Re: [ward5] Ward5 discusses proposed middle school at Turkey Thicket in Brookland: Standalone vs. Co-location with Recreation Center

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Rob

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Mar 15, 2013, 10:28:02 AM3/15/13
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Few more details about last night,
Last night was a second community meeting regarding the Ward 5 Arts Middle School that is being planned with the intent of demolishing the current Brookland Elementary (Michigan/12th) and somehow building a New Middle School to combine that Site and building upon Turkey Thicket's Site.
Let's list some points that were covered,
1. From the attempts being made, the architect and DCPS has basically concluded that the Existing Brookland Elementary site is Way too Small to put a Middle School. So, if we all remember Middle School, that age group demands a lot of outdoor space to recreate.
2. Backing up a bit -- the previous W5COE administration demanded a few Middle Schools in Ward 5. Amazing that a School System had an entire Ward without a Middle School -- the Largest populated Ward. Amazing -- isn't it. Makes you wonder about the angles that were put into place.
3. W5COE of past made the decision with DCPS that this existing Brookland Elementary School site was a "perfect" location for a Middle School because of proximity to Rec. Center, to Metro, and that it is Centrally Located in Ward 5. So far, So good. But at the same time, a STEM Middle School is placed at McKinley -- which has all the academic and recreational bells and Whistles for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math capable students -- and rightfully so because it feeds right into to McKinley Tech -- both of these schools at this location designed for top performing kids.
4. Back to the Proposed Brookland Middle -- An "ARTS" school designed for kids -- Feeder more than likely Bunker Hill. Somehow this school is overwhelmingly attaching itself to Turkey Thicket Rec Center and its grounds.
5. At no point over the 3 years of prior negotiations/discussions did the Previous W5COE or DCPS inform the community that building a Middle School at the current Brookland Elementary Site would incorporate CO - Sharing the Turkey Thicket Facility and Grounds. Not sure if W5COE knew of this possibility or not or they were just grabbing a location because they were happy to get a Stand Alone Middle School for our Kids -- a Basic Right that was taken away by closing Backus and Taft -- the latter which was given away to a Charter Middle School -- What Gives?
6. Now that the concepts/plans are being designed -- Turkey Thicket Rec. Center has now become over taken with facilitating a Middle School on it's site thus reducing its Green Space and causing various scheduling conflicts from multi use of space.
7. A selling point is that this approach would enhance the property, create some extra spacial use after school hours and during summer of parts of the New School. Not a bad perspective if that is the only location that we as a community have to work with for our KIDS Middle School. I believe that there are options but it is not being explored properly or with the intent to make it happen.
8. Seems like some of our Community think that we stand to "lose" if we don't accept this Middle School Turkey Thicket Space. Very Similar to if we don't give into the 901 Monroe development team disregarding the Community/SAP and exceeding agreed upon parameters, we would end up with nothing.
8. The Tactic that has usually worked in the past -- divide and conquer and get enough people saying yes to the "Plan" that they can just say -- well we know that we can't satisfy everyone but enough support was reached, so we went ahead with it. Of course, in this scenario, this is not happening -- whether it is the seniors, the playground enthusiasts, the rec. staff bad experiences with similar situations elsewhere, those interested in the School, our Green Team, etc. --- too many different entities have issues with the Plans to CO-Use the space.
9. Here we are.
a. So, I believe the RFP to identify a developer went out last July -- I wonder who won the "bid" or was this arranged. I believe that they have already everything in place -- looks like a project manager and team is present.
b. A SIT team was chosen to help DCPS identify/create a curriculum to provide as well as have input on "design".
c. Seems like even though they had their input -- two weeks ago, they were blindsided with "let's see if we can show something to the community that we have been told to create" and see if we can override the SIT team's input.
d. Two weeks later (last night) -- at the second presentation, not much changed after the community communicated that CO-USE of the facility was not what was wanted. 3 of the four Concepts were still heavily focused on a CO-USED facility -- with a sales point that the Rec. Center would benefit from extra space when school was not using some of its' building that could be shared with the Rec. Center.
