Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how GDS or the ANC can tell people not to park in the metered spots along the west side of Wisconsin Ave. It's a commercial street.

My husband I keep looking at the GDS map that outlines the off limit streets, and unless I’m insane, it looks like both sides of Wisconsin are fair game and you can do what you want. Maybe that’s not honoring what the spirit of the agreement is, but that’s sure as heck what the map looks like.

That's definitely a correct reading of the map. And it makes complete sense because there are no actual neighbors on the west side of Wisconsin. It's a super busy road, with a vacant lot, an abandoned car dealership, Steak and Eggs, and other fine dining options. But no neighbors.

The head of the ANC was not just mean-spirited, but simply wrong in vilifying GDS parents who are doing drop-offs and pick-ups on Wisconsin during the last ANC meeting. You would think that he would have reviewed the MOU before going off like he did. And I don't understand why GDS failed to correct the ANC on this point about Wisconsin Ave. in the meeting. Did no one--either from GDS or the ANC--review the MOU before this contentious meeting? Such poor preparation.
Yes, GDS was wrong to not have filed their report to the ANC--someone in GDS administration clearly dropped the ball there--and GDS should have notified the ANC and DDOT of the increased number of students due to unanticipated COVID yield. The excuse "but we were busy with COVID" was weak. But to actually malign GDS as encouraging families to "cheat" is almost slanderous. You would think that the other ANC commissioners, especially the one with the kid at GDS, would have tried to straighten the record and insert some objectivity into the conflict. What a terrible ANC meeting. Disappointing all around.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear they are accepting about 1/2 the usual class at K. Then plan on adding kids in then next 2-4 years to get to a “normal” class size by grade 4. By then then, they should be at the 1075 cap and class size back to desired size. The kids graduating will ease some of the numbers but they are also, as others have said, taking less at 9th as well as it’s a major entry year. Nothing they can do about the oversized classes at grade 10,11 as the students are already enrolled. It’s not like the school can ask so many to leave? So the entry year grades have to suffer.

GDS parent here. Who did you hear this from? School hasn't shared this.

GDS sent this text in the newsletter this weekend

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how GDS or the ANC can tell people not to park in the metered spots along the west side of Wisconsin Ave. It's a commercial street.

My husband I keep looking at the GDS map that outlines the off limit streets, and unless I’m insane, it looks like both sides of Wisconsin are fair game and you can do what you want. Maybe that’s not honoring what the spirit of the agreement is, but that’s sure as heck what the map looks like.

That's definitely a correct reading of the map. And it makes complete sense because there are no actual neighbors on the west side of Wisconsin. It's a super busy road, with a vacant lot, an abandoned car dealership, Steak and Eggs, and other fine dining options. But no neighbors.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how GDS or the ANC can tell people not to park in the metered spots along the west side of Wisconsin Ave. It's a commercial street.

My husband I keep looking at the GDS map that outlines the off limit streets, and unless I’m insane, it looks like both sides of Wisconsin are fair game and you can do what you want. Maybe that’s not honoring what the spirit of the agreement is, but that’s sure as heck what the map looks like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No real dog in this fight, as my kids are in a different school and we we've only been to GDS for a couple of sports events, but what's wrong with these neighbors? Seems to me the new school building is a blessing for the neighborhood. It's a beautiful building to replace the rundown Safeway. And hey, it's not yet another fast food place perched on the Wisconsin Avenue highway.

The neighbors should be thanking God that GDS built that school.

Do you think GDS should honor it’s agreements? That’s what the neighbors want.

The neighborhood is sick of the entitlement that comes from the GDS community...this is just one example of it (don't get me started on all of the GDS kids who skipped the vaccination line because they all of a sudden were "immunocompromised" in the spring of 2021....).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No real dog in this fight, as my kids are in a different school and we we've only been to GDS for a couple of sports events, but what's wrong with these neighbors? Seems to me the new school building is a blessing for the neighborhood. It's a beautiful building to replace the rundown Safeway. And hey, it's not yet another fast food place perched on the Wisconsin Avenue highway.

The neighbors should be thanking God that GDS built that school.

Do you think GDS should honor it’s agreements? That’s what the neighbors want.

This all seems a little nuts. Wake up people. You live in a city. And maybe if you didn't fight every little change, then Tenleytown might not be so dumpy. Just saying. You could use some of the investment that your anc constantly fights.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No real dog in this fight, as my kids are in a different school and we we've only been to GDS for a couple of sports events, but what's wrong with these neighbors? Seems to me the new school building is a blessing for the neighborhood. It's a beautiful building to replace the rundown Safeway. And hey, it's not yet another fast food place perched on the Wisconsin Avenue highway.

The neighbors should be thanking God that GDS built that school.

Do you think GDS should honor it’s agreements? That’s what the neighbors want.

