Posts with the tag Schools. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tag/schools/ en-us http://greatergreatereducation.org/post/18298/dcps-will-consolidate-all-elementary-schools-into-one/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/afoc/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">O. Vera Cheever</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/shefftim/4771777287/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shefftim/4771777287/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201303/311652.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by SheffTim on Flickr.</div>Building on its successful effort to consolidate schools, DC Public Schools announced a new round of school closures. The new policy, tentatively named "One City, One School, will combine all city elementary schools into one campus, removing the wasteful overhead of running multiple elementary schools.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreatereducation.org/post/18298/dcps-will-consolidate-all-elementary-schools-into-one/" style="color: black">Read more at Greater Greater Education &raquo;</a></p> http://greatergreatereducation.org/post.cgi?id=18298 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:17:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18031/too-many-schools/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Are we <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-fourth-problem-with-schools.html', '18031')" href="http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-fourth-problem-with-schools.html" style="color: black">building too many schools</a>? Richard Layman calls the rush to build schools even though enrollment is relatively flat "the market run amok."<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18031/too-many-schools/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18031 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:37:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17407/some-schools-survive/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson will <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2013/01/school_closures.php', '17407')" href="http://dcist.com/2013/01/school_closures.php" style="color: black">keep some schools open</a> she had proposed closing, including Garrison and Francis-Stevens in Ward 2, Johnson and Malcolm X in 8, and and Smothers in 7. (DCist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17407/some-schools-survive/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16779/dcps-closing-20-schools-including-spingarn/ style="color: black">DCPS closing 20 schools, including Spingarn</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 13, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16762/dc-drifting-towards-separate-school-systems-are-they-equal/ style="color: black">DC drifting towards separate school systems. Are they equal?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 16, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7658/henderson-could-be-just-what-dc-schools-need/ style="color: black">Henderson could be just what DC schools need</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 18, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12983/dcps-cancels-promised-arts-magnet-middle-school/ style="color: black">DCPS cancels promised arts magnet middle school</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 8, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13349/mayor-gray-should-keep-promises-on-education-funding/ style="color: black">Mayor Gray should keep promises on education funding</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 17, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17407 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:42:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17418/school-closings-have-costs/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Is the pattern of regularly closing DCPS schools <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/01/shrinking-to-oblivion-managing-demise.html', '17418')" href="http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/01/shrinking-to-oblivion-managing-demise.html" style="color: black">the equivalent of a transit death spiral</a>? DCPS estimates this round of closings <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/15-public-schools-to-be-closed-in-d.c./article/2518988', '17418')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/15-public-schools-to-be-closed-in-d.c./article/2518988" style="color: black">will save $8.5 million per year</a>, but others disagree, and Muriel Bowser and Yvette Alexander worry many kids won't have alternatives in their neighborhoods. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17418/school-closings-have-costs/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17418 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:42:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17286/omalley-wants-more-and-cooler-schools/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Maryland's governor proposed spending $336 million to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/omalley-proposes-336-million-to-fund-public-school-construction-upgrades/2013/01/07/7de48142-5906-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_story.html', '17286')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/omalley-proposes-336-million-to-fund-public-school-construction-upgrades/2013/01/07/7de48142-5906-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_story.html" style="color: black">build and improve schools</a> in the state, and to add air conditioning to the 180 of 1,400 schools without it. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17286/omalley-wants-more-and-cooler-schools/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17286 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:38:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16779/dcps-closing-20-schools-including-spingarn/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> and <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/karcher/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Ken Archer</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced today that DC Public Schools will close 20 of its schools in a long-anticipated move based, she said, primarily on right-sizing DCPS's capacity with its enrollment and educating more kids in modernized campuses.</p> <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 191px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spingarn_High_School', '')" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spingarn_High_School" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/131159.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Spingarn High School, Photo from Wikipedia.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">The only high school slated to close is also the high school most in the transportation news: Spingarn High School, on Benning Road. DDOT has been planning a streetcar maintenance facility on the Spingarn grounds, and hoped to provide technical training in streetcar technology for Spingarn students. </p> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Henderson said that this idea isn't gone; DCPS is looking into creating a "transportation career and technical education center" at Spingarn, but this plan is still in the early stages.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Matt Johnson made some maps of the proposed closures for neighborhood elementary, middle and high schools. There are also some schools that serve students with disabilities or other specialized groups which are not on these maps as they do not draw from neighborhood boundaries.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><form id="dcps_form"> <img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/closureses.png" id="dcps_img" width=500 height=575 style="border: 0"> <br> Proposed closures: <input type="radio" name="phase" value="2" onClick="process()" onChange="process()" checked>Elementary &nbsp; <input type="radio" name="phase" value="4" onClick="process()" onChange="process()">Middle &nbsp; <input type="radio" name="phase" value="6" onClick="process()" onChange="process()">High<br> Areas in red show attendance zones whose schools are closing.<br>Gray zones had schools closed previously. </form></div><!--more--> <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- function process() { var form = document.getElementById("dcps_form"); var img = document.getElementById("dcps_img"); for (var i = 0; i < form.phase.length; i++) { if (form.phase[i].checked) { img.src = "http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201211/13162" + form.phase[i].value + "-1.jpg"; } } } var form = document.getElementById("dcps_form"); form.phase[0].checked = 1; form.phase[1].checked = 0; form.phase[2].checked = 0; process(); //--> </script></p> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Henderson said that DCPS hopes to keep all of the school buildings for the future. The Office of Planning estimates that the number of school-age children in DC, which has been declining for many years, will start rising again in 2015. Therefore, DCPS will likely begin needing more of these schools once more, but not for at least some years.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> <div class="blog_image" style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=9', '16779')" href="http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=9" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/dcpscapacity.png" style="border: none; border: 0"></a><br>Graphic from DCPS.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em"> DCPS has plans for some of the buildings, such as expanding School Without Walls into the Francis-Stevens Education Campus, which is slated for closure. There are some preliminary ideas for some others, like a suggestion for a community arts center in what's now Garrison Elementary. For many, DCPS plans to work with the local community to identify the best use of the building, possibly including housing charter schools in the buildings.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> Earlier this year, a report from IFF, a community development and consulting organization, recommended closing many schools with lower rates of student proficiency and moving kids to schools with higher proficiency. This report <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13512/', '16779')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13512/" style="color: black">came under a lot of criticism</a> for allegely oversimplifying and misreading the statistics.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> At today's press conference, Henderson made no reference to the IFF report, and when asked said she had seen the data, but it wasn't the basis for her decisions. Instead, she talked about the Census and about data from the Office of Planning, and claimed that she made decisions to close schools simply to align the supply of space with the student demand.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> Many families have been "voting with their feet" and moving to charter schools, and in Wards 1, 5, and 6, the majority of students now attend charter schools. Plus, the population of school-age children has been declining. However, forecasts estimate that there will be many more kids by 2020 in many parts of the District.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> <div class="blog_image" style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=33', '16779')" href="http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=33" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/kids2015.png" style="border: 0"></a><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=34', '16779')" href="http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=34" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/kids2020.png" style="border: 0"></a><br>Images from DCPS.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em"> The demographic trends and growing charter school demand mean DCPS has much more space than it needs right now, and Henderson said this round of school closings is entirely about addressing that mismatch, not about the theory that closing schools with poorly-performing kids and moving them to a different school will make them perform better. One could as easily argue that such a move would instead make the new schools' test score numbers decline, because while a school can have a lot of impact on a kid's test scores, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15488/', '16779')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15488/" style="color: black">it's far from the only factor</a>.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> DCPS has modernized 47 of its 117 buildings since 2007, but 20,000 students still attend the schools that haven't gotten modernized yet. Kids at Ron Brown Middle School in Ward 7, for instance, will go to the recently-modernized Kelly Miller Middle School.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> The changes also mean that DCPS is moving away from the model of having pre-K through 8th grade education campuses, such as Francis-Stevens, whose elementary kids will go to Marie Reed while middle schoolers will go to Hardy, and Winston education campus, which is splitting its elementary and middle school students into Stanton Elementary and Kramer Middle School. <p style="margin-top: 1em"> Meanwhile, MacFarland Middle School will now move to Roosevelt High School (preventing the idea some have floated of moving Duke Ellington School of the Arts to the unused space at Roosevelt), and Shaw Middle School will locate with Cardozo High.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> DCPS' presentation notes that it has the fewest average kids per school building, 384.12 of any jurisdiction in the region; Fairfax County has 926.2 kids per building. <p style="margin-top: 1em"> <div class="blog_image" style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=6', '16779')" href="http://greatergreater.com/files/2012/dcpsclosures.pdf#page=6" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/enrollmentperbldg.png" style="border: 0"></a><br>Graph from DCPS.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em"> This brings costs to DCPS, though fewer, larger schools also means fewer kids can walk to their neighborhood school. In the suburbs, families travel very large distances by car to go to school, often to the detriment of public health and traffic congestion.<p style="margin-top: 1em"> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Here is a full list of the schools slated for closure:</p> High schools: <ul class="less_space"><li>Spingarn (to Eastern, Dunbar, Woodson)</ul> Middle schools: <ul class="less_space"><li>Francis-Stevens (to Hardy) <li>MacFarland (to Roosevelt) <li>Shaw at Garnet-Patterson (to Cardozo) <li>Johnson (to Hart and Kramer) <li>Winston (to Kramer)</ul>Elementary schools: <ul class="less_space"><li>Francis-Stevens (to Marie Reed) <li>Garrison (to Seaton) <li>Marshall (to Langton) <li>Davis (to C.W. Harris) <li>Kenilworth (to Houston) <li>Smothers (to Aiton and Plummer) <li>Winston (to Stanton) <li>Ferebee-Hope (to Hendley) <li>Malcolm X (to Turner) <li>MC Terrell-McGogney (to King)</ul>Specialized schools and programs:<ul class="less_space"><li>Sharpe Health (to River Terrace) <li>Mamie D Lee (to River Terrace) <li>CHOICE at Hamilton (to Cardozo) <li>Spingarn STAY (to Ballou STAY and Roosevelt STAY) <li>Prospect LC (to neighborhood schools)</ul><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16779/dcps-closing-20-schools-including-spingarn/#comments">26 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12983/dcps-cancels-promised-arts-magnet-middle-school/ style="color: black">DCPS cancels promised arts magnet middle school</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 8, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16762/dc-drifting-towards-separate-school-systems-are-they-equal/ style="color: black">DC drifting towards separate school systems. Are they equal?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 16, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16725/wilson-high-drawbridge-to-students-east-of-park-is-going-up/ style="color: black">Wilson High drawbridge to students east of park is going up</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 9, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15550/are-dc-schools-good-enough/ style="color: black">Are DC schools good enough?