e A lady identified that there are only 3 showers in Womem Locker Room -- can't imagine enough space for Girls to utilize Pool. Sure it would be same for boys.
****** I must share that Rae Zapata felt strongly that swimming is not going to be part of the Middle School Curriculum because the kids will be too busy with other things to include this as part of their activity ******* In my opinion and seemingly from many others -- we strongly disagree with this. Seems to me that when you make statements like this, there are some things left to be questioned ******** From what I understand, if a principal wants swimming to be part of a curriculum, then that pool gets utilized -- that's why the focus on attaching the buildings.
f. 250 Plus Signatures were collected (and more to come) by Brookland Bridge Blog manager (Shani) that identified the 4 issues that the community have -- previously posted on Brookland and Ward 5 Yahoo List Serv.
*****Wish this petition was picked up and circulated by our Council Office to all other List Servs. in the Ward as this Middle School is not just a Brookland Issue ******
**** A Must Know - Ward 5 Council Member Kenyan McDuffie was very passionate as he adamantly demanded that DCPS, DGS, Etc. all listen to the fact that majority of the community is demanding a NON - SHARED site and to create a design that reflected that. Also, he demanded that these offices communicate better with the community -- I must say -- Great JOB. He spoke with adamant concern for the lack of respect that the community is being given and the representing departments continued failure to implement the concerns of the community. Shows Much Growth!!
***** My Passionate Frustration with their lack of respect brought a loud exclamation -- WHY DOES A CM have to tell heads of Depts. to "COMMUNICATE" with the community!! At what point do we stop babysitting GROWN FOLKS in a manner that we have to DEMAND the most BASIC of their JOB DESCRIPTION!! What sucks is that this is a habitual conversation with no repercussions to people who continue to abuse the community **** I will never understand why "communication" is such an issue on every project.
g. Seniors complain that this would inhibit their use of Turkey Thicket
h. Current and Future users of playground concerned about the money being lost that would be used for the playground that is scheduled to be installed and that it wouldn't be accessible.
i. Three of the Concepts added buildings to the current Turkey Thicket Building that would allow for Co-Use of Space. Very few of those who attended are for this and most everyone wants totally separate facilities.
j. There was one "concept" plan that did looked like a "State of the Art" Middle School should look with a Field (Soccer/Football/Track -- which is a plus). Not much was said about it at all but from a sales perspective, it seems like that is what the carrot is meant to do. It places the new Middle School at the Southern End of Turkey Thicket (close to the Exxon) with much of the School along Michigan and Otis and part of 10th (a horseshoe shape) and separated from Turkey Thicket by allowing the now disjointed Quincy to connect from 10th to Michigan to allow for buses, drop-off.
*** doesn't make sense to me as;
1. It looses too much space to a Street that buses will have tough time making turns onto and maneuvering around each other.
2. It creates a Wall as you drive North coming over the Michigan Ave Bridge between the Condo Building on right and that Concept design for a New Middle School
3. *** from a common sense approach -- it would make sense to place a building along the 10th Street side and have a circular drive way coming off of Michigan Ave and running behind parking for the school facing Michigan ave -- with the exit from the school onto Otis adjacent to the Exxon.
Now that is if that was just another identification that even the Architects are not paying attention to utility of space. This site design does swaps/re-allocate land use from Park and Recs to DCPS and allow for a Real Track and Field atmosphere
a. draw back -- the field is artificial surface which looses our green space -- what everyone is fighting for.
b. draw back -- we loose our baseball field.
c. draw back -- we loose event space that is sometimes held on the Baseball field area
I keep suggesting that they utilize Luke C. Moore as it will allow for more attend
*****An option that they haven't spoken about -- buying the three houses on the southern part of 1000 Blk. of Shepherd Street N.E. behind the current Brookland Elementary School and incorporating that into the Design for the school to provide additional space for underground parking, above that -- Track and field (soccer and football) and allowing more space for their gym and an entire street for buses and to drop off****** (I am sure for the right money, they would sell)
 
