Better Buildings: Better Schools

Monthly news on DC Public School Facilities from the 21st Century School Fund (21CSF), a Washington DC based, nonprofit - working to build the public will and capacity to improve urban public school facilities.

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Planning for Next Year’s School Budget

The DCPS budget for this year (fiscal year 2004) is now being finalized, and the process of structuring the budget for next year (fiscal year 2005) is just beginning. Two public hearings have been scheduled:

Roundtable Hearing: Monday, November 3, 2003, >5:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for students, parents, advocacy groups, principals, and teachers to discuss their concerns about next year’s DCPS budget with members of the Board of Education and the Superintendent.

Formal Hearing: Wednesday, November 12, 2003, 5:30 p.m.  The Board of Education and Superintendent will present a summary of the board’s funding request for FY05, and identify DCPS objectives for the year. Interested parties may testify at this hearing also.

Both hearings are at : 825 N. Capital St., NE, in the 5^th floor hearing room. Contact Kenneth Battle at 202-442-5437 or email (james.battle@k12.dc.us) to sign up to testify.

Areas likely to need public attention:

• The additional $21 million promised by the Mayor and Council this year cannot be counted on again next year; therefore, a $21 million reduction contingency has to be figured into next year’s budget.
• Enrollment in DCPS is reportedly down by 1500 students, which will further reduce the 2005 budget by $15 million.
• Board members are also thinking about consolidating and closing schools in the near future because of declining enrollments.
• How should cuts be made? The administration and board members are weighing whether the elimination of whole categories of programs or positions should be required across the board at every school or if the principals and LSRTs (Local School Restructuring Teams) should be allowed to determine how best to make changes at their individual schools. Board members are aware that local school budget reductions have already cut into staff and programs this year.

Facilities Master Plan Update

As reported in our June issue this year, the DCPS Office of Facilities Management (OFM) is in the process of updating the Facilities Master Plan that was adopted by the Board of Education in 2001. The update covers a number of issues that need to be solved for improved facilities planning: school boundaries, enrollments and capacities, grade configurations, capital improvement program budgeting, and charter schools. A series of community meetings were held around the city during the spring and summer of this year, to attempt to get community input. The draft update is scheduled to be presented by OFM to the Board’s Facilities & Finance Committee on November 18^th at 3:30 p.m., and it’s not known what the next steps will be. This November meeting is open to the public. Check with the Board at 442-5437 to confirm the time.

Community Build of Bancroft ES Playground

Put on your old clothes and come build a new playground with PlayStart, a committee of parents, teachers, and community members in Mt. Pleasant. Give us a few hours on Saturday, November 8^th between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and we will give you a goblin’s den, fire truck, scrambler, daisy, and climb & slide. Help to unload the truck, dig holes, pour cement, or work in teams to assemble the playground equipment. Bring food and friends. Come for two hours or work all day. To sign up or for more information, contact Katia Garrett at katiagarrett@starpower.net or 202-745-6345. Bancroft is two blocks from the #42 bus terminus; 5 blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro on the green line.

Medical Homes DC: A New Healthcare Project

21CSF is a member of a consortium of local nonprofit, governmental, and private institutions that recently received a federal grant to improve the quality and effectiveness of local primary care clinics serving uninsured and underinsured residents of D.C. The grant provides one year of initial funding, with two additional years if goals are met. The project mission is that every low-income person will have a “medical home”—a comprehensive and reliable source of regular care located in his or her community. The role of 21CSF in this project will be to provide a link to the DCPS Capital Improvement Program, and to look for opportunities to locate some health clinics in schools as they are modernized. The official project start date will be November 1^st, and a community forum is tentatively scheduled for January 22^nd.

For more information, contact:

Jordan Spooner: (202) 745-3745 x 16 jspooner@21csf.org