattern there based on the vertical alignment of their museum magnet programs? Makes total sense and the Cluster would welcome it. Why not organize around that goal instead of letting him burning bridges with people who should/could be their allies?

New Brent parent here and I seriously don't get it either. Perhaps more seasoned Brent parents could speak out and say why they let this one guy burn bridges left and right?

[Anonymous]

To now pull strings for some select Capitol Hill schools to feed into Stuart-Hobson is just ludicrous. Why these schools, not those, why there, why now, why this?
I can't take people who change their mind as often as the wind changes direction seriously any longer, smart as they may be, and frankly neither should those higher up. One can't turn every personal whim into a policy. What's needed instead is a serious effort, at all levels, to follow through with the Word 6 middle school plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To now pull strings for some select Capitol Hill schools to feed into Stuart-Hobson is just ludicrous. Why these schools, not those, why there, why now, why this?
I can't take people who change their mind as often as the wind changes direction seriously any longer, smart as they may be, and frankly neither should those higher up. One can't turn every personal whim into a policy. What's needed instead is a serious effort, at all levels, to follow through with the Word 6 middle school plan.

Okay, I'll play dumb (not a stretch). What is the Ward 6 middle school plan?

[Anonymous]

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Parents+and+Community/Community+Initiatives/Building+on+Momentum:+Ward+6+Middle+Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The suggestion of having Brent and Maury feed into SH was put forth at a meeting I attended with Brent parents about five years ago. The Brent parents at that time rejected that idea outright, as they wanted DCPS to get Jefferson's Academy going for them to feed into. I don't know any "Clusters crazies" who would not be thrilled to have SH be a destination school for Brent and Maury.

Regarding OOB numbers, while SH may have a lot of OOB, they are from a lot of families within the next boundary over. But there are pockets of high OOB numbers at the most popular middle schools, Hardy being probably the most with OOB, and their renovation cost $45 million.

If you also look at the numbers for renovation dollars, Eliot-Hine is scheduled to get a significant reno in 2013-2014 ($38m, I think). All of the money is already in the budget and committed to all of these schools, so it's not that one school will get money and the others get that amount subtracted. And if that were to happen, why wouldn't we all rise up against that being allowed anyway? Why can Ward 2/3 get many hundreds of millions to renovate two middle schools and a high school, while Ward 6 has to fight and scrape to renovate our two middles into schools that the 1000+ students in the upcoming middle school bubble on the hill could fill? The population numbers are such that we could support all of these schools, just like in NW.

I like the idea that SH could be a Hardy model, smaller middle school, EH can become the larger Deal type model and both schools feed Eastern to make it the Wilson of Ward 6-a comprehensive, strong high school with lots of course offerings and tons of extracurriculars. But with all this bickering and pitting people against each other and people suggesting that SH just be combined with EH, I fear that may never happen...

This poster has it slightly wrong. Brent parents did not reject a Stuart Hobson feed at any time in favor of Jefferson. We were pushing to become a k to 8 model, or else to become a "seed" for a middle school program that would eventually become the backbone of Eliot Hine or Jefferson. ( ala what is happening with SWS right now ). When it became clear that neither of these would happen, we petitioned to be able to feed into Stuart Hobson and were unequivocally told NO SPACE. NO WAY. by Michelle Rhee herself and were told we needed to stay with the Jefferson feeder pattern. Most parents thought this was a terrible idea, but one or two parents ( who live near Jefferson ) wanted to roll over and give it a try. Rest of the parents secured an optional feed to Eliot Hine as insurance for future growth there in the face of lack of confidence that anything could happen at Jefferson. Bottom line: most Brent parents would love to feed into Stuart Hobson but we have one or two.vocal parents alienating people left and right and making this very difficult. I hope at some point Ward 6 can get it together with DCPS to think of some creative ways to make this all work.

[Anonymous]

Are these two vocal Brent parents in positions of parent leadership? I don't get why they're having such an outsize influence. You would think Brent would be electing parents to leadership positions that reflect the views of the majority of parents.

[Anonymous]

tommy Wells will be at Brent tonight at 6:30 regarding middle schools in ward 6. Hope folks will make it!