Complaint from resident that no link to plans/concepts on internet and not getting responses.  DCPS seem to think that placing the various "concept" architectual plans on a website for the community to be able to view is too much to expect in this age of technology
RFP that went out last July for New Brookland Middle -- http://dc.gov/DC/DGS/Opportunities/RFP+for+Design+of+New+Brookland+Middle+School
 
On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 9:51 AM, <khende...@aol.com> wrote:
 

Thank you KPW for the update. Ward 5 residents continue to be bombarded with a myriad of issues that directly impact our quality of life. We are being challenged to continue to show up, speak out and divert efforts to derail what we want.

The residents of other wards show up, calmly discuss which options they prefer and said options are actualized without rancor or excuses. Ward 5 residents expecting the same process are continually met with resistance, delays and back pedaling. What happened to the "One City" framework?

Commissioner Kathy Henderson, 5D05

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: KPW <WK...@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:43:30 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [ward5] Ward5 discusses proposed middle school at Turkey Thicket in Brookland: Standalone vs. Co-location with Recreation Center

 

Ward 5 turned out Thursday, March 14th to discuss the proposed middle school to replace the closed Brookland School that is located next to Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.  Too bad the Mayor's School Budget Hearing was held Tuesday before the this meeting.  There was plenty for the mayor to hear about the concerns with the school.


There is excitement about getting a new middle school in Ward 5.  In the Upper Northeast Ward 5 area, Backus and Taft traditional schools have been closed leaving the area without a traditional middle school.  Many students leave the ward or public schools after elementary to attend a middle school.  When former Chancellor Rhee was in charge in the Fenty administration, she closed Ward 5 schools like there was no tomorrow.  The Brookland Elementary School was closed supposedly for a year to be rebuilt.  The Ward 5 Council on Education and others lobbied to get a middle school in Ward 5 and the decision was made to host it at Brookland. However, now the architects designing the school have proposed connecting the school with the recreation center.  

The community has many concerns with the school connecting with the recreation center.  Councilmember McDuffie attended the meeting as it drew to a close and insisted that plans be discussed about a school that is not connected to the recreation center.  The architects barely mentioned a standalone school even though this was clearly the preferred design for the meeting participants and others that attended the previous meeting.  Councilmember McDuffie called for a Saturday meeting so that people that cannot make an evening meeting can attend and so that there will be more time for the lengthy discussion.  The recreation center closes at 9:00.  McDuffie will make sure that more members of the Ward 5 community are notified and engaged.

Without a middle school in the area, the middle school is expected to serve at least these communities:  
  • Brookland
  • North Michigan Park
  • Michigan Park
  • Riggs Park
  • Ft. Totten
  • Queens Chapel
  • Woodridge
  • and more

Though there may be some schools that are kindergarten to eighth grade, some parents prefer to send their kids to a middle school after elementary.  Former Chancellor Rhee wanted to end the practice of middle/junior high schools.  Former Superintendent Frank Smith had moved D.C. from the junior high school concept to the middle school concept.

The closed Brown Middle School is supposed to reopen at some point.  There will be a middle school at McKinley Science and Technology High School in the fall.  Chancellor Kaya Henderson attended the meeting briefly and informed the group of the status with the McKinley middle school.

Stay tuned for more discussion on the middle school and the issue with connecting to the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.  There are many new homes/apartments planned for and in progress in the Upper Northeast area.  Surely there will be an increase in the school population as well as people attending the multi-generational recreation center.  Community stakeholders beyond Brookland are encouraged to attend meetings as well to provide their input and support. 

A future meeting is expected to reach out to more of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, civic associations, Community Development Corporations, business associations, Parent Teacher Associations, and area community stakeholders.

