Big GDS news

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re L/MS kids riding Metro with parents. Maybe a few MS kids but remember that it has to be kids that the parents trust to make it from the Metro to school lugging all their stuff up or down several blocks of Wisconsin Ave. Wouldn't make sense for parent to get off Metro, walk kid(s) to school, get back on Metro and then continue to work. That doubles the fare and probably adds at least 1/2 an hour to the parent's commute.

My understanding is that several schools have shuttle busses from the closest metro stop that run on some sort of schedule. I could absolutely see something like that working. Also, staggered drop offs could really solve some of the issues, too.

[Anonymous]

Staggered dropoffs go against the grain of the sales pitch being made to parents (single trip through the "carpool") and shuttle buses would still require parents to get off the Metro with little kids. Plus one of the selling points of the project is cost savings from getting rid of buses/drivers shuttling kids between campuses for athletics.

Realistically, the vast majority of families will continue to drive their kids to/from school. There may be a few additional MS kids taking Metro. Then again, there may be a few HS kids who would otherwise have taken Metro but who will drive or get a ride to campus when their younger sibs are headed to the same location. I do think more staff will take (though some of them are biking and taking buses rather than driving already).

It's not just the school's proximity to a Metro station that determines whether people will drive -- it's also attitudes, weather, stuff being schlepped, where people live (often not near Metro), what's being done afterschool and where (and how soon), etc.

In the end, the challenge will be to create space for long queuing lanes on campus and to limit traffic patterns on and off campus (e.g. right turn only).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS is giving the gift of GDS. We should all be really happy about it.

As the neighbors wallow in their "decrepit" hovels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So Maryland commuters will be able to turn into GDS directly but regular DC residents cannot turn from River Road on to Fessenden or any of the other streets? Heck, I am going to use this as a new cut through!

I assume that GDS will have security staff to ensure that this doesn't happen.

[Anonymous]

So DC will allow Maryland commuters dropping their kids off at GDS to make left turns from River Road, but won't allow DC residents to make left turns on to Fessenden and other DC streets?

Doubtful.

[Anonymous]

The new campus will be amazing. GDS at last will have a bells and whistles campus commensurate with its top tier ranking.

[Anonymous]

I guess you hope that if you keep repeating this BS it'll become true. Enter through the garage, play on the roof -- I can hardly wait!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess you hope that if you keep repeating this BS it'll become true. Enter through the garage, play on the roof -- I can hardly wait!

Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Of all the things to emulate....

And while Sidwell has a garage located under a playing field (sensible), do they have a playing field located on top of a classroom building? That's what GDS is planning for the relocated L/MS.

[Anonymous]

That just helps combine athletics and academics more seamlessly.

[Anonymous]

LOL!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That just helps combine athletics and academics more seamlessly.

That's how GDS develops highly gifted and talented scholar-athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things to emulate....

And while Sidwell has a garage located under a playing field (sensible), do they have a playing field located on top of a classroom building? That's what GDS is planning for the relocated L/MS.

You have the some complaints about River School?

[Anonymous]

No, but I certainly wouldn't characterize it as having a "bells and whistles campus commensurate with ... a top tier ranking" either.

[Anonymous]

The River School was the original home of the GDS high school before it moves to its current location.