[Anonymous]

I think there may actually be a variety of opinions among Brent parents. And I am very grateful for the parents who have put so much work into trying to build middle school options. Some people have big personalities and are willing to put in the work and call city counsel people, etc. I am a Brent parent and I would favor (1) feeding into Stuart Hobson and if that can't happen (2) trying to build up Eliot Hine and making it the Brent feeder middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are these two vocal Brent parents in positions of parent leadership? I don't get why they're having such an outsize influence. You would think Brent would be electing parents to leadership positions that reflect the views of the majority of parents.

Have you paid any attention to . . .let's say the republican primary? Being in a leadership position, especially in a bad situation is not much fun, and doesn't necessarily appeal to everyone. I often find myself quietly disagreeing with "vocal parents" but when I'm honest with myself and ask-- what's my vision? do I want to go to all those boring meetings trying to talk about it? no, that would take too much time away from anon posting on dcum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these two vocal Brent parents in positions of parent leadership? I don't get why they're having such an outsize influence. You would think Brent would be electing parents to leadership positions that reflect the views of the majority of parents.

Have you paid any attention to . . .let's say the republican primary? Being in a leadership position, especially in a bad situation is not much fun, and doesn't necessarily appeal to everyone. I often find myself quietly disagreeing with "vocal parents" but when I'm honest with myself and ask-- what's my vision? do I want to go to all those boring meetings trying to talk about it? no, that would take too much time away from anon posting on dcum.

totally agree! Brent parents are overwhelmed by the vast choice of potential middle school, each with its own drawbacks and weaknesses. MAybe a leader that does what is right for his kids rather than what works best for city planning purposes is the way to go. I haven't heard that anyone has attempted to silence other folks or bully them into doing something that is not what is best for one's family.

[Anonymous]

This simplifies the issue quite dramatically, but ok. Also, there is no vast choice of middle schools for Brent graduates. There are no decent choices. Therein lies the problem and the angst. No one wants to go charter or move away but t he alternatives roads are not being built.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This simplifies the issue quite dramatically, but ok. Also, there is no vast choice of middle schools for Brent graduates. There are no decent choices. Therein lies the problem and the angst. No one wants to go charter or move away but t he alternatives roads are not being built.

As I said "Brent parents are overwhelmed by the vast choice of potential middle school, each with its own drawbacks and weaknesses." I stand by the "vast choice" comment-- when I was a kid, my parents had only one public middle school for our town. Brent parents have two to choice as of right, plus, since many are OOB for Brent they also have the right to attend their own middle school for their neighborhood. Plus there are several charters (IT, Latin, Dc Basis, several KIPP campuses) plus OOB possibilities for S-H and HArdy, maybe even Deal. I also stand by my previous comment that each of these choices has its own drawbacks and weaknesses. But this is not a problem unique to Brent, and not unique to this moment. Middle school has been a problem for years and years all over the city. Even IB for Deal folks are concerned about Deal-- generally because of overcrowding. I have two friends that decided on Latin over IB Deal for that reason. To the extent that "There are no decent choices", the truism falls on all DCPS elementary schools, not just BRent.

[Anonymous]

As a former Brent parent who is now IB at Deal -- the "overwhelmed by the vast choice of potential middle school" poster is crazy. Perhaps overwhelmed by the underwhelming choices. Brent kids are going to scatter all over the city hoping to get into an acceptable school. They all won't be able to get in where they want. When dealing with the Deal feeders you KNOW you will get into a good school at a minimum. Changes your mindset completely.

To go from Brent to Jefferson -- that is a problem. Perhaps you have little ones who will have years before middle school. But I have a former Brent student who is now a 5th grader heading for Deal next year. Not a single Brent friend is going to Jefferson or EH. Some have put down SH for the lottery but most are hoping for Latin or OOB Hardy. There just aren't enough seats at either one to accommodate all the Brent kids much less the kids just from the other Hill schools which don't feed into SH.

[Anonymous]

I said this a couple pages ago, and one replied that the idea was terrible -- but consider switching from Brent to Watkins. OOB lottery ends in a week, apply for your current 3rd or 4th to go ot 4th or 5th at Watkins. Then, you are on track for Stuart Hobson. Yes, it is another school transition. But it is joining a group where a lot go on to SH, and your child will meet the kids prior to Middle School. You have some security that the MS option is acceptable. In my view SH is a better option location wise than the transportation to Latin or Hardy. It certainly won't hurt to fill in the OOB lottery application now, and leave the door open. . . . .