--KPW

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R. Ramson
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202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)




 

Rob

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Mar 15, 2013, 4:37:07 PM3/15/13
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Not doubting all that. Let's not be confused -- I am not taking anything away from those (including Rae - which this was to be a legacy stepping stone / some politics to being a CM) who worked towards getting back what was RIGHTFULLY ours to begin with that some CM's allowed taken in the first place -- maybe including Kwame - especially when the school focus was Ward 3. In addition, had there not been a DCPS need to set forth this segregation movement along with the Charter School push, we would not be geting any schools. Our kids in this side has not historically been a priority and last I checked, no marketing effort has ever been done to keep our DCPS schools "enrolled".

Again my questions of Rae not being surprised or shell shocked and apalled like the rest of us is a valid "wonder" like she already knew - telling statement to me. If that's the case, that's Sad. I also wonder why as a lawyer, she is willing to accept "let's build it as a CO-Share with the rec center and iron out the details of use afterwards.  That usage agreement should be done first (trust me - I have made that stupid mistake many times of trusting folks) so that our seniors, our concerned playgrounders (who mostly could care less about a school if it affects them) don't get clobbered!!

Like I said - we need a state of the art Rec. Center and this location would be best since so much development is coming close to here. There are many other sites for schools but that is my 1 of 75,000 persons opinion.

Rob Ramson

On Mar 15, 2013 4:00 PM, "KPW" <WK...@aol.com> wrote:
 

The Ward 5 Council on Education, School Board Rep, and others did a fantastic job against the odds getting commitments for a middle school in Ward 5.  I believe former Council Chair Kwame Brown also helped champion the middle school initiative.  The people should be applauded for all their work.  It seems that most were surprised by the co-location, but I doubt anybody is ready to throw the baby out with the bath water.


Brookland conceptually is an ideal location.  It is in a convenient place in Upper Northeast.  Two other middle schools will serve other areas in the ward.

I would prefer that it be a traditional middle school and perhaps have an arts program within the school--a school within a school.

My kids told me they were going to Jefferson Junior High because their peers were going to Jefferson and Deal after Bunker Hill.  While we kept Backus open, we never got the resources or leadership to turn it into the school it should have become and then it was closed instead of putting the resources into the school and making it work.  My son went to Wilson High.  The Metro is near the school.

KPW


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R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)




 

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Rob

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Mar 15, 2013, 5:02:52 PM3/15/13
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While we are at statements that makes no sense -- why do we need a community garden? Build simething else. We should elimimate that and make the roof an area that students can learn how to grow vegeables in a green house environment and maybr incorporate into their diet.

And let's not forget some solar panels.

Rob

On Mar 15, 2013 4:48 PM, "KPW" <WK...@aol.com> wrote:
 

I, too, was concerned about that statement.  Details matter and we shouldn't ignore any fine print.

The school will be somewhere in the 12th and Michigan area.  We may need to get a Ward 5 architect if the ones chosen can't see our vision.

Sad. I also wonder why as a lawyer, she is willing to accept "let's build it as a CO-Share with the rec center and iron out the details of use afterwards.  That usage agreement should be done first (trust me - I have made that stupid mistake many times of trusting folks) so that our seniors, our concerned playgrounders (who mostly could care less about a school if it affects them) don't get clobbered!!



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Rob

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Mar 15, 2013, 5:38:36 PM3/15/13
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Hey Eric,
 
First of all, they are not going to tell us the truth about the other schools and why -- just something to justify what they want to do.  It is written all over their voice and actions -- and the fact that they feel that they don't need to.  Let's be real -- when is the last time you felt that they were dealing from one deck of cards with us?  It is always some crap or politics or charter school or development involved.  However, we will see over the years to come. 

While I agree with your statement here --- "While middle schoolers don't generally have "after-care," one could do some really interesting things with after school activities in combination with the rec center" -- whole-heartedly, I must say that there has to be a way to do this without infringing upon the Rec. Center or the use of the Rec. center and the new playground.

At the same time, think about this -- if an adjacent school is available for use after school hours, I would be surprised if they would be suggesting usage of the Gym and any other facility in that school if they weren't bartering for use of Turkey Thicket's facilities. Funny how when someone needs something, they are ready to share but if they didn't need, DCPS would be calling all kinds of liability, asking for detailed usage and operation -- yet we have to be satisfied with "we will work out a plan to make the CO-USE seamless when it isnt so at the other locations -- according to the operators of the rec. center.