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 17, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12459/online-common-application-may-help-dc-specialized-high-schools-compete-for-top-students/ style="color: black">Online common application may help DC specialized high schools compete for top students</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 25, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16779 Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16725/wilson-high-drawbridge-to-students-east-of-park-is-going-up/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/karcher/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Ken Archer</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">An increasingly popular Wilson High School <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.foresthillsconnection.com/news/no-one-out-of-bounds-at-wilson-high/', '16725')" href="http://www.foresthillsconnection.com/news/no-one-out-of-bounds-at-wilson-high/" style="color: black">accepted no middle school students</a> from outside of its boundary this year, according to parents. As the drawbridge to the rest of the city goes up on the only public high school serving most of northwest DC, the Wilson boundary could become the new line between educational haves and have nots. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 191px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Wilson+High+School', '')" href="http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Wilson+High+School" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/082117.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Wilson High School. Photo from DCPS.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Some advocates are floating a potential solution: return the building that now houses Duke Ellington High to its historic use as Western High School. Ellington, an application-only arts high school, is located in Burleith, just northwest of Georgetown. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The District would then need to find or build a new home for Ellington in a more central location. Some have suggested the under-enrolled Roosevelt High in Ward 4. Its location, on the west side of Petworth, is only &frac12; mile from the Petworth Metro, which could make it much easier for kids from across the city to reach the school. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Wilson High School boundary is vast. Located in Tenleytown, Wilson is the public high school for most students west of 16th Street and many in Southwest DC. It's three feeder middle schools are Hardy, Deal, and Oyster-Adams. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=20121/hsboundarieslarge.png&ref=16725" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/hsboundaries.png" style="border: 0"></a><br>Current high school boundaries. Image by David Alpert using Google Maps and data from OCTO.</div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Historically, Wilson has accepted many out-of-boundary students from across the city, creating a diverse environment. That was until recent modernization of the building, as well as greater interest in public schools by in-boundary parents, boosted the number of in-boundary kids going there. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Wilson now faces imminent overcrowding. Built for 1550 students, Wilson housed 1633 students last year and houses about 1700 this year according to Wilson parents. As Wilson becomes unable to accept out-of-boundary students, DC could see a new educational dividing line. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Wilson wasn't always the only public high school for such a large swath of the city. From its construction in 1897 until 1977, Western High School in Burleith served much of northwest DC. During the 1970s, the premier Duke Ellington School for the Arts was developed. It has resided in the former Western High building since then. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Most Ellington students are driven or bused to the school on the western edge of Ward 2 from east of Rock Creek Park, many from northeast or southeast DC. Ward 2 councilmember Jack Evans has long favored moving Ellington to a more central location, and returning Western to its historic use. Councilmember-elect David Grosso <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://georgetown.patch.com/articles/western-high-school-parking-top-georgetown-issues-at-candidate-forum', '16725')" href="http://georgetown.patch.com/articles/western-high-school-parking-top-georgetown-issues-at-candidate-forum" style="color: black">also supports</a> the move. <p style="margin-top: 1em">When a draft proposal from the office of former Chancellor Michelle Rhee was <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/16/AR2010011602748.html?nav=emailpage', '16725')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/16/AR2010011602748.html?nav=emailpage" style="color: black">leaked in 2010</a>, Ellington's board reacted swiftly that it was rightly "appalled" by the proposal to move Ellington to the former Logan Elementary School building on G Street NE near Union Station. <p style="margin-top: 1em">However, the Ellington board was clear that they weren't opposed to moving, but rather opposed to moving to Logan, a building "whose sole qualification is its vacancy." In <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/01/ellington_principal_we_will_no.html', '16725')" href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/01/ellington_principal_we_will_no.html" style="color: black">their letter</a>, they write, "If Ellington were to relocate, it should only be to a building that truly addresses the requirements of a school with Ellington's unique mission." <p style="margin-top: 1em">Any new space for Ellington would have to meet the unique needs of one of the top arts high schools in the US, such as dance and recording studios, gallery space, and so on. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The letter goes on to say, "An example of such a facility is the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a performing arts high school in New York City recently built at a cost of approximately $78 million." <p style="margin-top: 1em">Ellington is about to undergo <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/city-solicits-designs-ellington-school-renovation', '16725')" href="http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/city-solicits-designs-ellington-school-renovation" style="color: black">an $82 million renovation</a> that will require moving the student body to another location for 2 years. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Some might object that moving Ellington out of Burleith is just a ploy to provide wealthy Georgetown residents their own high school. In fact, a new Western High School would draw from Hardy and Francis-Stevens middle schools, both of which currently draw almost entirely out-of-boundary students. <p style="margin-top: 1em">A new Western High School could thus lower the drawbridge of upper Northwest high schools to the rest of the city. Both Western and Wilson would have capacity for out-of-boundary students, thus maintaining diverse, high-quality public high schools in DC. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The move would be a boon for Roosevelt-area families if Ellington co-located with Roosevelt, as some advocates are suggesting. By sharing non-arts courses and pooling their enrollment for budgeting purposes, Ellington could expand in size and both schools could offer more specialized programming. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Preserving diversity in high quality schools should be a top goal as DCPS examines whether to close schools and redraw boundaries. Are there other solutions to maintaining diversity at high-quality public high schools in DC?