Reply to Feeding Bancroft and Shepherd across park undermines efforts

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Reply to "Feeding Bancroft and Shepherd across park undermines efforts"

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[quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous]
I have grown very frustrated throughout this whole boundary process at how many people (from each and every different neighborhood) seem to feel their own particular neighborhood has some inviolable right to the most-desired schools, and that other neighborhoods should be forced out instead.  Hardly anyone seems focused on what's best for DCPS as a whole.  I suspect part of my agitation about this topic arose when I was seeing the same narrow parochial interests appearing here.

If it's just too annoying to everyone else to have to support their positions, I can drop it.  FWIW though, I still don't see any logical reason Shepherd and Bancroft ought to be linked to Wilson/Deal.  And since I did not start this thread, I suspect I'm not alone.[/quote]

Well, if I've done nothing else, I hope I have shown that I am not focusing parochial interests (that is, in addition to showing that I don't now anything about Bancroft). The parochial argument for me would be that historical patterns are the most important thing ever and nothing is less important than feeder relationships. I am also not supporting the Ponies and Unicorns proposal in which everyone gets exactly what they want. The reality is that the Advisory Committee -- with substantial public support -- chose to focus its recommendations on neighborhood schools and predictable feeder patterns. That being the case, I don't understand why you would not agree that existing feeder patterns would be the logical starting point.

You propose social engineering improvements in MacFarland and Roosevelt by "pushing" engaged families into those schools. In this case, I do have a parochial interest. But, this is more of an observation: engaged families will un-engage themselves from DCPS pretty damn quickly if they feel they are being forced into an underperforming school.

I don't view neighborhoods as more or less deserving than one another. Some lucked out with the current plan and some didn't. Fair enough if you don't like the plan. But, then it is fair to question more than just Shepherd and Bancroft. Maybe Mann and Key want to make the case for feeding to Deal? Maybe Lafayette should feed to the new "north" Ward 4 MS? As I recall, it's in the north of Ward 4. Your focus on Bancroft and Shepherd suggest a bit of an agenda that you are reluctant to acknowledge.

As for a failure to focus on what is best for DCPS as a whole, the two biggest culprits are DCPS and the DME. The latest recommendations propose not one, but four new middle schools. Anyone who believes that DCPS is capable of opening four high-performing middle schools in a reasonable timeframe, please stop by my house to purchase a bridge that I have to sell you. The bridge doesn't exist right now, mind you, but it will be ready by 2015. This is a path leading people out of DCPS. Do you think if Bancroft and Shepherd were told they are being reassigned from Deal to a middle school that might, if we ever get funding, and DCPS agrees to it, exist some day they would stick around to see how it turns out? Not anymore than anyone in my neighborhood will.

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