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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I'm not 100% sure but I think the initial renovation plans called for underground parking. I'm with you; I hope they don't touch the green space if they do get that funding restored. It would be nice though, as it's often a bit chaotic in the mornings, and off-street parking for staff would free up street parking for families.

FWIW, I think families are especially pushing for the other renovations--at the last PTA meeting, the kitchen and cafeteria seemed to be a bigger focus of concern for safety and health reasons. For example, right now the kitchen is only a "heat and eat" kitchen that doesn't allow cooking/preparation of meals onsite. Also, the gym renovations were cut out, so there's a push to get that addressed as well (e.g., stage is not ADA-compliant for kids or staff w/disabilities).[/quote]

Well, underground parking sounds insane. If they were building that, I'd really wonder what they're spending money for. Underground parking in a neighborhood with plentiful street parking???? Really? I'm there every day. At drop off, the blocks surrounding Shepherd are covered about halfways by cars parked with room for more cars. We are talking nominal convenience at most here, in a neighborhood that is otherwise low traffic.

I think a new kitchen and cafeteria sound nice.... but then again, when I look at the DCPS menus that Shepherd currently uses with whatever the caterer is, the choices don't look awful. This is my opinion only. I agree, more gym renovations would be nice. And I really don't know. We are new to the school. I'm not opposed to any of these renovations, but I'm also not outraged that they've been taken away.

All things are subjective... but for me, honestly, the fact that they have a music teacher from Oberlin and no musical instruments trumps parking in an area where there's plentiful street parking. Get those kids some instruments. As I said, these things are all subjective, and probably come from different funding pools... but this is where I'd focus concern. [/quote]

IB PK PP quoted here.  I dunno--perhaps we're not making our case strongly enough, or maybe you're just a stubborn NYer (I also have family in NYC). ;)

If you go to the school website and click on the renovations letter template link, you'll see the rationale for the renovations push laid out in more detail.  A good group of parents--many of whom are also new to the school, including myself--have been working hard on putting together a justification for the full renovations.  Several people have been out asking parents to sign petitions at dropoff in the mornings, asking people to send letters and testify downtown, etc.  So there is a lot going into it, and I think if you read the full rationale it will be more convincing.

I agree that the parking issue may not sound like the most compelling case on its face, but it's a safety issue--parents and staff are sometimes forced to illegally park in fire lanes, and it's pretty chaotic some mornings (although, I don't think the chaos is unique to Shepherd--our Bethesda daycare where we were last year was just as crazy, with parents continually parking the wrong way, etc.--however--and although someone will say it's apples and oranges--they also had garage use in addition to a dropoff lane).

Personally, the kitchen is the area where I most strongly want to advocate for renovations.  I think a full kitchen would also open up a host of educational opportunities.  The kids could more easily learn about healthy eating/nutrition in a hands-on way, and cooking classes could be incorporated into the existing curriculum.  My understanding is that many if not most DCPS schools that have been renovated in recent years have had their kitchens also renovated.  For example, Takoma and H.D. Cooke.  More importantly, it's a health and safety issue for Shepherd (read the letters on the website for more details).  Finally, there are several parents with grantwriting experience who would be happy to help apply for funding for healthy eating and farm-to-kitchen programs, which a full kitchen could more easily accommodate.

I agree the music program sounds nice, but I wasn't quite as moved by it.  Personally, I think those working on that effort should provide a better rationale--e.g., more strongly making the case that music education is linked to important educational outcomes, etc.  But yes, we all have to decide what efforts to support at our schools--as long as lots of us are doing what we can, whether school-wide or in our kid's class as circumstances--I'm happy.

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