Personally, I still think that they are not going after Backus because there are other plans -- other than UDC and they have plans for hamilton ( which is close enough to NY Ave Metro. By the way, as to the truancy issue - kids travelling on a metro period is not helpful at all -- and how dangeroys is it for our girls to be using the metro at that age - part of the reason they are ending up pregnant. So please stop this metro nonsense. What did we do before now -- Bunker Hill is not near a metro and Langdon is not near a metro and last I checked, kids get to school at those locations.


Also, remember that kids from different neighborhoods being at a central Rec. Center may come with some added issues that would be easier controlled in a school setting but not open air recs. -- not that it couldn't be worked out. My opinion -- it would be better to send the kids home or to the rec. centers closer to home. 6 in one hand, 1/2 dozen in the other - exceptbone might have some bodies and get innocent people hurt.

Just some thoughts of 1 / 75,000 so we have all the points in the open before we make a $50 Mil. decision.  So everyone understands -- anything over there will look better and create a better use overall.  Whether it is optimum is a different story.

Rob Ramson

On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 2:41 PM, Eric <eric...@yahoo.com> wrote:
 


One of the components at last night's meeting was to discuss the
location and why this location was picked. Apparently, that particular
discussion has been going on for some time. They wanted to place the
school in a centrally located area around the ward. They showed a map
and it does appear that this is the case with respect to the other
middle schools in the ward. Also, it really helps that it is located
close to Metro. I am not wedded to the location although I like the
idea of it being near a rec center. While middle schoolers don't
generally have "after-care," one could do some really interesting things
with after school activities in combination with the rec center.

Personally, I don't like the location of Langdon because it is not near
Metro. I don't recall if that particular location was discussed. We
already have a truancy problem and having middle schoolers have to
transfer to a bus etc is really difficult. My neighbor goes to Wilson
and I often take her to Metro so she doesn't have to walk. As an
example, she walks 1 mile to Metro, catches a train and then a bus.
Total commute is well over an hour. She did the same thing for middle
school except it was a little more difficult. Has anyone ever been on
Metro when there are bunch of school kids on it? This is an experience
in an of itself.

While this may be an accurate description of your neighborhood, it is
not an accurate description of the Ward.

I disagree with the way the DCPS/DGS has done this as a process, our
kids are in definite need of a middle school and they deserve the best
we can offer.



--- In wa...@yahoogroups.com, "K" <cooperator@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the summary. I attended the Feb. 23 community meeting at
Turkey Thicket but was unable to attend the meeting last night.
>
> I've posted a couple questions to the Brookland Yahoogroup that
haven't gotten any real answers, so I'm wondering if anyone on this list
has more information...?
>
> (I live half a block from the north end of Turkey Thicket and am
opposed to the middle school's co-location there -- as are all of my
neighbors whom I've heard voice an opinion. No one among Turkey
Thicket's immediate residential neighbors -- not even the ANC SMD -- was
consulted about this co-location proposal before the city hired an
architect, set a completion timetable and announced this plan to us at a
meeting on Feb. 23.)
>
> 1. Is there a good reason that Langdon Park hasn't been considered as
the co-location site for the new Ward 5 middle school? Langdon -- which
has lots of space, needs improved recreational facilities, essentially
borders a regional library and is a short bus ride from the Rhode Island
Avenue Metro -- seems to me to be the PERFECT spot to locate this middle
school. Langdon also allows drop-off and pick-up locations for students
that would not detrimentally affect current traffic patterns or Metrobus
routes, as the proposed Turkey Thicket co-location would.
>
> 2. Can someone provide the data being used that explains the urgency
for completing this new middle school by the 2014-2015 school year? I
see a lot of toddlers and babies in my part of the woods, not kids who
will be ready for 6th grade in 2014. City officials keep insisting that
the current timetable MUST BE MET, but they are not telling the public
WHAT JUSTIFIES THIS URGENCY.
>
> --Kathy Sinzinger
>

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Jerome J. Peloquin

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Mar 15, 2013, 9:37:13 PM3/15/13
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Has anyone noticed that the Brookland Inn is gone?
 