This all seems a little nuts. Wake up people. You live in a city. And maybe if you didn't fight every little change, then Tenleytown might not be so dumpy. Just saying. You could use some of the investment that your anc constantly fights.

So is that a no? You are ok with GDS failing to live up to its commitments?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No real dog in this fight, as my kids are in a different school and we we've only been to GDS for a couple of sports events, but what's wrong with these neighbors? Seems to me the new school building is a blessing for the neighborhood. It's a beautiful building to replace the rundown Safeway. And hey, it's not yet another fast food place perched on the Wisconsin Avenue highway.

The neighbors should be thanking God that GDS built that school.

Do you think GDS should honor it’s agreements? That’s what the neighbors want.

This all seems a little nuts. Wake up people. You live in a city. And maybe if you didn't fight every little change, then Tenleytown might not be so dumpy. Just saying. You could use some of the investment that your anc constantly fights.

Anonymous wrote:No real dog in this fight, as my kids are in a different school and we we've only been to GDS for a couple of sports events, but what's wrong with these neighbors? Seems to me the new school building is a blessing for the neighborhood. It's a beautiful building to replace the rundown Safeway. And hey, it's not yet another fast food place perched on the Wisconsin Avenue highway.

The neighbors should be thanking God that GDS built that school.

Do you think GDS should honor it’s agreements? That’s what the neighbors want.

No real dog in this fight, as my kids are in a different school and we we've only been to GDS for a couple of sports events, but what's wrong with these neighbors? Seems to me the new school building is a blessing for the neighborhood. It's a beautiful building to replace the rundown Safeway. And hey, it's not yet another fast food place perched on the Wisconsin Avenue highway.

The neighbors should be thanking God that GDS built that school.

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Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that residents of this overwhelmingly UMC and white neighborhood who chose to buy overpriced houses in a congested city area with several existing schools are up in arms about a little more traffic at one of the school’s start and end times. Give me a break. Especially when there are far more illegally stopped and parked cars of parents dropping their kids off at Janney.

LOL. Janney is a free for all. Amazing that kids aren't run over every day there. Crazy. Crazy.

Nice deflection. We are talking about GDS.

The deflection in this case is by the ANC. They certainly should be keeping GDS accountable, but where is their outrage about driving and parking behavior around the public schools and other organizations within the boundaries of this ANC? GDS, in large part to their mistakes, has fallen easy prey to the Nimbys.

Have they violated a clear agreement with the ANC? Do you even know the content of your agreement? PP above thought it was OK to park legally in the neighborhood, but that isn't entirely true, now is it?

They violated their agreement with the zoning board. The city government.

It seems that GDS failed to notify the government for its over-enrollment. GDS admin admits to this oversight.
There is disagreement about whether parents can drop off/pick up on Wisconsin Avenue. GDS parents were instructed to avoid drop offs and pick ups on the west side of Wisconisn. GDS maps show that the streets east of Wisconsin are OK for neighborhood parking. GDS parents are also allowed to use the parking meters along Wisconsin for drop off/pick up.
Practically speaking, patrolling parking along Wisconsin Ave., a major artery through the city, is impossible. Focus on the side/residential streets on the east side of Wisconsin.

Sorry, I mean the WEST side of Wisconsin immediately adjacent to the campus.

I too have seen the maps that say drop off on the east side of Wisconsin is allowed. But we were told not to drop off east of 41st St.

When and how? I thought I had been paying close attention, but I don't recall any communication to this effect.

In person one morning.

What person? A neighbor? The map that GDS gives to families clearly communicates that east side of Wisconsin is allowed. This is based, from what I can research, an MOU from 2017 that indicates the eastern boundary for acceptable pickup/drop off is Wisconsin. The MOU does not prohibit drop offs or pick ups east of Wisconsin. 41st Street is fine according to the MOU. Wisconsin is predominantly a commercial street, not a residential one.

"the School will, as part of its enrollment contract, instruct parents, caregivers, or staff not to use 43rd Place NW, Ellicott Street, NW, or Fessenden Street, NW, between River Road and Wisconsin Avenue, to reach the School for pick-up or drop-off, whether on the way to or returning from the school, and will similarly instruct parents, caregivers, or staff not to use of Chesapeake Street when traveling between River Road and 42nd Street."

https://anc3e.org/wp-content/uploads/MOU-between-GDS-and-ANC-3E-Nov.-2017-4822-9611-3237-v.5.pdf

They talked to my DH, not me, but he had the impression it was a school representative. I agree that I thought what we were doing was allowed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that residents of this overwhelmingly UMC and white neighborhood who chose to buy overpriced houses in a congested city area with several existing schools are up in arms about a little more traffic at one of the school’s start and end times. Give me a break. Especially when there are far more illegally stopped and parked cars of parents dropping their kids off at Janney.

