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.
--- In ward5@yahoogroups.com, Rob <indianrob@...> wrote:
>
> 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 <ericindc@...> 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 ward5@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
> > >
> > > --- In ward5@yahoogroups.com, KPW WKPW3@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > 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
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> 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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