<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16725/wilson-high-drawbridge-to-students-east-of-park-is-going-up/#comments">29 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15552/what-could-dc-do-to-encourage-diversity-in-schools/ style="color: black">What could DC do to encourage diversity in schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 23, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12459/online-common-application-may-help-dc-specialized-high-schools-compete-for-top-students/ style="color: black">Online common application may help DC specialized high schools compete for top students</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 25, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11717/cheh-appoints-self-to-school-board-by-giving-up-on-hardy/ style="color: black">Cheh appoints self to school board by giving up on Hardy</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 19, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12983/dcps-cancels-promised-arts-magnet-middle-school/ style="color: black">DCPS cancels promised arts magnet middle school</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 8, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15489/can-a-diverse-and-high-quality-public-school-last/ style="color: black">Can a diverse and high-quality public school last?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 19, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16725 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:25:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16655/spend-it-all/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC suddenly <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcfpi.org/whats-up-with-all-these-unspent-dc-dollars', '16655')" href="http://www.dcfpi.org/whats-up-with-all-these-unspent-dc-dollars" style="color: black">discovered a surplus</a> at the end of its fiscal year. The money, which had to be spent right away, will go to schools, Metro, and parks. (DCFPI)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16655/spend-it-all/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16655 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:57:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15904/but-is-it-uphill-both-ways/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">While Arlington wants more children walking to school, some parents are not happy that their <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/arlington-parents-miffed-about-new-school-bus-rules/article/2505334#.UDGxSo1lTZg', '15904')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/arlington-parents-miffed-about-new-school-bus-rules/article/2505334#.UDGxSo1lTZg" style="color: black">children will have to walk</a> instead of taking the bus. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15904/but-is-it-uphill-both-ways/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11443/reducing-school-traffic-would-help-rush-hour-congestion/ style="color: black">Reducing school traffic would help rush hour congestion</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 3, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5020/happy-hour-and-budget-hearing-in-arlington-march-24th/ style="color: black">Happy hour and budget hearing in Arlington March 24th</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 2, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13016/new-carlin-springs-bridge-design-better-serves-non-motorists/ style="color: black">New Carlin Springs Bridge design better serves non-motorists</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8977/are-dc-area-schools-winter-weather-wimps/ style="color: black">Are DC-area schools winter weather wimps?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 26, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15904 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:37:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15684/wards-5-and-8-get-largest-slice-of-the-pie/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Wards 5 and 8 <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/post/where-the-citys-economic-development-spending-is/2012/07/26/gJQA8uJHCX_blog.html', '15684')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/post/where-the-citys-economic-development-spending-is/2012/07/26/gJQA8uJHCX_blog.html" style="color: black">got the most public development money</a> in next year's budget, mostly from St. Elizabeths and schools for Ward 5. Ward 7 is scheduled to receive the least. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15684/wards-5-and-8-get-largest-slice-of-the-pie/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9816/ward-2-now-too-large-wards-7-and-8-too-small/ style="color: black">Ward 2 now too large, wards 7 and 8 too small</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 24, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10550/no-200-am-budget-surprises-please-kwame-brown/ style="color: black">No 2:00 am budget surprises please, Kwame Brown</a> <span class="nw">(May 23, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9818/now-you-too-can-redraw-dcs-wards/ style="color: black">Now you, too, can redraw DC's wards</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1237/schwartz-to-run-as-a-write-in-at-large-race-gets-more-interesting/ style="color: black">Schwartz to run as a write-in; at-large race gets more interesting</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 16, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/793/klingle-rebuild-probably-dead/ style="color: black">Klingle rebuild probably dead</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 26, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15684 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:13:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15186/space-for-charters/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC charter schools can have a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2012/06/13/schoolhouse-hunting/', '15186')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2012/06/13/schoolhouse-hunting/" style="color: black">tough time finding space.</a> Meanwhile, many DCPS schools are empty or underutilized, but perhaps an independent authority could arbitrate to get to the best outcome for the city. (City Paper)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15186/space-for-charters/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13349/mayor-gray-should-keep-promises-on-education-funding/ style="color: black">Mayor Gray should keep promises on education funding</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 17, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13812/level-the-playing-field-for-charters-and-neighborhood-schools/ style="color: black">Level the playing field for charters and neighborhood schools</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 24, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7253/will-one-old-school-become-a-new-school/ style="color: black">Will one old school become a new school?</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12459/online-common-application-may-help-dc-specialized-high-schools-compete-for-top-students/ style="color: black">Online common application may help DC specialized high schools compete for top students</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 25, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15186 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 08:28:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14537/pay-for-school/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Living near a good school <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/200000_the_cost_of_living_near_good_schools/5446', '14537')" href="http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/200000_the_cost_of_living_near_good_schools/5446" style="color: black">costs a family more than $200,000</a> versus living elsewhere. That leaves the best schools to the most well-off families. But less restrictive zoning can narrow that cost difference. (Urban Turf)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14537/pay-for-school/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12042/school-capacity-tests-make-sprawl-worse/ style="color: black">School capacity tests make sprawl worse</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 14, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8977/are-dc-area-schools-winter-weather-wimps/ style="color: black">Are DC-area schools winter weather wimps?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 26, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3564/then-and-now-monroe-school-auditorium/ style="color: black">Then and Now: Monroe School auditorium</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 29, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7253/will-one-old-school-become-a-new-school/ style="color: black">Will one old school become a new school?