 
Jerry in Nostalgia
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Rob

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Mar 16, 2013, 5:05:44 PM3/16/13
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Hey bro.,

I know you responded before we spoke and as we discussed, we don't know who is directing that part.  It is kind of with your spouses - one might think it was their idea, but that "jedi" trick happens all too often and you don't realize that you were a pawn in their bigger plan until too late.  Just don't want you repeating what folks told you -- not that it matters who picked that spot.  From my experience with DCPS --- they only do what they want to do and trust me, Rae Zapata didn't get them to do anything - they don't even like her!!  While she along with others on W5COE (then) did a great job, DCPS saw how it benefitted their agenda - the question is -- what is their agenda? -- what is their master plan? How can we see it and participate on that?? After all -- these are our kids!!

If DCPS were concerned about our kids from a priority perspective -- which is what they should be, this "arts" middle school would have been built first -- as these are the kids who are most at risk.  I really hate when "leaders" get up and speak from their Agenda Filled Perch and get stuck/focused on that agenda that they can't separate deer in a grove of trees from the wolves/snakes/dangers/traps that lay in the depths of a forest.

You and I already spoke and we understand, when you as a CM have to continuously tell leaders something as simple as to  communicate better, yet they come to the community meeting again and do exactly what they want to - sell their agenda - there is almost only BS and trickery that is being served.

A Man -- made of many mistakes I am - that I don't believe the hype just because RAE or DCPS says so!!  So you know, only 10% of communication is verbal -- the rest is non-verbal (facial reactions and posture).  So when I see calm ducks on a pond at the head of ripples, I assume that either their feet are working under the surface/behind the scenes or that is a mechanical duck -- either way -- experience teaches that things are not all above the surface with DCPS.  That being said,  we have to be that "protesting few" until we can shake the truth out and try to get what is best for ALL!!! --- even if the playground people don't give a da** about the school or the seniors -- every bit helps!!!

So everyone, don"t believe the hype -- to me -- it seems like DCPS only does what is in the best interest of their Agenda -- What Rhee/Kaya and their directors want to accomplish -- good and bad!!!  Too bad that we are always the last to find anything out and 1st to be injured/displaced.

Rob Ramson

 

One point of clarification: the location was not chosen by DCPS or DGS - it was a push from the education folks in the ward several years ago.

> On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 2:41 PM, Eric <ericindc@...> wrote:
>
> > **

> --
> R. Ramson
> 3744 12th Street, N.E.,
> Washington D.C., 20017
> 202-438-5988
>
> "We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
> (Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)
>

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Rob

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Mar 17, 2013, 11:51:26 AM3/17/13
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Good Morning Mrs. KPW,
 
I spoke to one of the owners of the houses on Shepherd -- behind the School current parking lot and the northern most tennis courts and close to 10th Street.  She wasn't against the idea.  It was her neighbors Sabbath, so I decided to respect their religious day and will visit them another day.  The 3rd person is a renter who happens to be a DCPS teacher.  She is supposed to pass along my number to the owner. 
 
That's how that went. 
 
As to the orientation of the school -- Flipping of the School to the Southern tip of Turkey Thicket (10th and Perry - by the gas station) allows for a real Athletic field with the ability to play Football and Soccer as well as a real Track around the field.  To me, that would be much more utilized by kids (field) and the Community (Track) and we might be able to coordinate intermural soccer for kids.  As it stands, our kids hardly utilize the Baseball area.  It also allows for space for the Playground, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, etc. 
 
Just my opinion if the location is to be kept there -- I understand that we have a curricullum, $50 Million Dollars for a ARTS Middle School (regardless of location) -- so a Middle School can go anywhere.
 
