Good Morning Everyone,
First, folks should know that Faith (President of W5COE) truly expressed (eloquently as well as extremely passionately) her total dissappointment (being blindsided) with the presentation of a totally different design than what was previously seen. I must say thanks for someone finally expressing the frustration level in them that so many others share but folks in the comunity have come to think that only a "protesting few" seem to reside. For clarity, almost everyone I know share a similar frustration but don't express it -- point being that it is almost hopeless because even though so many share the frustated feelings, not many speak up - for political and private reasons.
But it was great to see someone who is so Cool and Collective become "unbuttoned" and finally let out the frustration that some of us "protesting few" feel. Now, maybe if the rest of you could bravely come forth and let out your frustration, our "leaders" might hear it.
It was also great to see the similar heated frustration expressed by a very mixed audience of age and racial attendees.
Now and not that my thoughts make a difference:
1. As identified by the Architechs in their Design -- The Brookland School is not the right site to accomplish a middle school - as in order to make this work, they felt the need INFRINGE UPON in much of the Recreation Center site including the Gym to provide adequate services for the School Kids.
Before I go forward, let me say that if we are truly looking to evolve our community to provide all the Services that we need to be a "futuristic" community (especially with all the development already approved) (NOT To mention all the development that has not been realized (Soldiers Home, Irving/North Capitol, McMillian, Comcast Track North of Catholic Univ. by the Bridge, etc), WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO HAVE A STATE OF THE ART RECREATIONAL CENTER - one that has indoor facilities for the Cold Months that is large enough to accommodate much more than what is Current Provided for -- which is not much at all. I am sure that we can build up on the Current site but we also need the space to host Fields for different intramural sports including a track and other activity spaces for all to enjoy -- not just our kids. So that Brookland School Site really should be looked at from the direction of expanding our Turkey Thicket Recreational Center to accomodate those who already live here as well as for all who are coming.
Ask yourself -- How many of you utilize Turkey Thicket right now. If it was a proper Rec. Center, a futuristic Rec Center, a Rec. Center that would be inclusive not only of our youth and our Seniors but adult population between 18-55, how many more of us would utilize it -- let's allow for that opportunity. Ajust your viewfinders and really think outside of the Box. This Rec. Center could be a site that is truly extraordinary (almost Country Clubish) in the middle of the city for the General Public. So, Picture this - instead of a School on that Site - Picture a large space where kids could ride their bikes, skateboard, have indoor tennis, a bowling alley, real pool tables, badmington, indoor hockey/soccer, an ice skating rink, a real track for all of us to enjoy etc. Just think of a true Rec Center for our entire Community. That is if we are truly trying to design a green approach/lifestyle here in the City. Now, ask yourself -- how many more of us would love to utilize a Rec. Center like described above??
2. This Brookland School is just a bad location as there is too much congestion already around and further creating traffic congestion with School Buses, Cars and increased residential vechicle ownership (while we are being sold this "walking"/"metro"/"biking" Green approach to living, they are moving towards "green" vehicles and people will always need the use for vehicles. Let's be truly futuristic in our approach!!
3. Let's look at Who they are building this facility for and why they are squeezing this into this site. Is this site really for everyone or a DCPS School fallback facility to guide our current ward 5 kids towards this "Art" focused school. Are White Families going to send their kids here or are their kids going to attend the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curricullum. While some Whites may be sending their children to this ARTS school, lots won't be --- not for years -- let's be real!! So, while our existing kids deserve a nice school, maybe we should think of all the expansive things that a school could evolve into if the space allowed for it. Inner City Kids needs to have the same options made available as kids who grew up in suburban areas because their parents had the opportunity to move out/raised there and not be affected by the parasidic environmental issues in large parts of our city over the last 30 years.
4. Following this train of thought -- if we are trying to improve our youth instead of just graduating them in an artistic approach to life, then we really need to look at growing/marketing/creating an environment that is condusive to education as well as having the ability to grow the enrollment, the educational experience as well as the extensive Sports needs of a middle School. So we are aware, while kids may be behind academically, that doesn't mean they can't catch up and be prepared for a college/technical service work environment.