</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 7, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14537 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:51:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13763/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Despite setbacks, the Senate transportation bill is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/infrastructure/211493-reid-boxer-claim-clear-path-forward-on-highway-bill', '13763')" href="http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/infrastructure/211493-reid-boxer-claim-clear-path-forward-on-highway-bill" style="color: black">far from dead</a>. (The Hill) … To accommodate massive population growth, Arlington <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-schools-insider/post/arlington-school-officials-update-community-on-plan-to-reduce-overcrowding/2012/02/16/gIQA2iWrHR_blog.html', '13763')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-schools-insider/post/arlington-school-officials-update-community-on-plan-to-reduce-overcrowding/2012/02/16/gIQA2iWrHR_blog.html" style="color: black">will add 7,000 seats</a> to its schools. (Post)… A new distillery has <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2012/02/new_columbia_distillery_receives_fe.php', '13763')" href="http://dcist.com/2012/02/new_columbia_distillery_receives_fe.php" style="color: black">obtained federal approval</a> to operate in the District. (DCist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13763/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7128/endorsement-quick-reference/ style="color: black">Endorsement quick reference</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 13, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13215/dc-council-and-osse-dragging-feet-on-community-schools/ style="color: black">DC Council and OSSE dragging feet on community schools</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 10, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8509/letter-dc-already-adequately-represented-on-ncpc/ style="color: black">Letter: DC already adequately represented on NCPC</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1704/how-good-is-congress-word-on-metro-funding/ style="color: black">How good is Congress' word on Metro funding?</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 18, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7104/arlington-explains-smart-growth/ style="color: black">Arlington explains Smart Growth</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 12, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13763 Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:37:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13766/charter-schools-on-the-trigger/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC charter schools were quick to expel or suspend students, dumping <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/charters-quick-to-suspend-expel-council-told/2012/02/17/gIQAQRGlKR_blog.html?wprss=dc-schools-insider', '13766')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/charters-quick-to-suspend-expel-council-told/2012/02/17/gIQAQRGlKR_blog.html?wprss=dc-schools-insider" style="color: black">around four percent</a> of their enrollment through expulsion. Critics contend the expulsions dump poorly-performing students onto public schools. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13766/charter-schools-on-the-trigger/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7522/dc-charter-schools-should-centralize-admissions/ style="color: black">DC charter schools should centralize admissions</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 25, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13349/mayor-gray-should-keep-promises-on-education-funding/ style="color: black">Mayor Gray should keep promises on education funding</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 17, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13760/favoring-local-residents-would-undermine-charter-schools/ style="color: black">Favoring local residents would undermine charter schools</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 21, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12459/online-common-application-may-help-dc-specialized-high-schools-compete-for-top-students/ style="color: black">Online common application may help DC specialized high schools compete for top students</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 25, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13766 Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:37:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13698/in-arlington/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Arlington schools could have <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.sungazette.net/arlington/education/school-system-ponders-the-prospect-of-years-of-rising-enrollment/article_ce97b8de-5420-11e1-951c-001871e3ce6c.html', '13698')" href="http://www.sungazette.net/arlington/education/school-system-ponders-the-prospect-of-years-of-rising-enrollment/article_ce97b8de-5420-11e1-951c-001871e3ce6c.html" style="color: black">30,000 students</a> by 2021, up from the current number of 21,500. (Sun Gazette) ... Arlington <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://ballston.patch.com/articles/board-approves-rate-hike-at-ballston-public-parking-garage', '13698')" href="http://ballston.patch.com/articles/board-approves-rate-hike-at-ballston-public-parking-garage" style="color: black">raises the rates</a> in the Ballston parking garage for the first time since 1996. (Patch)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13698/in-arlington/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11066/i-wish-this-were-an-active-plaza-in-ballston/ style="color: black">I wish this were... an active plaza in Ballston</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 28, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7234/dedicated-parking-not-optimal-for-clarendon-trader-joes/ style="color: black">Dedicated parking not optimal for Clarendon Trader Joe's</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7005/underpriced-metro-parking-doesnt-justify-more-parking/ style="color: black">Underpriced Metro parking doesn't justify more parking</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 9, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1069/breakfast-links-suburban-changes-edition/ style="color: black">Breakfast links: suburban changes edition</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 23, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13215/dc-council-and-osse-dragging-feet-on-community-schools/ style="color: black">DC Council and OSSE dragging feet on community schools</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 10, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13698 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:40:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13215/dc-council-and-osse-dragging-feet-on-community-schools/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ctobal/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Celine Tobal</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">When the DC Council gave control of the schools to the mayor in 2007, the law required DC to create community schools, but there has been little progress since. The Council can rectify this problem by passing a proposed law to create incentives for community schools. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/2747117885/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/2747117885/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201201/082113.