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Better D.C. Schools Email Update

November, 2002 - Issue #6

This email update is provided by the 21st Century School Fund, an education nonprofit in Washington, DC, and is designed to provide our community with information about the efforts of 21CSF and other local education advocates to improve the District of Columbia Public Schools. It is sent out the last week of each month. If you know of someone who would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you would like your email address removed from this list, then please email us at newsletter@21csf.org.

DCPS in Process of Developing its FY04 Operating and Capital Budgets

Over this past month, DCPS has worked on developing its FY04 operating and capital budgets for submission to the Mayor. Public roundtables were held to obtain community input on the operating budget (on 11/21) and the capital budget (on l1/26). One more public hearing is scheduled concerning the operating budget for Thursday, December 5th at 7:30PM at Ballou SHS (3401 4th St, SE). The Board will be voting on these budgets at a public meeting on December 9th (at 825 N. Capital St, 5th floor), and then submitting them to the Mayor by December 23rd.

21st Century School Fund Releases Report on Teacher Attitudes about Facilities

On November 14th, the 21st Century School Fund held a press conference at the American Federation of Teachers to announce the release of a report on teacher attitudes about school facilities. The report was based on a research survey conducted this past spring by the 21st Century School Fund and the Washington Teachers Union (as well as the Chicago Teachers Union and Neighborhood Capital Budget Group) of school teachers in Washington, DC and Chicago, IL. The research found that poor facility conditions in D.C. and Chicago public schools adversely affect student achievement, and teacher productivity and retention. D.C. teachers gave their schools worse ratings than did the Chicago teachers, with more than 50% stating dissatisfaction with their facilities, and more than 40% labeling their school facilities inadequate. For a full copy of the report, please see the 21st Century School Fund website at www.21csf.org.

Board of Education Continues Work on Out-of-Boundary Policy

The Board of Education has been working hard on this issue, aiming to have a policy finalized before the end of December. A public hearing on the proposed policy was held on November 12, and a public discussion on the afternoon of November 22. The policy is still evolving, with discretionary transfers possibly to be allowed for reasons such as attendance at a feeder school, sibling attendance, reasonable walking distance from home, the school’s proximity to day care or a parent’s workplace, special curricular offerings, or simple preference for the school. No meeting has been set to date for a vote on the new policy. Check with the Board of Education (442-5190; www.k12.dc.us) for the latest policy version and meeting schedules.

Update on DCPS Capital Improvement Program

The following is a school-by-school update on the DCPS program to modernize or replace all of its public schools buildings. (Source: DCPS/Office of Facilities Management Monthly Report, November 26, 2002.)

School---Current Status---Estimated Completion
Anacostia HS---Education Specifications (90% complete)---To be determined
Barnard ES---Construction (90% complete)---12/02
Bell/Lincoln HS/MS—--Construction (0% done)--—8/05
Birney ES---Design (35% complete); Construction planned for 7/03---12/04
Brightwood ES---Design (15% complete); Construction planned for 9/03---8/05
Cardozo HS---Education Specifications (90% complete)---To be determined
Cleveland ES---Construction Phase 2 (20% complete)--—8/03
Cooke ES---Design (11% complete); Construction planned for 9/03---12/04
Deal JHS---Education Specifications (90% complete)---To be determined
Hardy MS---Design (15% complete); Construction planned for 9/03—--1/05
Kelly Miller MS---Construction Phase 2(50% complete)---8/03
Key ES---Construction Phase 3(15% complete)---To be determined
Kramer MS---Education Specifications (70% complete)---To be determined
Luke C Moore HS---Design (99% complete); Construction planned for 3/03---8/04
MacFarland MS---Education Specifications (90% complete)---To be determined
McKinley Tech HS---Construction Phase 2(60% complete)---7/04
Miner ES---Construction (94% complete)---12/02
Noyes ES---Construction Phase 2(17% complete)---11/03
Patterson ES---Construction Phase 2(12% complete)---12/03
Phelps HS---Feasibility study (99% complete)---To be determined
Randle Highlands ES---Construction Phase 3(?% complete)---To be determined
RH Terrell JHS---Education Specifications (95% complete)---To be determined
Ross ES---Education Specifications (95% complete)---To be determined
Slowe ES---Education Specifications (95% complete)---To be determined
Smothers ES---Education Specifications (95% complete)---To be determined
Sousa MS---Design (15% complete); Construction planned for 10/03---7/05
Thomas ES---Design (95% complete); Construction planned for 2/03---8/04
Thomson ES---Construction Phase 1 (50% complete)---5/04
Walker Jones ES---Design (40% complete); Construction planned for 7/03--12/04
Wheatley ES---Design (60% complete); Construction planned for 2/03---7/04
Woodson HS---Design (20% complete); Construction planned for 10/03---12/05

For more information, contact:

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