Anonymous
07/30/2023 22:24
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
If the boundary is redrawn and northern cap hill feeds to LT, SWS should feed into SH. It’s a few blocks away from LT and its stupid that it feeds into EH. Feed Watkins into EH.
yes that was my thinking too!
Why should sws feed into any school? Everyone who goes there has an assigned middle school and there isn't a need for a specialty middle school program for continuity like Montessori or language.
I am no SWS defender, but this is a silly question. The obvious answer is because letting kids continue to attend school with a cohort of known students yields benefits. How do you not know that?
Except not many students go to EH. And lots of kids, probably the majority, don't go on to the feeder middle from their elementary in DC. So why bother? The SWS kids zoned for SH would choose that over EH and the EH zoned kids would wind up there anyway (though few actually go). So the EH feed doesn't do much. The numbers people out there probably have info about where SWS kids go.
Anonymous
07/30/2023 18:39
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
If the boundary is redrawn and northern cap hill feeds to LT, SWS should feed into SH. It’s a few blocks away from LT and its stupid that it feeds into EH. Feed Watkins into EH.
yes that was my thinking too!
Why should sws feed into any school? Everyone who goes there has an assigned middle school and there isn't a need for a specialty middle school program for continuity like Montessori or language.
I am no SWS defender, but this is a silly question. The obvious answer is because letting kids continue to attend school with a cohort of known students yields benefits. How do you not know that?
Anonymous
07/30/2023 18:31
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
If the boundary is redrawn and northern cap hill feeds to LT, SWS should feed into SH. It’s a few blocks away from LT and its stupid that it feeds into EH. Feed Watkins into EH.
yes that was my thinking too!
Why should sws feed into any school? Everyone who goes there has an assigned middle school and there isn't a need for a specialty middle school program for continuity like Montessori or language.
Anonymous
07/30/2023 09:01
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
Another option is to turn Peabody into a small pk3-5th and just capture the Stanton Park neighborhood.
The building is way too small. You could barely fit one classroom per grade. Wouldn’t have any room for specials, a cafeteria or anything else.
Anonymous
07/30/2023 07:35
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
If the boundary is redrawn and northern cap hill feeds to LT, SWS should feed into SH. It’s a few blocks away from LT and its stupid that it feeds into EH. Feed Watkins into EH.
yes that was my thinking too!
Anonymous
07/30/2023 07:35
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
Another option is to turn Peabody into a small pk3-5th and just capture the Stanton Park neighborhood.
Anonymous
07/30/2023 07:34
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
If the boundary is redrawn and northern cap hill feeds to LT, SWS should feed into SH. It’s a few blocks away from LT and its stupid that it feeds into EH. Feed Watkins into EH.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 15:21
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Agree. Turn Watkins back into a PK-5th school. Peabody turns into citywide ECE program. Readjust boundaries with LT, Maury and Payne to balance school sizes. Switch the SWS and Watkins MS feeder pattern to make more sense geographically.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 15:14
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
They should clearly redraw the boundary. This proposed bus wouldn't be good enough to reliably get kids from both schools at the same pickup time though. Knowing the city, dropoff (which normally has more flexibility) would be sketchy too.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 15:05
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Right and its not just families who might for a time have children at both schools. Its relatively hard to get to Peabody if you live in the boundary down past Watkins and vice versa. The mystery of why many families go OOB to other nearby elementary schools is partly just that the area is pretty dense with other elementary school options that are oftentimes closer. Watkins might be resized as a PreK3-5 this review cycle.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 14:54
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
For only one school no less? This is just silly. There are plenty of schools with even larger OOB populations & that are even more underfilled than Watkins. Where are their buses?
DC already runs buses that help people from OOB in Wards 7 and 8 get to Watkins. You can take the 32 or the 36 for just that purpose, and I bet you there are Watkins families that do this.
The weird thing is that there is no bus to get families from Peabody to Watkins and vice versa, when they are supposedly THE SAME SCHOOL.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 14:54
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
The compromise suggestion to restoring thr shuttle was a logical public city bus for everyone that stops right near Watkins, Peabody, and maybe SH (just up the street from Peabody). The equity criticism was presumably that DC does not as a general matter provide any school bus service even in other IBs where students might sometimes be zoned 1-2 miles from home and the shuttle was relatively expensive. But the city generally tries to zone students for schools proximate to their homes and the Peabody/Watkins zone is large and unwieldy. It is a long walk or a bus up and down 8th.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 14:52
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.
No, we're talking about a city bus. There are multiple buses that run routes that, with minor changes, could meet these needs. For starters, you have the 32 and 36 which both already run from across the river up Penn Ave, right past Watkins. One of them could route north up to Stanton park to serve Peabody. There is also the 96 that goes up Mass Ave to Stanton Park -- it could be adjusted to serve Watkins.
The point is that if you want to keep this weird boundary, there are ways to do it with a private school bus. One of the reasons the city does not offer school bus service to most students is that they are supposed to be able to take public transportation in our extensive system. Well, that system does not serve as a bridge between Peabody and Watkins. If we can't do a school bus shuttle between the two campuses, they should ensure that the city bus system bridges that gap.
OR redraw the Cluster boundaries and get rid of this dumb divided school campus.
But keeping the Cluster but not providing transportation of any kind between the two campuses makes no sense.
Anonymous
07/27/2023 14:36
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
For only one school no less? This is just silly. There are plenty of schools with even larger OOB populations & that are even more underfilled than Watkins. Where are their buses?
Anonymous
07/27/2023 14:34
Subject: Why can’t Watkins get traction with Capitol Hill?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone run a bus to a DCPS for OOB students who have their own IB and also charter options?
Because it would be the only way to meet the schools equity goals while also providing transportation between both campuses for IB families. The reason the former HOS stopped the shuttle was that it was viewed as inequitable -- IB parents (mostly white, mostly higher SES) were getting a resource that was not available to OOB parents (mostly black, mostly lower SES). But if you just at a Metro bus that ran a route that stopped at Watkins and Peabody but also served communities across the river, you could meet the needs of both populations equitably.
DCPS is not going to run a bus to one particular school to accommodate OOB parents. This is silly. You also need it in both directions to work for the Peabody parents, so it doesn't even work like a normal rush hour bus. It also needs to run after school, which is at a time when virtually no one else would be making that commute (I am skeptical very many people commute from Peabody to Wards 7 or 8 by bus at all, but certainly not at 3). Also, Watkins and Peabody are far apart and quite far from Wards 7 and 8 (both??). Do you know how long this ride would take? And it would sort of replace multiple existing lines, so in an era of bus cutting, this is 100% not something the city would merely add on. And of course it would only go from one particular spot in each of those wards, so would hardly be equitable for all OOB Watkins families. And what about all the OOB kids at every other school in the city? Why would Watkins families get a preference? It just makes absolutely no sense.
What you're really asking for is a school bus and DC doesn't do that. The closest things that exist are all for kids w/in an IB to get to their zoned school, which obviously makes way more sense.