DCPS students shafted again - sign petition to keep Jelleff field public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School without Walls could also really benefit from using Jelleff. They have no fields of their own and have to trek over to RFK for soccer. Next year the city is going to demolish RFK so what will happen then?

10 schools and the Boys and Girls club expressed interest in using Jelleff once the Maret deal expired. Unfortunately DC renewed it without appropriate public consultation.
https://georgetowner.com/articles/2019/07/03/anc-meeting-heats-up-over-jelleff/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was just posted to the Palisades listserv:

"I wanted to respond to Councilmember Cheh's depiction of the situation regarding the Jelleff Field and Recreation Center in its agreement with the Maret School. To clarify, DPR hasn’t "leased away" Jelleff for the next ten years. Jelleff remains a DPR facility that is used by dozens of schools and community groups. The agreement extension between DPR and Maret was also not made under the cover of darkness - or under the cover of summer, as the Councilmember suggests - but rather went through a transparent and regulated process, including public hearings, consultation with neighbors and the community. Also to clarify, Maret does not use the field on weekends except for a couple of weekend days in spring. Maret recognizes that lack of field space is an issue for many fellow schools and has opened its field and two gyms to a number of outside groups. The school actually rescheduled games and practices, so that the Hardy Middle School is able to use the field on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:30.

Maret has, since the initial agreement with they city in 2009, provided $2.4 million to upgrade the field, redo the swimming pool for community use, and add fencing and lights. The school continues to maintain the property and assure its upkeep. For all of this, Maret has preferred permitting for 10% of operational field time in the fall and spring. The extension would see Maret investing an additional $700,000 to redo the turf and improve fencing, and committing up to an additional $250,000 toward renovating the Recreation Center.

Rather than nullifying this partnership, a better solution is to make more fields available, like Duke Ellington field, which was just transferred to DPR. There is also enough space at Hardy to build a middle school sized field. If the current partnership were revoked, it would not solve the field shortage problem but would instead just lead to more schools requesting permits for time at Jelleff. No amount of permitting would solve any one school’s field demands. Better to develop new fields, like Duke Ellington. Finally, it would be a mistake and set a bad precedent for the Council to revoke an agreement already signed by DPR and Maret. In Play DC, the 10 year strategic plan for recreational facilities in DC released in 2015, public-private partnerships are hailed as an effective way to leverage resources to meet the demands of citizens for more parks and recreation facilities. Based on budgetary projections, Play DC concluded that that demand could not be met without these partnerships. Rather than revoke a deal that has been good for the city and good for taxpayers, why not let Maret and Hardy negotiate a solution, while the Council spends its time identifying underutilized fields and pay for renovations with the money Maret is saving the city at Jelleff!

I hope that councilmembers and the community will appreciate the resources and benefit that Maret has and continues to provide to the Jelleff Field and Rec Center and will support the continuation of this partnership."

What crap. “There’s not enough field space to satisfy everyone, so you might as well give it to us.”

And since Duke Ellington is now being flogged as the savior field, why doesn’t Maret apply (through normal channels) for use of it and let the schools and groups immediately surrounding Jelleff have priority there?

When the original deal happened I remember part of the justification was that Maret would build the field, use it for ten years, and then the District would have it forever. Arguably, a fair renewal would be to pick another field and let Maret repeat the original deal there. What the city is doing now at Jelleff isn't a renewal.

Of course the reality is that unlike ten years ago, the city has plenty of money to build its own fields, it doesn't need to give anything away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was just posted to the Palisades listserv:

"I wanted to respond to Councilmember Cheh's depiction of the situation regarding the Jelleff Field and Recreation Center in its agreement with the Maret School. To clarify, DPR hasn’t "leased away" Jelleff for the next ten years. Jelleff remains a DPR facility that is used by dozens of schools and community groups. The agreement extension between DPR and Maret was also not made under the cover of darkness - or under the cover of summer, as the Councilmember suggests - but rather went through a transparent and regulated process, including public hearings, consultation with neighbors and the community. Also to clarify, Maret does not use the field on weekends except for a couple of weekend days in spring. Maret recognizes that lack of field space is an issue for many fellow schools and has opened its field and two gyms to a number of outside groups. The school actually rescheduled games and practices, so that the Hardy Middle School is able to use the field on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:30.

Maret has, since the initial agreement with they city in 2009, provided $2.4 million to upgrade the field, redo the swimming pool for community use, and add fencing and lights. The school continues to maintain the property and assure its upkeep. For all of this, Maret has preferred permitting for 10% of operational field time in the fall and spring. The extension would see Maret investing an additional $700,000 to redo the turf and improve fencing, and committing up to an additional $250,000 toward renovating the Recreation Center.

Rather than nullifying this partnership, a better solution is to make more fields available, like Duke Ellington field, which was just transferred to DPR. There is also enough space at Hardy to build a middle school sized field. If the current partnership were revoked, it would not solve the field shortage problem but would instead just lead to more schools requesting permits for time at Jelleff. No amount of permitting would solve any one school’s field demands. Better to develop new fields, like Duke Ellington. Finally, it would be a mistake and set a bad precedent for the Council to revoke an agreement already signed by DPR and Maret. In Play DC, the 10 year strategic plan for recreational facilities in DC released in 2015, public-private partnerships are hailed as an effective way to leverage resources to meet the demands of citizens for more parks and recreation facilities. Based on budgetary projections, Play DC concluded that that demand could not be met without these partnerships. Rather than revoke a deal that has been good for the city and good for taxpayers, why not let Maret and Hardy negotiate a solution, while the Council spends its time identifying underutilized fields and pay for renovations with the money Maret is saving the city at Jelleff!

