Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never worked in an office building where the windows open.

I would hope that schools are safer than office buildings. These are children for crying out loud!

I think the idea is that modern HVAC systems are not based on opened windows.

We've been explicitly asked to not open windows at our new school. I worry about older schools without decent air exchange systems, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why not? If MCPS has such a backlog, it is in everyone's interest to have things taken off the list in any way possible, moving any project behind Somerset higher on the list. No one is helped at other schools and, in fact others are hurt, by refusing help where it is offered.

The real danger in this is that MCPS starts to expect wealthier schools to pay to fix their own problems, rather than allocating funds to those schools on par with other schools.

If you want to be able to use your money to buy better facilities for your child's school, then you have to send your child to private school.

Please also refrain from explaining how it would actually benefit poor people if the public school system allowed you to altruistically use your money to buy better facilities for your child's public school.

Rather than just telling me I shouldn't explain why it is better for everyone, why don't you actually refute what I said with a substantive response? But let's give an example.

Say there are five open maintenance request and each one will take one month to fix. Somerset is currently #3 on the list. If Somerset gets completed with private funds, schools #4 and #5 get their maintenance request finished a month faster than they would otherwise. If you had a kid in school #4, would you be happy if their windows got fixed a month earlier?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah... but as a parent at this school, I can report that they spent time and money repainting the entire inside of the school in recent months. NO ONE would say that's a priority compared to the windows. There is actually a level of, what -- incompetence? willfull neglect? something else? -- that is stunning.

The old Seneca Valley High School building had basically no windows, hazardous drinking fountains, and leaks in the roof that people had to put buckets under, and the project to fix (eventually, replace) the building was delayed for YEARS.

Now comes you, complaining that MCPS repainted the inside of Somerset ES but didn't fix the windows.

I think we agree - I don’t think they should repainting Somerset when there are unresolved health and safety issues.

NP and I agree with you both. Who wouldn't? Bad prioritization, lack of execution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never worked in an office building where the windows open.

I would hope that schools are safer than office buildings. These are children for crying out loud!

I think the idea is that modern HVAC systems are not based on opened windows.

Many building-wide HVAC systems can’t operate properly or efficiently if windows are open. The airflow is designed to work as a closed system, and if you have outside air coming in at random times and places, it can’t balance the flow properly. Other rooms may lose airflow if windows are opened.

Not saying that’s the case here, but if it’s a fairly modern HVAC system, that may be why windows were considered a lower priority: because the air exchange worked better with them closed anyway. But clearly it would be better to have them ABLE open in an emergency, at least.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never worked in an office building where the windows open.

I would hope that schools are safer than office buildings. These are children for crying out loud!

Yep, the population at lowest risk from covid.

Anonymous wrote:

Why not? If MCPS has such a backlog, it is in everyone's interest to have things taken off the list in any way possible, moving any project behind Somerset higher on the list. No one is helped at other schools and, in fact others are hurt, by refusing help where it is offered.

The real danger in this is that MCPS starts to expect wealthier schools to pay to fix their own problems, rather than allocating funds to those schools on par with other schools.

If you want to be able to use your money to buy better facilities for your child's school, then you have to send your child to private school.

Please also refrain from explaining how it would actually benefit poor people if the public school system allowed you to altruistically use your money to buy better facilities for your child's public school.

Anonymous wrote:Raw sewage spilled into the space between floors at Eastern for three years.

At one point they also had an exterior door that wouldn’t lock properly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never worked in an office building where the windows open.

I would hope that schools are safer than office buildings. These are children for crying out loud!

I think the idea is that modern HVAC systems are not based on opened windows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah... but as a parent at this school, I can report that they spent time and money repainting the entire inside of the school in recent months. NO ONE would say that's a priority compared to the windows. There is actually a level of, what -- incompetence? willfull neglect? something else? -- that is stunning.

The old Seneca Valley High School building had basically no windows, hazardous drinking fountains, and leaks in the roof that people had to put buckets under, and the project to fix (eventually, replace) the building was delayed for YEARS.

Now comes you, complaining that MCPS repainted the inside of Somerset ES but didn't fix the windows.

I think we agree - I don’t think they should repainting Somerset when there are unresolved health and safety issues.

At least they have windows which is more than I can say for our ES.

Anonymous wrote:I have never worked in an office building where the windows open.

I would hope that schools are safer than office buildings. These are children for crying out loud!

Anonymous wrote:No, the parents at Somerset ES don't get to use their private money to upgrade facilities at their children's public school.

Also, seeing windows =/= knowing what is required to fix the windows. MCPS says the windows require customized replacement parts. What do you know that they don't?

Why can't parents fix the windows with private money in this emergency situaiton? This is ridiculous! Functioning windows during this pandemic are a necessity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the parents at Somerset ES don't get to use their private money to upgrade facilities at their children's public school.

Also, seeing windows =/= knowing what is required to fix the windows. MCPS says the windows require customized replacement parts. What do you know that they don't?

It's not upgrading, it's fixing something that's been BROKEN FOR TEN YEARS.

If you haven't been able to procure the parts from the manufacturer in ten years it's time for Plan B. These are windows not car engines. 3d print the parts if you have to. I mean the level of negligence is actually kind of stunning here.

OK, parents at Somerset ES don't get to use their private money to fix broken facilities at their children's public school.

As we all know, MCPS has a backlog of deferred maintenance and not enough capital funding. If you think you could do better, offer your services to MCPS.

Why not? If MCPS has such a backlog, it is in everyone's interest to have things taken off the list in any way possible, moving any project behind Somerset higher on the list. No one is helped at other schools and, in fact others are hurt, by refusing help where it is offered.

The real danger in this is that MCPS starts to expect wealthier schools to pay to fix their own problems, rather than allocating funds to those schools on par with other schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah... but as a parent at this school, I can report that they spent time and money repainting the entire inside of the school in recent months. NO ONE would say that's a priority compared to the windows. There is actually a level of, what -- incompetence? willfull neglect? something else? -- that is stunning.

The old Seneca Valley High School building had basically no windows, hazardous drinking fountains, and leaks in the roof that people had to put buckets under, and the project to fix (eventually, replace) the building was delayed for YEARS.

Now comes you, complaining that MCPS repainted the inside of Somerset ES but didn't fix the windows.

I’m glad they fixed Seneca. I feel really bad for the teachers at Somerset through. I hope they all got shots.

Anonymous wrote:I have never worked in an office building where the windows open.

Which is one reason most offices are still doing telework..... cdc guidance really clear that the windows that open make a huge difference in current situation....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the parents at Somerset ES don't get to use their private money to upgrade facilities at their children's public school.

Also, seeing windows =/= knowing what is required to fix the windows. MCPS says the windows require customized replacement parts. What do you know that they don't?

It's not upgrading, it's fixing something that's been BROKEN FOR TEN YEARS.

If you haven't been able to procure the parts from the manufacturer in ten years it's time for Plan B. These are windows not car engines. 3d print the parts if you have to. I mean the level of negligence is actually kind of stunning here.

OK, parents at Somerset ES don't get to use their private money to fix broken facilities at their children's public school.

As we all know, MCPS has a backlog of deferred maintenance and not enough capital funding. If you think you could do better, offer your services to MCPS.

Sigh. A bunch of parents have. That's why this is situation is so bizarre.

Really, a bunch of parents at Somerset have offered to take jobs at MCPS building services?

I am confused - you are mad the parents for asking how they can help?