Reply to Murch- Getting screwed again?

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "Murch- Getting screwed again?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I hope someone will post about the community meeting here. I want to hear how DGS and DCPS explain themselves when they compare the nickel and diming they are doing to Murch when compared the the blank checks they've been writing for other renovation projects. [/quote]

It's surreal, but it is what it is. DCPS loves to play Robin Hood 2.0: steal from wealthy taxpayers [b]to pay for huge projects in areas that vote for the Mayor[/b].[/quote]

NP.  I have not read this whole thread and I'm probably jumping into a snake pit--but I don't think this is true?  Shepherd Park/Colonial Village largely voted for Bowser--heck, she even lives here now--yet there are similar frustrations that the Shepherd Elementary community has had with cuts to their renovation project, including:

1) upgrade to full kitchen removed--it seems Shepherd is one of the only renovation projects in recent years in which a full kitchen will not be a part of the modernization.  So kids will have to continue with "heat and eat" options.

2) renovations to gym/auditorium removed--as a result, there are acoustic problems that interfere with concerts and other activities.  Also, the gym is too small to have home games, so all basketball games are "away" games (which is too bad since the boys' team has now made it to the citywide semi-finals).

3) underground parking was nixed (although I honestly am okay with this, as it seems this is not needed as much as the other parts of the project that were removed)

Despite these cuts, the budget has increased from $20 to 30 million.  There was a petition campaign last year to get these items reinstated, but to no avail.  There was even a meeting with DGS and Brandon Todd a few weeks ago (planned for months), and still, it seems no changes to the current situation will be made--so I don't think this is a question of political favoritism.

Of course, you can say that that Shepherd's renovations will only benefit 330 kids--however, the student population is growing, as they may be adding another PK class next year, and there are lots of new families moving in to the neighborhood.  So the size of the school is sure to grow (although I certainly hope not too much).

My point is not to detract from the validity of the Murch community's argument.  It sounds like the full scope of renovations at Murch sorely needs to be done.  It's just to say that no school community seems spared from DGS's incompetence (except perhaps Ellington).  Maybe we should all band together in some way, looking for renovation problems experienced by multiple schools--I dunno, perhaps that would get more recognition/traction.  But then again, I haven't been in DC long, so perhaps too optimistic about how things work.[/quote]

These are similar issues and frustrations as those faced by Murch with the ludicrous "redesign" -- A functional cafeteria (with a kitchen) and a functional gym that can hold the whole student body and actually allow a PE program more than once a week should not be things that are eliminated from any design proposal.  Good luck![/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics