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Better D.C. Schools Email Update

March 31, 2003 - Issue #9

This email update is provided by the 21st Century School Fund (21CSF), 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 at improving 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.

FY 2004 DCPS Budget Development Process Continues

On March 25th, the City Council’s committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation held a public hearing on the DCPS FY03 operating and capital budgets. More than 80 members of the general public signed up to testify. Students from Bruce Monroe, Oyster, and School Without Walls testified first, about conditions in their schools and the need to support education. Testimony then followed from the Board of Education, DCPS Administration, and the general public. Council members in attendance were Chavous, Fenty and Ambrose (Schwartz attended briefly), however, only Chavous remained for the public testimony. To his credit, Superintendent Vance stayed in the audience to the end, listening to everyone who spoke.

Council members expressed particular concern about the shortfall in the capital budget, and the effect it might have on the schedule for re-building our schools and the continued need for more building maintenance and repair. There were also sharp statements Council members about the recent DCPS discovery that there are 600 non-budgeted employees on the payroll (half of them in transportation). Generally, the prognosis for the DCPS ’04 budget does not look good.

There will be a follow-up hearing on April 11 at 10:00 in hearing room 412 of the Wilson Bldg (1350 Penn Ave, NW), so that the committee can further question the Board of Education and the Administration. No public testimony will be taken at that time. The committee’s budget mark-up session for the DCPS, Parks & Recreation, and Libraries budgets will be on April 15 at 2:00 in the Council Chamber. There will be no public testimony at that session either.

Update on DCPS Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

We are once again unable to provide project updates at this time, since DCPS has not provided any information. This has no occurred for two months in a row.

Update on Staggered Bells Planning

At the request of DCPS Administration, a proposal for staggered bells was scheduled for a vote at a Board of Education meeting on March 19. The proposal involves a two-tiered system: most elementary schools and some middle schools would run from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm; and some elementary and middle schools, and all junior high, senior high, and city-wide schools would run from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. The expectation is that the system will save money because bus drivers for special education students could make two runs every morning and afternoon.

However, the Board decided to postpone the vote until their April meeting. They asked for more details about how the system would be implemented; how much money would be saved; how many busses would be freed up for field trips; and what costs would be incurred. With the vote coming up this month, be sure to contact your Board members if you want your opinion heard.

City Council Holds Hearing on School Vouchers

On March 15th, Councilmember Kevin Chavous held a City Council hearing on school vouchers in D.C. The hearing dealt solely with the issue of proposed federal legislation to impose vouchers in the District. Pro-voucher advocates rallied many parents to testify. Those supporting vouchers focused primarily on improving individual student’s educational experience, with little mention of how vouchers would improve the school system as a whole. Only two people out of a total of 34 on the testimony list voiced concerns about vouchers. Jeff Edmondson of the 21st Century School Fund testified that vouchers are an unproven reform that would fragment school communities that are needed for effective school reform. Councilman Adrian Fenty also expressed strong opposition to vouchers, while Councilman David Catania was a strong supporter. The hearing was held on the same date at the DCPS Parent Conference and hence many parents were unable to testify. However, it is important that those who oppose vouchers get organized to ensure their voice is heard.

For more information, contact:

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