Also, we shouldn't confuse MIDDLE of the WARD with MIDDLE of where Kids would utilize the space -- which may be Langdon if Marshall (nicer and with a pool)  was used for our Elementary instead of pushing the kids to Langdon and vacating Marshall. 
 
In My Opinion -- other than keeping space at Turkey Thicket for a State-of-the-Art Recreation Center where we could have real deal programs through the entire year -- Since we are in the Budget Season and going in with a SURPLUS, The Best Flip Flop is if we had money put in the Budget for an Elementary School, put an elementary school at Brooklland and put the Middle School at Bunker Hill where we have the Land Space.   
 
We have waited this long and in my opinion, while it would be nice to have a "beautiful School", some paint, some recreational upgrades like merely cutting grass and putting in nice goal posts at Bunker hill, some TEACHERS and a serious focus on Reading and Math with our elementary would be more instantly successful as to "EDUCATING" our young out of their current state of being.
 
Rob Ramson

On Sun, Mar 17, 2013 at 10:43 AM, KPW <WK...@aol.com> wrote:
 

I would like to see just two models:  the best co-location option upgraded and an outstanding standalone option.  Then let's take a vote, with revisions as necessary.  Even if there were the possibility of co-location, there should be a separate gym.  I still prefer that the school be located where it is.  Someone suggested seeing if the house at 12th and Michigan could be bought to be included for the school.


KPW

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Rob

unread,
Mar 17, 2013, 3:03:56 PM3/17/13
to wa...@yahoogroups.com, Ward 5 Google Groups
Mrs. KPW,
 
Taking into consideration that the Mayor is projecting the population on Washington DC to increase by 250,000 over the next 20 years, this is somewhat a short sighted vision of Space Usage.  I say this because Rec. Center space is not even being introduced into the equation.  I like the Mayor's plan to create a walking/neighborhood City -- the problem is with some of the Priorities/needs being identified and incorporated -- this being one of them from a Rec. Center position. 
 
Ward 5 is going to be a landing zone for a lot of that additional 250,000 and we do need a year round facility for Recreation that can occupy our kids as well as our adult population.  Turkey Thicket is a good place for that.  Now that being said, a broader view should be incorporated into all the schools and understand the dynamics of what could be utilized with them like maximizing uses of Bunker Hill, Langdon, Backus (YES BACKUS), Taft, Hamilton and Marshall.  Heterosexual folks will be having kids and Homosexual will be adopting.
 
If we are truly pushing "Green" we have 3 months of inactivity for adults and kids that is not accounted for in the planning as well as a definite lack of coordination on intermural sports that would make this city more Children Active -- that is if they are really concerned about the obeisity and other health issues. 
 
I know some want "Great" Schools but while buildings are great, we are losing kids all day long to an overall ineffective curricullum and programming.
 
Maybe they can host a Real Community Overall Planning Session at Luke C. Moore so that we can really ask all the questions, really SEE MORE, and line item things that are important short/long term and build accordingly. 
 
Rob Ramson

On Sun, Mar 17, 2013 at 12:05 PM, KPW <WK...@aol.com> wrote:
 

Good ideas.  Now how do we get them incorporated in the discussion with the other list of ideas.  Maybe Faith Hubbard, head of the Ward 5 Council on Education can submit them as suggestions from the community and/or Councilmember McDuffie can do the same.  Maybe someone can go through the comments on this listserv and others and compile suggestions, ideas, comments.  We wouldn't rule anything out during this braining storming session and value all ideas as an opinion.  This would be our requirements gathering phase.  Circulate the ideas before the meeting, which I would hope would be by the Easter weekend, Saturday, March 30th.  Maybe we could be ready for a vote by then or a week or two afterwards.  I think that the decision is to made between three and five weeks.  We weren't given an exact date.  


--KPW


-----Original Message-----
From: Rob <indi...@gmail.com>
To: ward5 <wa...@yahoogroups.com>; Ward 5 Google Groups <ward...@googlegroups.com>

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