LOL. Janney is a free for all. Amazing that kids aren't run over every day there. Crazy. Crazy.

Nice deflection. We are talking about GDS.

The deflection in this case is by the ANC. They certainly should be keeping GDS accountable, but where is their outrage about driving and parking behavior around the public schools and other organizations within the boundaries of this ANC? GDS, in large part to their mistakes, has fallen easy prey to the Nimbys.

Have they violated a clear agreement with the ANC? Do you even know the content of your agreement? PP above thought it was OK to park legally in the neighborhood, but that isn't entirely true, now is it?

They violated their agreement with the zoning board. The city government.

It seems that GDS failed to notify the government for its over-enrollment. GDS admin admits to this oversight.
There is disagreement about whether parents can drop off/pick up on Wisconsin Avenue. GDS parents were instructed to avoid drop offs and pick ups on the west side of Wisconisn. GDS maps show that the streets east of Wisconsin are OK for neighborhood parking. GDS parents are also allowed to use the parking meters along Wisconsin for drop off/pick up.
Practically speaking, patrolling parking along Wisconsin Ave., a major artery through the city, is impossible. Focus on the side/residential streets on the east side of Wisconsin.

Sorry, I mean the WEST side of Wisconsin immediately adjacent to the campus.

I too have seen the maps that say drop off on the east side of Wisconsin is allowed. But we were told not to drop off east of 41st St.

When and how? I thought I had been paying close attention, but I don't recall any communication to this effect.

In person one morning.

What person? A neighbor? The map that GDS gives to families clearly communicates that east side of Wisconsin is allowed. This is based, from what I can research, an MOU from 2017 that indicates the eastern boundary for acceptable pickup/drop off is Wisconsin. The MOU does not prohibit drop offs or pick ups east of Wisconsin. 41st Street is fine according to the MOU. Wisconsin is predominantly a commercial street, not a residential one.

"the School will, as part of its enrollment contract, instruct parents, caregivers, or staff not to use 43rd Place NW, Ellicott Street, NW, or Fessenden Street, NW, between River Road and Wisconsin Avenue, to reach the School for pick-up or drop-off, whether on the way to or returning from the school, and will similarly instruct parents, caregivers, or staff not to use of Chesapeake Street when traveling between River Road and 42nd Street."

https://anc3e.org/wp-content/uploads/MOU-between-GDS-and-ANC-3E-Nov.-2017-4822-9611-3237-v.5.pdf

Anonymous wrote:DC should not have to spend its time policing the GDS area to enforce the agreement. The school should be fined. If parents do not like the situation, they should not have consolidated the two campuses there.

As usual, GDS and its families show their privilege, self-involvement and hypocrisy. If you park your car in the wrong place, exceed the time limit where your parked, or speed in DC, YOU get fined.

This situation is no different. Fine the school and fine the individual drivers. Neighbors should be organizing and publicizing.

DC is not doing any additional parking enforcement and no one has complained about parking tickets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that residents of this overwhelmingly UMC and white neighborhood who chose to buy overpriced houses in a congested city area with several existing schools are up in arms about a little more traffic at one of the school’s start and end times. Give me a break. Especially when there are far more illegally stopped and parked cars of parents dropping their kids off at Janney.

LOL. Janney is a free for all. Amazing that kids aren't run over every day there. Crazy. Crazy.

Nice deflection. We are talking about GDS.

The deflection in this case is by the ANC. They certainly should be keeping GDS accountable, but where is their outrage about driving and parking behavior around the public schools and other organizations within the boundaries of this ANC? GDS, in large part to their mistakes, has fallen easy prey to the Nimbys.

Have they violated a clear agreement with the ANC? Do you even know the content of your agreement? PP above thought it was OK to park legally in the neighborhood, but that isn't entirely true, now is it?

They violated their agreement with the zoning board. The city government.

It seems that GDS failed to notify the government for its over-enrollment. GDS admin admits to this oversight.
There is disagreement about whether parents can drop off/pick up on Wisconsin Avenue. GDS parents were instructed to avoid drop offs and pick ups on the west side of Wisconisn. GDS maps show that the streets east of Wisconsin are OK for neighborhood parking. GDS parents are also allowed to use the parking meters along Wisconsin for drop off/pick up.
Practically speaking, patrolling parking along Wisconsin Ave., a major artery through the city, is impossible. Focus on the side/residential streets on the east side of Wisconsin.

Sorry, I mean the WEST side of Wisconsin immediately adjacent to the campus.

I too have seen the maps that say drop off on the east side of Wisconsin is allowed. But we were told not to drop off east of 41st St.

When and how? I thought I had been paying close attention, but I don't recall any communication to this effect.

In person one morning.

I don't understand how GDS or the ANC can tell people not to park in the metered spots along the west side of Wisconsin Ave. It's a commercial street.