Comments on DCPS closing 20 schools, including Spingarn - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by Geoffrey Hatchard

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:19:28 EDT

Comparing the school system to other urban systems regarding population, use of space, geographic layout of a neighborhood-based school system makes sense, but why oh why does DCPS continue to compare itself to Fairfax County on these metrics? It's just like comparing DC to other states on metrics like "miles driven per capita" or something like that.

Mostly pointless, in other words.

Comment by goldfish

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:47:02 EDT

Thinking more about the school-age population issue...

The population chart shows that by 2020, a mere 7 school years from now, the DCPS enrollment will exceed its existing capacity, that is before the proposed closing are carried out. And after that the enrollment grows sharply for the foreseeable future.

Given it how long it takes, DCPS should be well along in the process of making this needed capacity. The chancellor should be appearing before the city council asking for the money for these new buildings (imagine the irony of closing buildings and then asking for money for new ones), there should be meetings with ANCs and other neighborhood groups about citing and planning, etc. That is, if DCPS and its chancellor believes this data.

But there is none of that. So I conclude that the plan to retain the buildings is nothing more than DCPS attempting to deny transferring these empty buildings to its competition, the charter schools.

Comment by goldfish

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:52:42 EDT

@Tim: the DC school age population will GROW BY 55%

Reflecting on this, it occurs to me that this was merely ASSERTED, citing only the DC office of planning. I have trouble believing it without something to back it up.

On its face this appears to be a play by DCPS to deny charters empty school buildings.

Comment by Tim

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:14:50 EDT

An amazing fact in article, and one not well mentioned by WashPost, is that between 2015-2022 the DC school age population will GROW BY 55%. That is huge and just around the corner. So hold your breath and hold onto some school buildings. Of course, where that growth occurs and what schools these parents opt for is key. Not mentioned at all yet: will private schools handle some of that increase? Will they 'skim the cream.'

Comment by Mike Silverstein

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:32:05 EDT

The planned closure of Francis-Stevens would leave the rapidly growing Foggy Bottom-West End neighborhood without an elementary school. The area has seen population growth with new condo residences at the former Columbia Hospital site, on 25th Street, and on Washington Circle. Soon, ground will be broken for the Eastbanc development with even more residences.

A growing number of young families have moved into the neighborhood, and some have already enrolled their children in pre-K and K programs at FS. These are people who have chosen to live in a walkable neighborhood, and you have to wonder how many of them would stay and send their kids up to Marie Reed. Walkable neighborhoods are vastly improved with neighborhood schools.

Decisions about school closings should always take into account the dynamics of DC demographics, and consider that enrollment can - or should - increase in neighborhoods like Foggy Bottom/West End and NoMa, where population is increasing.

Comment by TM

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:35:04 EDT

@tom

Well, actually Amy Carter went to Stevens, which is already in the process of getting sold to a developer. This is the old Francis school, that became Francis-Stevens after the elementary school was closed and consolidated into the middle school. Amy Carter did go to a public middle school, but it was Hardy, not Francis.

Comment by Tom Coumaris

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:18:05 EDT

Other motives in keeping closed schools? :

""Keeping the leases also allows DCPS to keep a charter school from moving into vacated buildings within blocks of remaining DCPS schools, as was the case when Ward 8's MC Terrell and McGogney elementaries were consolidated in 2008. The charter attracted Terrell/McGogney's would-be students, and now the school is on the chopping block.""

http://washingtonexaminer.com/dcps-proposes-closing-20-schools/article/2513374#.UKPCSsVY27w

And Stevens was an odd location for a school even back when Amy Carter went there.

Comment by Kate

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:51:45 EDT

@Novanglus: That sounds like a good plan but I'm a little worried about how it's going to play out in reality.

Comment by Novanglus

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:30:33 EDT

@Kate: According to the DCPS details, they want to equip the neighborhood schools to provide those services, instead of sending the to a facility outside their neighborhood.

@Adam: on Google maps, GP looks like it has the same footprint as the Ellington building. But they can make up for any loss of space by using nearby arts spaces. Yes it would need extensive renovation, but it would anyway.

Comment by Transport.

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:07:02 EDT

A bit off topic, but I've always thought Spingarn was Springarn.

Comment by Kate

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:50:01 EDT

Much of this makes sense to me, but I'm a little confused by the plan to close Prospect Learning Center (for students with disabilities) and return those kids to neighborhood schools. Aren't those kids at Prospect because their neighborhood school isn't equipped to meet their needs?

Comment by H Street LL

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:38:34 EDT

Brilliant move re: Springarn. I think it will allow the streetcar to be placed there and makes perfect sense.

Comment by MLD

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:04:44 EDT

Seems like Henderson is continuing to evaluate closings and the public does not protest. It's not even news.

This information was released at 4PM today, so I'm not sure how you could say that there's no protest - people likely haven't even read about it...

Comment by HogWash

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:50:49 EDT

Seems like Henderson is continuing to evaluate closings and the public does not protest. It's not even news.

Malcolm X looks like a small detention center. No windows. It should close. I saw the superb work those guys performed during the summer in transforming Turner from an abandoned eyesore to a much more impressive facility in line w/the streetscape. Even the small garden is nice.

*Although I'm not sure what's the plan for the new tennis court. It's nice though*

The city keep humming along...

Comment by Ward 1 Guy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:20:09 EDT

Steve S. you just read my mind. The gym renovation to Garnet-Patterson a few years back was positively destructive to the U Street streetscape. It would be nice to see that brick wall transformed into an entrance to something.

Comment by Steve S.

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:59:25 EDT

So, Garnet-Patterson is closing altogether? If so, that's good, a stupid blank wall facing U-Street and the metro entrance should go.

Comment by David Alpert

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:57:27 EDT

We've got the maps up now. Matt Johnson was making them but I wasn't able to get them in because I was on the way to the Long Bridge study meeting. They're in now.

Comment by MLD

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:53:17 EDT

They are closing a high school, doesn't that mean they have too many already? Is there any demand whatsoever for an additional high school in Western? While Wilson doesn't directly take out-of-boundary kids there are plenty of out-of-boundary kids at the feeder middle schools who attend Wilson.

Comment by Adam

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:44:49 EDT

@Novanglus

Not sure the Garnet-Peterson site is large enough. If it is, it will need extensive renovation. Otherwise, it seems like it could be a good move.

Comment by Novanglus

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:41:53 EDT

Here's an idea, combining with a post from a few days ago: move Ellington HS to the Garnet-Peterson site and reopen Western as a neighborhood HS.

Garnet-Peterson is a great location for an arts school, right on the U St corridor where so many DC performing arts greats got their start (including Ellington himself). It could even be an open campus that uses the Lincoln and Howard Theatres, Reeves Center, and even private spaces like the U St Music Hall or 930 Club which are empty during the school day. Plus, there's a potential for collaboration with the great arts department at Howard U.

Comment by rsn

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:28:10 EDT

Minor correction - Marshall will be moving to "Langdon," not "Langton."

Comment by Tom Veil

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:16:23 EDT

Why didn't DCPS include a map of the closures in the PDF? Is there one somewhere else? Referring to locations by ward is maddeningly inexact.

Comment by drumz

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:15:58 EDT

To credit Fairfax county, it has something like 125 elementary schools most of those are eminently walkable since they're located in the actual culs de sac. It's the middle and high schools you have to drive/take a bus to.

Comment by Bobbi shaftoe

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:14:08 EDT

Why does Chancellor Kaya Henderson sound like a robot in the call I just got re: school closings? DCPS is taking the robocall to a whole new level.

Comment by drumz

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:13:16 EDT

Actually this is just a ploy to move the repair site into the actual spingarn building. The proposed maintenance shed will now be converted into condos and fro-yo places.

Comment by Dizzy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:07:14 EDT

Oooo! Cunning move, Mr. Mayor, more clever than I had expected. So now the streetcar will be predicated on the barn, which is predicated on the status of Spingarn. The battle over its closure will stretch on for a nice long time, and then the historical designation question. The streetcar's status as perpetually "coming soon!" is frozen in amber for years to come, mollifying both sides. Well done indeed.