Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eliot-Hine is our IB middle school which is why my DS attends a Deal feeder. I'm not waiting for the promise of "Alice Deal for All."

How did you get into that Deal feeder school?

Lottery. Best decision I made despite the inconvenience of the commute.

This quote from the Post article suggests that the situation in Ward 6 is special (although likely not unique).

The mayor’s first capital program also includes $53 million for the renovation of MacFarland Middle School in Ward 4 over the next three years and $47 million for the planning and modernization of a selective middle school in Ward 7 at a site that has not been chosen. Both projects are seen as key parts of a commitment to increasing quality middle school options for families , which was a key part of Bowser’s mayoral campaign.

At the same time, two middle schools in Ward 6 — Jefferson Academy and Eliot-Hine — had funding delayed from 2016 to 2019.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the tax increase that MB is proposing will raise the immediate funds needed to renovate the schools. I don't see how people who boast that they are Capitol Hill don't get it...that DCPS doesn't give a good damn about the cluster of people. How many leaders at the helm doesn't take to say to the Capitol Hill folks...go sit you butts down somewhere. Let's see Janey, Rhee and now Henderson...I assuming the stroller brigade are gluttons for punishment. Good laugh on Good Friday.

Happy Easter Word Salad!

Maybe the tax increase that MB is proposing will raise the immediate funds needed to renovate the schools. I don't see how people who boast that they are Capitol Hill don't get it...that DCPS doesn't give a good damn about the cluster of people. How many leaders at the helm doesn't take to say to the Capitol Hill folks...go sit you butts down somewhere. Let's see Janey, Rhee and now Henderson...I assuming the stroller brigade are gluttons for punishment. Good laugh on Good Friday.

Before I respond to this, is it just Ward 6 being screwed, or is it all Wards except for Deal (and 4, which retained it's finding for a new middle school because it doesn't have one)? It seems like Ward 6 has a lot of parents who are vocal and invested in education, but wondering if 5, 7, 8 have the same issue?

When is Watkins being modernized? Don't understand why SH has been modernized while its feeder remains in disrepair. Most kids end up leaving the Cluster when its time to go to Watkins because the building looks so scary after Peabody.

wow, his whole post says exactly where he stands on charter schools. Yikes.

Those Ward 6 families can always send their kids to Walker Jones

Anonymous wrote:Eliot-Hine is our IB middle school which is why my DS attends a Deal feeder. I'm not waiting for the promise of "Alice Deal for All."

How did you get into that Deal feeder school?

Eliot-Hine is our IB middle school which is why my DS attends a Deal feeder. I'm not waiting for the promise of "Alice Deal for All."

Anonymous wrote:So Jefferson Middle School was slated to have their modernization start in Fiscal Year 2016?

There was a time when the modernization was even earlier than 2016, but as was said earlier, Stuart Hobson vacumed up all the money, and political chits, with their modernization. This despite the fact that Jefferson has more in bounds students than Hobson has.

So Jefferson Middle School was slated to have their modernization start in Fiscal Year 2016?

Principal Gordon @ Jefferson is left swinging in the breeze. She is working hard to attract Brent parents, and although that is certainly a hard sell, the Mayor and former DME seem to be doing everything within their power to scuttle Jefferson, which continues to face declining enrollment even with the switch of the Tyler (and Potomac Gardens population) feed to Jefferson. Yet another lost opportunity as Hill families continue to vote with their feet by choosing Latin, Basis and other more palatable options. Any high-SES families even thinking about Jefferson in the next three years need to put down the kool-aid. On the other hand, the stock of the new MS charter is SW may be on the upswing.

Unbelievable--my kid is in boundary for Stuart Hobson, but I saw this announcement too. The photo of the boys bathroom at E-H is completely ridiculous:



How are we expecting kids to learn when we show them with our actions how little we value them?

Here's a note from Ward 6 BOE Rep. Joe Weedon. Why is it so hard to get a good DCPS middle school going?
--------------------------------------------------------
Friends-

Long ago, my wife and I committed to sending our children to our neighborhood schools. Amy and I didn't make this commitment to make a statement. We did so because we want our children to have the opportunity to remain in school with their friends and because we value the friendships and opportunities that being in our neighborhood provide for our family. We knew that we wouldn't be able to enjoy the many friendships, restaurants and events Ward 6 has to offer if spent hours commuting to a school in another part of the city. Today, is one of the rare days when I question our decision.

This morning, Mayor Bowser released her FY2016 budget. While there are many items in the budget that our community has fought long and hard to achieve, including the opening and extending of the H Street streetcar from Benning Road to Georgetown and a significant investment to end homelessness in the District, there is one major priority that was omitted – long overdue renovations at Eliot-Hine MS and Jefferson Academy MS.

The facilities at Eliot-Hine MS and Jefferson Academy MS are far below standard and fail to meet the basic needs of students. Heating and cooling systems do not function properly. Classrooms lack adequate lighting and ventilation. Restrooms are in illrepair. The buildings lack science labs and the technology that is critical to a 21st Century education.

The decision to delay the renovations at Eliot-Hine MS and Jefferson Academy MS, to FY19/20, was made without any public process or notice. And, it was announced today, less than a week after the results of the My School DC lottery became public. My family and many others may have made different decisions about the educational path we selected for our children had we anticipated these needed renovations would be further delayed.

Both Eliot-Hine MS and Jefferson Academy MS are positioned to become thriving school communities that can serve students from Ward 6 and across the city. However, they will fail to achieve their promise without needed capital investments. I ask that you join me in contacting the Mayor and city council members and demand that they restore funds to renovate our Ward 6 middle schools.

Our message is simple: We need renovation funds restored, in FY16, for Eliot-Hine Middle School and Jefferson Academy Middle School.

Thank you for your support.

Joe



Contact information for Mayor & Councilmembers:

Mayor Bowser: @MurielBowser; Tel: 202-727-2643.

Education Committee members

CM Grosso, Chair - @cmdgrosso; Tel 202-724-8105
CM Charles Allen - @CharlesAllenW6; Tel: 202-724-8072
CM Anita Bonds - @anitabondsdc; Tel: (202) 724-8064
CM Yvette Alexander - @CMYMA; Tel: (202) 724-8068