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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It’s Wednesday.  The day of the week Maret Head of School Marjo Talbott has been telling any media outlet that would listen that she generously grants Hardy use of the public Jelleff field (even though they don’t have to). Well, this Wednesday afternoon the Hardy football team, boys soccer team, and girls soccer team all had to share the small green space at Hardy for their practices. This is a space that isn’t regulation size for one team, much less three. So what happened to Wednesdays at Jelleff for Hardy?  Another untruth? The absurdity and inequity just keeps ratcheting up. [/quote]

If you're connected to Hardy (as seems to be the case), please organize a sit-in en masse (next Wednesday or any other day) by Hardy students of the Jelleff field. We will join you. And call the media. Please. This is the only way we are going to have any hope of reversing this thieving "deal" between DPR and Maret. Please. Before we all find other things to be outraged about and forget about this for the next 10 years.[/quote]

The Deadspin article says 'most Wednesdays.' This is what, the first Wednesday of organized sports practices for most teams? [/quote]

Optics matter. She should not boast about her “generosity” and then not follow through the very first Wednesday after she boasted. It’s shameful. [/quote]

Perhaps that's because of the agreement she helped get arranged with Hardy? It's not shameful--perhaps you need to not jump to conclusions. Maret is not all EVIL. They did the city and community a great service by redoing the field (which could very well be a high rise right now). There are many community groups, and other schools, that use the field well over 15 hours a week during the school day through the permitting process--schools using a field that otherwise wouldn't be available. One would hope that with communication, rather than name calling, innuendo, and straight out lies--many seeming to come from folks who want higher political offices, there could be compromises that allow more field usage. Including perhaps Duke Ellington Field. Do the neighbors of Duke Ellington Field favor opening up that space to neighborhood schools and teams that desperately need the space? [/quote]

Or perhaps the bogus agreement should be nullified. Maret should show some self awareness, be willing to walk away from the contract and take a couple of the many million they report having and play elsewhere. Maret built a lovely field on public land for Maret. Let’s not rewrite history and pretend they built the field as a community service project. [/quote]

+1  Even back in 2010 the first deal was controversial.  The neighborhood has changed a lot in the last 10 years, and there have been tons of community activity to make sure Jelleff didn't get given to Maret again, yet Maret did an end run around the normal contracting process.  I find it ironic that Maret touts its service leadership and sense of civic responsibility on its website.

https://georgetownmetropolitan.com/2010/01/21/city-turns-over-jelleff-fields-to-maret/

[quote]Maret believes that social and emotional development is central to students' well-being and success. We encourage our students to tackle challenges in a culture of nurtured risk taking. ... We engage in service opportunities that enhance students' sense of civic responsibility and leadership.[/quote]
https://www.maret.org/about-us/mission[/quote]

I also hope that DPR will look into transforming Duke Ellington Field into a usable space. It is big enough for a nice athletic field (or two) and generous parking. I hope the neighbors there work with Putta to bring even more much needed space to DC public school children. With all of the groups working to get permitting for Jelleff, it just makes sense. I’m certain all of the good will from neighbors clamoring about Jelleff will be equally as vociferous to bring even more development and usable space tomDuke Ellington field. Was that discussed at the ANC meeting?[/quote]

Why would anyone in ANC 2E trust DPR to “do the right thing” with regards to Ellington field?

The worry is that DPR will do the same thing with Ellington as they did with Jelleff  - effectively privatize the field for political insiders and leave DCPS kids to hang, in violation of DC Code w/r/t procurement and DPR priority of use regs.

Fool me twice, shame on me.[/quote]

+1 The ANC and local schools have been very vocal to DPR for the last year about their feelings that the Maret deal should not be renewed.  The only person who doesn't see the community outcry is Ms. Talbott, head of school at Maret.
https://georgetowner.com/articles/2019/09/03/jelleff-contract-concluded-still-contentious/
https://georgetowner.com/articles/2019/05/20/burning-questions-about-jelleff-center-plans/ 
https://georgetowner.com/articles/2019/07/03/anc-meeting-heats-up-over-jelleff/[/quote]

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