Are you saying "invovled" ward 5 parents would rather send their kids across town than send them to a new ward 5 school because a majority of neighborhood kids aren't so great?

I understand that thinking, but don't think it should be accomodated in a democracy. People can't have everything just their way at taxpayers expense.

If people like living in an "urban" atmosphere, but don't want your kids going to school with the majority of the kids there, they can't expect the city to build a free school for them across town, can they?

They can stay put and pay private school tuition, move to ward 3, or work on getting other acceptable ward 5 parents to commit to ward 5 schools - but expecting to have a school across town with ready-made good students in it seems like a bit much.

Before the crazies come on and start alleging the repetitive line, "are you Thomas's campaign manager or such", I will state now, "no, no, no". But one should acknowledge individual's positives as well as negatives. Having said all that, I hope we get better candidates for the next election. Candidates who politic aggressively for Deal-like schools in Ward 5, children sports outlets for Ward 5, and economic development along the RI, NY, Bladensburg, 12th street corridors without having to going to Vegas and Hooters to cut the deal.

I live in Ward 5 also but here is your problem a Deal like school does not just happen with the building it happens with parents being more involved in their kids life. Too many kids in Ward 5 are wandering around unsupervised, testing their curing skills, not their reading skills. We won't get an excellent middle school if these are our kids peers. That has been the case for at least 15 years, they closed two middle schools locally because they were underenrolled and underperforming. The parents I know in this neighborhood use St. Ansalem or some other private school.

I voted for Harry. Our choices were not selective. FWIW, Thomas adamantly opposed the closing of all the Ward 5 schools and converting the others into PS to 8. I think it was at this point he actually broke from Fenty as he thought Ward 5 was getting the shaft. Prior to this, Thomas was in Fenty's butt rubber stamping everything Fenty wanted. Those who don't know, should not just throw stuff out there about Harry not fighting for Ward five's school situation. He currently supports converting Brookland into a MS. I also know that he is very supportive of charters, as my DC charter sought his support and received the support.

Before the crazies come on and start alleging the repetitive line, "are you Thomas's campaign manager or such", I will state now, "no, no, no". But one should acknowledge individual's positives as well as negatives. Having said all that, I hope we get better candidates for the next election. Candidates who politic aggressively for Deal-like schools in Ward 5, children sports outlets for Ward 5, and economic development along the RI, NY, Bladensburg, 12th street corridors without having to going to Vegas and Hooters to cut the deal.

Anonymous wrote:How horrible!! Proposing to build a school where others in that same area are over-capacity!! Imagine the gaul of trying to encourage more parents to keep their kids in DCPS through middle school!?!? The horror!!! People on this board can be truly ridiculous.

Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to send them to an under-capacity middle school? The District is in a budget crisis after all.

Plus, what PP said.

Can we send this thread ti Ms Kaya. Do you think she would bother to read it.

Anonymous wrote:How horrible!! Proposing to build a school where others in that same area are over-capacity!! Imagine the gaul of trying to encourage more parents to keep their kids in DCPS through middle school!?!? The horror!!! People on this board can be truly ridiculous.

The schools in ward 3 are over-capacity because of kids from other wards who have no or no good alternative close to home. If there were good alternatives in other wards, the kids could stay closer to home.

Another school in Ward 3 just makes it more convenient for ward 3 kids, who already have good choices in public as well as private schools, many of which are conveniently located in upper NW

How horrible!! Proposing to build a school where others in that same area are over-capacity!! Imagine the gaul of trying to encourage more parents to keep their kids in DCPS through middle school!?!? The horror!!! People on this board can be truly ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:come out come out where ever you are rock star principals! Really, we won't bite!

Such principals, if they exist, may be staying as far from DCPS as possible, given the rapid principal turnover here and the fate of former rock stars like Wayne Ryan of Noyes.

Because we elected Harry Thomas, our vote was always a given and we did not need to be courted. Fenty learned the latter to his peril, but Grey certainly sees no risk to neglecting this ward. Actually what I see is that the most politically active of us have already opted out of the system one way or another so we don't have the fight in us to really push the system (too busy driving across the city to get our kid in school). Yes this ward is changing it is getting wealthier but it will still take a while for that to translate into momentum on the schools.

Anonymous wrote:A rock star principal would be nice, but a carefully conceived plan for a new school or improved offerings at an existing school, with ample central office support and commitment, is more important for gaining the confidence of skeptical parents. Rock star principals can always leave.

Previous Brookland parent here again. Yes, this is what I meant. Why do other wards have language immersion and reggio emilia and we don't? these kinds of programs would increase enrollment in local schools.

Anonymous wrote:A rock star principal would be nice, but a carefully conceived plan for a new school or improved offerings at an existing school, with ample central office support and commitment, is more important for gaining the confidence of skeptical parents. Rock star principals can always leave.

ROck star principals can just be invented while a carefully conceived plan is harder to come by - especially with the crowd currently in control.

A rock star principal would be nice, but a carefully conceived plan for a new school or improved offerings at an existing school, with ample central office support and commitment, is more important for gaining the confidence of skeptical parents. Rock star principals can always leave.

come out come out where ever you are rock star principals! Really, we won't bite!

I am also a Brookland parent who sends my child to a language immersion charter. Some Brookland public schools have some good things going for them (although they're struggling with the addition of middle schoolers at previously all elementary schools), but there's nothing really special about them. Facilities are not the issue, except maybe for middle school years.

Take an exisiting school and amp up the offerings there for the early grades, do some sort of school within a school language or magnet program, and I think you could see a lot of interest from middle class parents.

A rock star principal is a must. It is their job to lead the efforts for the school.