Comments on: ANC Round Up: Let There Be Neon Light

By: Ken Archer

Ken Archer — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:30:46 +0000

Last night’s announcement by Michelle Rhee – that Patrick Pope will lead a new truly magnet middle school, and Hyde’s own Dana Nerenberg will lead a combined K-8 program at Hyde-Addison and Hardy – illustrates the folly of passing resolutions based on rumors and half-truths.

Commissioner Starrels presented his resolution based on a literal half-truth – that Pope would be simply fired. The whole truth is a decision that most Georgetown parents will support. Hopefully our ANC will not pass these types of resolutions again.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:58:11 +0000

The neon sign is long overdue, though I’m suprised it would cost $50,000.

Any guesses on which other DC neighborhood has its name in lights? Not Dupont, not Adams Morgan… see http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvjantzen/4137277338/

By: GM

GM — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:24:04 +0000

Deal has about a 57% in-boundary attendance. While that lags Janney’s (79%) and Murch’s (67%) it is miles ahead of Hardy’s (14%) [although those numbers may reflect the years when Hardy was located across town. Either way, I'd be shocked if Hardy's current in-boundary numbers are anywhere near Deal's].

So I would say that’s pretty solid evidence that NW parents are more comfortable with Deal than Georgetown parents are comfortable with Hardy.

By: mccxxiii

mccxxiii — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:59:57 +0000

Are there really that many Upper NW parents who are “comfortable” with Alice Deal?

Murch? Sure. Janney? Absolutely.

Not sure about Deal, though. Things get a little dicey once you hit middle school.

By: Ken Archer

Ken Archer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:07:34 +0000

I think Georgetown parents will be surprised to learn of the resolution opposing any firing of Principal Pope.

The clear consensus, from my discussions, of Georgetown parents is that they want to see improvements in Hardy (well beyond 69% math and 73% reading proficiency) and they are willing to trust Rhee’s judgment in how to make those improvements.

At the very least, the primary thrust of the resolution should have been that the ANC wants to see further improvements, with a secondary claim that they see Pope as critical to those improvements.

By: GM

GM — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:33:41 +0000

I’d love to see them get rid of that formstone too. Bringing it back to its Art Nouveau origins is probably too much to wish for, but at least it could look a bit less like the set for the Wire.

By: William

William — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:08:23 +0000

That is wonderful news about the sign. I kind of like the blue and gray since those are the University colors, but anything to help cure that block or so of blight and bring back this landmark, albeit incrementally, is a good thing.