I hope that councilmembers and the community will appreciate the resources and benefit that Maret has and continues to provide to the Jelleff Field and Rec Center and will support the continuation of this partnership."

What crap. “There’s not enough field space to satisfy everyone, so you might as well give it to us.”

And since Duke Ellington is now being flogged as the savior field, why doesn’t Maret apply (through normal channels) for use of it and let the schools and groups immediately surrounding Jelleff have priority there?

When the original deal happened I remember part of the justification was that Maret would build the field, use it for ten years, and then the District would have it forever. Arguably, a fair renewal would be to pick another field and let Maret repeat the original deal there. What the city is doing now at Jelleff isn't a renewal.

Of course the reality is that unlike ten years ago, the city has plenty of money to build its own fields, it doesn't need to give anything away.

Yup, to give the Jelleff field away for 950,000 is a sweetheart deal to Maret. The city has plenty of money to cover that paltry piece of revenue.

[Anonymous]

Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

This thread?: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/60/828642.page

Maret is getting slammed even there. The last post, for instance, reads: “I do have enough connection to say that [Maret doesn’t] remotely practice what they preach. Performative wokeness.”

There are a couple of posters making vague accusations of untruthfulness on Kishan’s part, but other than that it’s a fairly steady stream of condemnation.

[Anonymous]

Could the school chancellor come out and make a statement in support of public schools getting access to fields?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could the school chancellor come out and make a statement in support of public schools getting access to fields?

He works for the Mayor and the Mayor doesn't tolerate dissent, which is unlikely.

His direct boss is the DME, which is also the direct boss for the DPR director. Presumably the DME knows about this and is allowing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

Right. some of the same crazy people on this thread probably started the thread over in private schools. Likely 5 people with nothing but time on their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

Right. some of the same crazy people on this thread probably started the thread over in private schools. Likely 5 people with nothing but time on their hands.

LOL! I love when people try to dismiss the obvious. You think climate change is just a hoax too, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

Right. some of the same crazy people on this thread probably started the thread over in private schools. Likely 5 people with nothing but time on their hands.

LOL! I love when people try to dismiss the obvious. You think climate change is just a hoax too, right?

+1 They can't defend Maret's selfish behavior, so they make vague unfounded criticisms of those who are trying to make DC government work better for its citizens.

[Anonymous]

Any updates? I called my council rep but still haven't heard back yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

Right. some of the same crazy people on this thread probably started the thread over in private schools. Likely 5 people with nothing but time on their hands.

LOL! I love when people try to dismiss the obvious. You think climate change is just a hoax too, right?

+1 They can't defend Maret's selfish behavior, so they make vague unfounded criticisms of those who are trying to make DC government work better for its citizens.

Let’s sum up your position. No Maret can not have exclusive use right of Jellef because my kid does not go to Maret. My kid goes to Hardy so Hardy should exclusive use right to Jellef. I know the property is not part of the school system but that does not matter. All DC Government resources are there for my private use. I want what I want! Screw everyone else!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the responses made on the private school site are crazy! Really interesting to see the difference in perspectives. I am hoping the campaign will work but if not I think a protest at the field could be a good civics lesson for all who are interested

Right. some of the same crazy people on this thread probably started the thread over in private schools. Likely 5 people with nothing but time on their hands.

LOL! I love when people try to dismiss the obvious. You think climate change is just a hoax too, right?

+1 They can't defend Maret's selfish behavior, so they make vague unfounded criticisms of those who are trying to make DC government work better for its citizens.

Let’s sum up your position. No Maret can not have exclusive use right of Jellef because my kid does not go to Maret. My kid goes to Hardy so Hardy should exclusive use right to Jellef. I know the property is not part of the school system but that does not matter. All DC Government resources are there for my private use. I want what I want! Screw everyone else!

I think very few people believe or agree that Hardy or any other DCPS school should have exclusive rights to Jelleff Field but I sure as hell know that a private school like Maret should not. The 100+ aftercare children at Jelleff each school day should absolutely have access to outdoor space. Maret boosters just continue to pick side fights to try and distract from the real issue of how they participated in a corrupt system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully there is no such other arrangement in the city. Hearst Park is being renovated and hopefully will be available to all when completed.

100% DPR facility. I actually hope Hearst School, particularly the aftercare, has a little priority there.

DPR’s budget is like 48 million. DCPS is about 1.5 billion. DCPS should be helping out DPR not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully there is no such other arrangement in the city. Hearst Park is being renovated and hopefully will be available to all when completed.

100% DPR facility. I actually hope Hearst School, particularly the aftercare, has a little priority there.

DPR’s budget is like 48 million. DCPS is about 1.5 billion. DCPS should be helping out DPR not the other way around.

Apples and oranges. DCPS has a vast payroll and lots of complex buildings. DPR has, at core, space with some recreational equipment stuck on it.