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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][/quote]

I am a bit confused.  Aren't the LSAT and PTA already established and able to solicit and process input from parents.  What is the purpose of an autonomous group that seems to be comprised primarily of parents who do not have children at Brent?  And why do you believe the powers that be at DCPS will share any information with the "working group."  There is a reason redistricting initiative has been conducted in secrecy up to now.[/quote]

*Lafayette's school boundaries working group is the model.  The difference between the Brent and Lafayette on the school boundaries front is that at the former, it's mainly rising families who are concerned about possible changes, while at the latter, it's the whole school (because of the threat to the Deal and Wilson feeds).

Principal Young has suggested that that rising families, and others, could usefully provide input to the LSAT in the fall, before he meets with Kaya to offer her community input on a draft Hill boundary revision.  I wouldn't call the working group autonomous, more advisory in case anybody's listening.

Rising IB parents with toddlers on waiting lists are the natural ones to be motivated to keep on top of of the boundary review and solicit community input.  Parents with children already at Brent are unlikely to care much for two reasons.  Even their little ones are really likely to be grandfathered in by Mary Cheh's November 2012 bill, or similar legislation, in the case of boundary changes, and they aren't worried about losing the Eliot-Hine and Eastern feeds.

Nobody expects DCPS to tell parents anything special, but it couldn't hurt to learn from Lafayette's working group.  They've collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition asking for their boundaries to stay the same (although their school is at least 300 kids over capacity).  They've also met with half the DC City Council in search of more info/insight.

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I think you give current Brent parents too little credit.  They very much care about the boundary review process insofar as it potentially impacts every aspect of the school day.  First, they have invested in Brent and their community for a number of years and want to see the school continue to improve.  Second, albeit somewhat related, they very much care about whether DCPS is going to situate mobile classrooms on the Brent grounds, particularly if it means losing playground or other common area space, which affects everything from PE to aftercare activities.  Third, they very much care because the number of students at Brent affects scheduling of specials (art, music, foreign language), as well as the time allocated for lunch, recess and other activities.  Fourth, they very much care because redistricting may have an impact on property values and tax burdens.     [/quote]

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