5. With the growth of Charters (Rocketship and the rest), can we utilize this as an opportunity to grow our Public Schools. Lets place this Middle School at a location like Backus -- Which is now available and is a much more suitable location. Backus is much better suited to host the type of outdoor and indoor needs of our middle school youth if we are planning to be a school system that is providing the type of opportunities that kids in Potomac have available to them.
6. Now -- here is the tough part to evolve to -- we need to build a school where we will be able to create a "Boarding School" atmosphere adjacent to it to house our Truant/troubled Kids. A place that will be able to utilize some of the same facilities/staff without incurring the cost of operation/maintenance of a separate space for our kids who need some extra attention to guide/mentor/educate them back into a more civil, educated community structure -- that is if we are truly talking of saving our kids and getting them off of the track to prison. Let's not avoid the 2600 Children who are part of the truancy issue.
BACKUS and TAFT are great options. Preferably BACKUS with UDC having serious financial issues and that site being more condusive to hosting a complete Middle School, parking, buses, fields/sports, etc.
Hope this is helpful.
Rob Ramson
On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 9:24 PM, KPW <WKPW3@aol.com> wrote:
Thank you for posting this. Someone mentioned the meeting today and I wasn't sure what was going on. What is the co-location about and why is there a need for a modernized recreation center? Turkey Thicket was rebuilt not that many years agIs there a link to the plans. I got tied up Monday and seemed to miss important community meetings. Please keep us informed.
KPW
-----Original Message-----
From: Ward Five Council on Education <ward5coe@gmail.com>
To: ward5 <ward5@yahoogroups.com>; ward5coe-members <ward5coe-members@googlegroups.com>; wardfive <wardfive@googlegroups.com>
Cc: brookland_kids <brookland_kids@yahoogroups.com>; Brookland <Brookland@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 27, 2013 9:15 pm
Subject: [ward5] W5COE Statement: Brookland Middle and Turkey Thicket
Dear Ward 5,
The 'co-location' plan that was presented on yesterday's meeting at Turkey Thicket - which was hosted by DGS, DCPS and DPR - was a complete surprise to not only the Brookland School Improvement Team but also the the Ward Five Council on Education. The Ward Five Council on Education has been working with this initiative from its inception and has been committed to not only improving the quality of education in Ward 5 with a new middle school but we have also been committed to continuous and transparent engagement.
The 'co-location' rendering that was presented on yesterday is NOT representative of the hard work and time that we have dedicated to this initiative. We do believe that having a new middle school AND a modernized recreation center is possible and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the Ward 5 community gets the respect, quality education, and recreational facilities that we deserve. The decision to have separate or co-located facilities is a decision that the community should be able to decide upon through actual community engagement and deliberation.
Since last nights meeting we have taken steps to remedy this unfortunate situation and we ask that you join us in our efforts. We would like to invite you to join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, March 19th from 6:30-9pm at the Lamond-Riggs Library.
We do realize that our meeting is not the immediate solution so we also urge you to email our elected and agency representatives to let our concerns be known. The more residents they hear from the better!The more voices they hear from, the better. The emails are:
kmcduffie@dccouncil.us - Ward 5 councilmember
dgrosso@dccouncil.us - At-Large councilmember (resident of Brookland)
vorange@dccouncil.us - At-Large councilmember (resident of Ward 5)abonds@dccouncil.us - At-Large councilmember (resident of Ward 5)< a href="mailto:jackie.stanley%40dc.gov">jackie.stanley@dc.gov - DC Government Community Outreach who has worked
jesus.aguirre@dc.gov - Head of DPR
on the PlayDC project
darrell.pressley@dc.gov - Press Secretary, DGS
mquadrino@programmanagers.com - Project Manager, Brailsford & Dunlaveykaya.henderson@dc.gov - DCPS Chancellorshanita.burney@dc.gov - Ward 5 DCPS Liaisonjennifer.skates@dc.gov - Ward 5 DCPS Lia ison
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us - our contact information can be found below.
Yours in Service,Faith Hubbard, PresidentThe Ward Five Council on Educationfg1913@gmail.com< /font>----The Ward Five Council on Education
Join our listserv!
Phone: 202-505-4309
Email: ward5coe@gmail.com
Foll ow us on Twitter: @Ward5EdCouncil
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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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