Another idea for the LT families (that is too bad that the time doesn't work) - ask incoming families to speak to the issue. They are unlikely to go to the performance but certainly have a stake.

I hope the LT parents have written DME and I hope that perhaps one parent can come at either the beginning or end to make a statement.

It sucks that no one at Ludlow-Taylor was consulted about the timing of this meeting, which conflicts to the minute with our kids' end-of-year performance. Great way to keep other neighborhood families affected by these changes out of the conversation!

Unfortunately, the "neighbors" will focus this almost solely on the question of preferences or boundaries. They don't much care about the school so they are unlikely to want to have a serious discussion about the capitol hill middle school problem. I'd be especially interested in a Hill middle school conversation - if there was truly a SWS cohort feeding into one school, say the same school as a large contingency from other high SES schools on the Hill, what would that mean? Would DCPS be ready to receive it. Right now, I frankly think no and if no changes are made SWS will look like Brent and Maury, which have tiny 5th grades. Any way to put pressure on DME on this question? The answer is no if the conversation is solely focused on preference rights for a few select families.

Anonymous wrote:It has been billed as a meeting about feeder schools. Period.

Shoot -- on second look, it appears to be a meeting that will be hijacked by one or two neighbors in particular. I don't think these parents realize how quickly time will pass before they are looking a bleak muddle school landscape in the eye.

OK. Typing directly from the announcement that came home in my kids' folder:

IMPORTANT
MEETING ON
BOUNDARY/FEEDER PROPOSALS FOR SWS

WHAT:
Please join representatives from
*The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
*SWS LSAT and Teachers, and
*Neighbors of SWS

for an important conversation on Student Assignment Policies and Boundary/Feeder Patterns in the District of Columbia and implications for Citywide Schools

It has been billed as a meeting about feeder schools. Period.

The flyer I received said that representatives of the DME's office would be at the meeting along with members of the Advisory Committee ( one or whom is an SWS parent).

The topic could be proximity preference but could also be middle school feeder decisions/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there's a high likelihood of bias. Hopefully those who want it to stay citywide will reach out to the DME and let her know.

Or please, try to show up at this meeting and let your opposition be heard. Don't let these neighbors make a case they have more rights to this unique school than you do without a counterpoint.

Wait. There's a DCPS school that doesn't offer proximity preference to neighbors? Is this the model for the new DCPS/Charter hybrid?

SWS and Capitol Hill Montessori are citywide.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there's a high likelihood of bias. Hopefully those who want it to stay citywide will reach out to the DME and let her know.

Or please, try to show up at this meeting and let your opposition be heard. Don't let these neighbors make a case they have more rights to this unique school than you do without a counterpoint.

Wait. There's a DCPS school that doesn't offer proximity preference to neighbors? Is this the model for the new DCPS/Charter hybrid?

Yes! And it's WORKING BRILLIANTLY! Please DCPS, more citywide specialized schools. Yeah!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there's a high likelihood of bias. Hopefully those who want it to stay citywide will reach out to the DME and let her know.

Or please, try to show up at this meeting and let your opposition be heard. Don't let these neighbors make a case they have more rights to this unique school than you do without a counterpoint.

Wait. There's a DCPS school that doesn't offer proximity preference to neighbors? Is this the model for the new DCPS/Charter hybrid?

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there's a high likelihood of bias. Hopefully those who want it to stay citywide will reach out to the DME and let her know.

Or please, try to show up at this meeting and let your opposition be heard. Don't let these neighbors make a case they have more rights to this unique school than you do without a counterpoint.

I agree that there's a high likelihood of bias. Hopefully those who want it to stay citywide will reach out to the DME and let her know.

There was a post on MOTH that suggested that this meeting might focus on implementing a proximity preference for SWS. Is this true?

If this meeting is viewed by the DME as a means of getting community input on proximity preference for SWS, it's terribly biased since: 1) it is being held at SWS and is therefore much easier for people next to the school to attend and 2) seems to only be advertised to people who go to the school.

I don't have a dog in this fight except to think proximity preference for SWS is terribly unfair since it was pure chance that the school got placed there. For similar reasons, I oppose proximity preference for charters.

To discuss boundary/feeder patterns and citywide schools. This Thursday at 530pm.