Reply to Murch- Getting screwed again?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Don't most elementary schools need to have multiple seating sin the cafeteria? [b]What is the problem. [/b]You just have a schedule and rotate every half hour from 11-1. [/quote]

This is not about the size of a cafeteria. They have changed the size and location of the cafeteria three times the last 4 weeks. No one knows yet how the cafeteria problem will work out (but golly you make is sound so simple -- they should have paid you instead of the three architecture firms DC spent millions on who disagree with you).

No one knows what size the cafeteria will be at this point because they just can't make these last minute changes work -- every change hits some legal or agency block. (Trust me, this is not about parents; no one is listening to the parents.) They keep redesigning because they can't make any design other than the original one work. The restrictions on this construction are severe. That is why DC spent millions on multiple architects to get a workable design in the first place. Whoever decided to scrap it and try to redo it in a few weeks is ... I have no polite words for it, but it is a hideous waste of money to try to redesign this now. Every agency involved -- and there are a lot -- approved the design that the contractor -- MCN--  actually bid on.

You asked what't the problem? The problem is the lot and the size of the school. The problem is that the contractor is not being required to stick to the design they bid on that DC spent millions of dollars to create so they could squeeze 700 kids in this school. The problem is that PRICE was NOT a criteria for selecting the contractor (who does that?). The problem is that the contractor, I guess, expected DC to add to the budget just like every other renovation budget, whether it is needed or not. In fact, other contractors have said the original design can be built for the budget -- but the contractor asked for more money without providing justification for the increase (you should see what they claim the price per parking spot is!!!! exponentially more than any other similar project). Maybe the contractor wasn't expecting the mayor to say no. But instead of following through and making the contractor stick to the design at budget, the city is kow towing to the contractor and letting them cut their (inflated) losses by building a too-small building with inferior materials for an already increased budget! So the contractor keeps throwing out more and more ridiculously stupid designs (cafeteria in the middle of the early childhood wing -- really? Second grade lunch during PK nap time next door? Kitchen with no service access unless you cart the food through the library? Not enough classrooms for spec? No early childhood play space -- for $78 million dollars? Who is designing this circus? Each attempt is more ridiculous than the last. And they want MORE money for a worse design?)

[b]People love to look at this problem and act like this is about whiny parents - DC and the contractor REALLY want you to think that because it plays right into their spin. If the kids are the greedy ones, then the really greedy people - the politicians and contractors -- don't have to change their ways and  get fat and happy at the expense of DCPS students.[/b] This is the consequence of a messed up contracting system. I say thank goodness these parents have the guts to say No even at the risk of further delays to their own way-past-due renovation. Someone has to draw attention to what is going on with our taxpayer money in this contract process. No one should be happy with this city paying this much money and not getting a well-designed building that meets DCPS's education specifications for a school this big. No one.[/quote]

Thank you for this. The bolded part is absolutely key--this is what they can't get away with. It's truly shameful.  [/quote]

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