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by Daquella manera on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Community schools are schools that provide after-hours services to students and their families and communities. The idea is that schools, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, should address obstacles to learning such as student health and excessive unstructured time. <p style="margin-top: 1em">A hearing on the DC Community Schools Incentive Act that would finally implement the rest of the 2007 legislation was scheduled for December 14, and it looked like this missing piece of school reform would finally be implemented. However, the hearing <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/hearing-on-community-schools-bill-cancelled-at-last-minute/2011/12/14/gIQAEkEvuO_blog.html', '13215')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/hearing-on-community-schools-bill-cancelled-at-last-minute/2011/12/14/gIQAEkEvuO_blog.html" style="color: black">was abruptly cancelled</a> with only 3 hours notice. <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC Council Chair Kwame Brown said he had to cancel the hearing because the DC State Superintendent of Education, Hosanna Mahaley, cancelled that morning. When she skipped the hearing, national experts, grandparents, teachers and students who spent days memorizing their testimony <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/dc/2011/12/dc-council-cancels-schools-hearing/2003681', '13215')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/dc/2011/12/dc-council-cancels-schools-hearing/2003681" style="color: black">showed up for no reason</a>. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is central to the creation of community schools, and Mahaley had confirmed before Thanksgiving that she would attend the hearing. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.communityschools.org/assets/1/AssetManager/Community%20School%20Models2009.pdf', '13215')" href="http://www.communityschools.org/assets/1/AssetManager/Community%20School%20Models2009.pdf" style="color: black">Coalition for Community Schools</a> defines a community school as a school that partners with community resources to "[integrate] academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and civic engagement." <p style="margin-top: 1em">Community schools are open 7 days a week during the day and evening to encourage involvement from families and the community. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Community schools are traditional schools that also offer programs and services for their students, their parents and the surrounding community. They may include: before- and after-school programs for their students, family-support centers and adult enrichment classes on topics, such as parenting, employment, and housing, and medical, dental and mental-health services. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Community schools report gains in academic and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.hartfordschools.org/about-your-choice/documents/ResearchBrief2009-CCS.pdf', '13215')" href="http://www.hartfordschools.org/about-your-choice/documents/ResearchBrief2009-CCS.pdf" style="color: black">nonacademic areas</a>, <a href="/ttp://www.nea.org/home/31005.htm" style="color: black">which impact academic achievement</a>. Research also suggests that students in community schools have higher attendance rates and their families "show increased family stability, communication with teachers, school involvement, and a greater sense of responsibility for their children's learning." <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcvoice.org/Section%20Breakdown%20of%20District%20of%20Columbia%20Community%20Schools%20Incentive%20Act%20of%202011.pdf', '13215')" href="http://www.dcvoice.org/Section%20Breakdown%20of%20District%20of%20Columbia%20Community%20Schools%20Incentive%20Act%20of%202011.pdf" style="color: black">One year after</a> the passing of this act, OSSE would administer multi-year award grants to establish "no less than 5 new community schools (at public schools or public charter schools)." <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcvoice.org/Section%20Breakdown%20of%20District%20of%20Columbia%20Community%20Schools%20Incentive%20Act%20of%202011.pdf', '13215')" href="http://www.dcvoice.org/Section%20Breakdown%20of%20District%20of%20Columbia%20Community%20Schools%20Incentive%20Act%20of%202011.pdf" style="color: black">OSSE would also establish and administer</a> the Community Schools Fund "to fund the operation of the initiative, and to ensure the District of Columbia becomes eligible to receive federal and private dollars in support of community schools." <p style="margin-top: 1em">If DCPS and OSSE are committed to increasing educational outcomes for all children in Washington, DC, they need to further demonstrate that they support the passing of the Community Schools Incentive Act. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The DC Council hearing on the DC Community Schools Incentive Act has been <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/hearing-notices/district-of-columbia-community-schools-incentive-amendment-act-of-2011', '13215')" href="http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/hearing-notices/district-of-columbia-community-schools-incentive-amendment-act-of-2011" style="color: black">rescheduled for January 31st</a> at 4:30pm. Let the DC Council and OSSE know that school reform is not just about teachers and buildings, but is also about students and their obstacles to learning outside of the classroom.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13215/dc-council-and-osse-dragging-feet-on-community-schools/#comments">7 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8029/does-dc-really-need-a-deputy-mayor-for-education/ style="color: black">Does DC really need a Deputy Mayor for Education?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 12, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2414/the-growing-classroom/ style="color: black">The growing classroom</a> <span class="nw">(May 21, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8495/challenges-lie-ahead-for-a-strong-education-team/ style="color: black">Challenges lie ahead for a strong education team</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 23, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10784/public-officials-choosing-private-schools-is-it-our-business/ style="color: black">Public officials choosing private schools: is it our business?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 13, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13215 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:01:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12755/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ericfidler/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Eric Fidler</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Petworth was named after <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2011/11/behind_the_name_petworth.php', '12755')" href="http://dcist.com/2011/11/behind_the_name_petworth.php" style="color: black">a tiny hamlet and estate in England</a>. (DCist) ... Fairfax County may <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/11/parents-support-surveillance-cameras-fairfax-schools', '12755')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/11/parents-support-surveillance-cameras-fairfax-schools" style="color: black">let schools install security cameras</a> to record misbehavior. (Examiner) ... Is the price collapse of cocaine <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2011/11/cocaine-plummeting-price-nationwide-drop-violent-crime/474/', '12755')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2011/11/cocaine-plummeting-price-nationwide-drop-violent-crime/474/" style="color: black">responsible for the nation's declining crime</a>? (Atlantic) <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12755/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/695/donatelli-builds-what-investors-will-fund/ style="color: black">Donatelli builds what investors will fund</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 10, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7915/for-congress-in-virginia-and-dc-state-board-of-education/ style="color: black">For Congress in Virginia and DC State Board of Education</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 1, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11443/reducing-school-traffic-would-help-rush-hour-congestion/ style="color: black">Reducing school traffic would help rush hour congestion</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 3, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1565/merrifield-fairfaxs-first-try-at-tod/ style="color: black">Merrifield: Fairfax's first try at TOD</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 7, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12755 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:29:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12502/middle-schools-inequitable-across-the-river/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jmuller/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">John Muller</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Kwame Brown says middle schools east of the river <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/10/brown-heavy-inequity-across-dc-middle-schools', '12502')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/10/brown-heavy-inequity-across-dc-middle-schools" style="color: black">have too little enrollment</a> and recent modernizations have been kinder to Ward 3 schools. Schools in the region have been <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/10/area-schools-try-fix-middle-school-woes', '12502')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/10/area-schools-try-fix-middle-school-woes" style="color: black">working on reforms</a>. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12502/middle-schools-inequitable-across-the-river/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10784/public-officials-choosing-private-schools-is-it-our-business/ style="color: black">Public officials choosing private schools: is it our business?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 13, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11717/cheh-appoints-self-to-school-board-by-giving-up-on-hardy/ style="color: black">Cheh appoints self to school board by giving up on Hardy</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 19, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2360/anacostia-bill-passes-committee-markups/ style="color: black">Anacostia bill passes committee markups</a> <span class="nw">(May 14, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11256/breaking-kwame-brown-stripping-transportation-committee-from-tommy-wells-as-retribution-for-suv-/ style="color: black">Breaking: Kwame Brown stripping transportation committee from Tommy Wells as retribution for SUV scandal</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1876/live-chat-kwame-brown-dc-councilmember-at-large/ style="color: black">Live chat: Kwame Brown, DC Councilmember at-large</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 27, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12502 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:47:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12380/new-leader-discovers-moco-problems/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ericfidler/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Eric Fidler</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Many educators nationwide lament student apathy that leads to poor academic achievement. Meanwhile, Montgomery County's school superintendent worries that <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/10/montco-schools-chief-concerned-about-competition', '12380')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/10/montco-schools-chief-concerned-about-competition" style="color: black">students are too competitive</a>. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12380/new-leader-discovers-moco-problems/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6823/a-talk-with-maryland-delegate-ana-sol-gutierrez/ style="color: black">A talk with Maryland Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 19, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2414/the-growing-classroom/ style="color: black">The growing classroom</a> <span class="nw">(May 21, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1531/montgomery-college-metro-station/ style="color: black">Montgomery College Metro station?</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 26, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11254/rebuilt-wheaton-high-could-give-community-a-new-face/ style="color: black">Rebuilt Wheaton High could give community a new face</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8977/are-dc-area-schools-winter-weather-wimps/ style="color: black">Are DC-area schools winter weather wimps?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 26, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12380 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:45:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12334/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ericfidler/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Eric Fidler</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC investigates <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/5/why-are-maryland-virginia-students-in-dc-schools/', '12334')" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/5/why-are-maryland-virginia-students-in-dc-schools/" style="color: black">Maryland and Virginia students</a> illegally enrolled in DCPS. (Washington Times) ... P.G. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/2011/10/pg-get-federal-aid-storm-damage', '12334')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/2011/10/pg-get-federal-aid-storm-damage" style="color: black">receives federal disaster relief</a> to clean up after Trop. Storm Lee. (Examiner) ... <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/why-alexandria-lost-its-dc/2011/10/03/gIQAjT0YNL_story.html?wprss=rss_local', '12334')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/why-alexandria-lost-its-dc/2011/10/03/gIQAjT0YNL_story.html?wprss=rss_local" style="color: black">A new book</a> explores the history of Alexandria, DC. (Post) ... DDOT <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://parkviewdc.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/ddot-proves-incredibly-responsive-with-sign-corrections/', '12334')" href="http://parkviewdc.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/ddot-proves-incredibly-responsive-with-sign-corrections/" style="color: black">quickly fixes</a> erroneous wayfinding signs. (Park View, DC)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12334/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4640/12-ways-our-region-could-reform-bicycling-laws/ style="color: black">12 ways our region could reform bicycling laws</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9364/taxes-lowest-for-dc-residents-and-car-free-virginians/ style="color: black">Taxes lowest for DC residents and car-free Virginians</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12273/join-the-authors-of-dream-city-on-october-17th/ style="color: black">Join the authors of Dream City on October 17th</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 4, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1281/army-alexandria-move-will-be-ok-because-we-say-so/ style="color: black">Army: Alexandria move will be ok because we say so</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 2, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11217/see-you-sunday-in-anacostia-3-weeks-at-clybourne-park/ style="color: black">See you Sunday in Anacostia, 3 weeks at Clybourne Park</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 8, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12334 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:18:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12200/pressure-mounts-on-dc-middle-schools/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jscott/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Jamie Scott</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Elementary enrollment is up but DC middle schools are <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-parents-raise-concerns-about-middle-schools/2011/09/23/gIQAeTqOxK_story.html', '12200')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-parents-raise-concerns-about-middle-schools/2011/09/23/gIQAeTqOxK_story.html" style="color: black">either overcrowded or underperforming</a>. A lack of quality middle school options could hurt long-term education reform in DC. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12200/pressure-mounts-on-dc-middle-schools/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7252/how-do-parents-pick-schools/ style="color: black">How do parents pick schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 1, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7641/grays-ward-2-town-hall-sidesteps-divisions/ style="color: black">Gray's Ward 2 town hall sidesteps divisions</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7253/will-one-old-school-become-a-new-school/ style="color: black">Will one old school become a new school?</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10784/public-officials-choosing-private-schools-is-it-our-business/ style="color: black">Public officials choosing private schools: is it our business?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 13, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12200 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:20:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12042/school-capacity-tests-make-sprawl-worse/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dan/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Dan Malouff</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A few years ago Gaithersburg adopted an ordinance to ensure that infrastructure keeps up with growth. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, the law turned out to be counterproductive, as it damaged the city's ability to grow in the right places. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/beyonddc/4044846037/in/set-72157622664034878/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/beyonddc/4044846037/in/set-72157622664034878/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201109/141312.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Gaithersburg can't develop around its train station because of the law. Photo by the author.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Gaithersburg has a big problem. On one hand, the city is trying very hard to promote smart growth. They've adopted <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/Documents/083005_olde_towne_plan3.pdf', '12042')" href="http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/Documents/083005_olde_towne_plan3.pdf" style="color: black">beautiful master plans</a>, and worked with developers to design some <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1963&TOC=311;1260;1963;', '12042')" href="http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1963&TOC=311;1260;1963;" style="color: black">very</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1278&TOC=311;1260;1278;', '12042')" href="http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1278&TOC=311;1260;1278;" style="color: black">strong</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1697&TOC=311;1260;1697;', '12042')" href="http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1697&TOC=311;1260;1697;" style="color: black">projects</a>. On the other hand, they have a crippling <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=309&TOC=307;309;&id=2627', '12042')" href="http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=309&TOC=307;309;&id=2627" style="color: black">adequate public facilities ordinance</a> that slaps a complete moratorium on residential development in large swaths of the city. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The city's two hands are pulling in opposite directions. Mountains of genuinely good planning effort supports smart growth, but this one ordinance requiring excess school capacity throws a wrench into the whole business. <p style="margin-top: 1em"> <p style="margin-top: 1em">It's especially maddening because of the way school boundaries are drawn. The most overcrowded schools happen to also cover most of Gaithersburg's smart growth receiving areas, including its most walkable and transit-connected downtown and new urbanist districts. <p style="margin-top: 1em">For the most part it isn't the smart growth developments that are overcrowding the schools (they tend to attract smaller families), but because they're within the same school boundary as other neighborhoods that do produce a lot of kids, residential development is outlawed in precisely the areas where it's most appropriate. <p style="margin-top: 1em">And the really bad news is that the moratorium isn't effective at saving schools. Because Gaitheresburg is a geographically small jurisdiction within a larger, growing region, the school capacity test merely pushes growth out to other jurisdictions that have even less capacity, and less ability to plan. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In fact, the moratorium is doubly damaging because of the type of growth it is pushing away. By including these smart growth receiving zones in the moratorium, Gaithersburg is pushing out high-density urban developments that don't produce many students, but are very effective at reducing sprawl and growth in congestion. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The school capacity test makes sense in a vacuum, but not when all the issues of urban development are considered together. It's counterproductive, and should be changed. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The good news is that the Gaithersburg City Council, which does seem to sincerely want to do the right thing, realizes there's a problem and is considering corrective measures. According to a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://gaithersburg.patch.com/articles/council-moves-to-make-citys-school-capacity-test-more-flexible', '12042')" href="http://gaithersburg.patch.com/articles/council-moves-to-make-citys-school-capacity-test-more-flexible" style="color: black">Patch article</a>, the council is looking to add flexibility and leniency to the ordinance. Proposed modifications could allow the council to grant exceptions in certain circumstances, or could allow neighboring schools to share capacity if one is over its limit but another nearby school is not. These are good suggestions. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The city might also consider designating official smart growth receiving zones that are automatically exempted from the ordinance altogether. That would allow the right sort of growth to take place in the right places, while still controlling the sort of growth that is a problem for school capacity. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Gaithersburg deserves credit for acknowledging a difficult problem and moving to solve it. Other jurisdictions with similar ordinances should follow Gaithersburg's example and carefully consider whether or not their growth controls are accomplishing the right goals.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12042/school-capacity-tests-make-sprawl-worse/#comments">9 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2013/olde-towne-gaithersburg-he-who-hesitated-was-lost/ style="color: black">Olde Towne Gaithersburg: He who hesitated was lost</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2462/sprawl-is-the-only-option-at-the-planning-board/ style="color: black">Sprawl is the only option at the Planning Board</a> <span class="nw">(May 27, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5760/montgomerys-zoning-issues-part-1-complicated-zoning/ style="color: black">Montgomery's zoning issues, part 1: Complicated zoning</a> <span class="nw">(May 11, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6486/montgomery-zoning-solutions-part-1-restructuring-zones/ style="color: black">Montgomery zoning solutions, part 1: Restructuring zones</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 13, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1537/the-corridor-cities-transitway-and-the-future-of-the-middle-suburbs/ style="color: black">The Corridor Cities Transitway and the future of the middle suburbs</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 29, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12042 Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:12:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11970/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Capital Bikeshare CANstrution <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dexigner.com/news/23767', '11970')" href="http://www.dexigner.com/news/23767" style="color: black">won the juror's choice award</a>. (Dexigner) ... DC schools <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://blog.metrotrends.org/2011/09/dc-schools-stunning-exit-rate/', '11970')" href="http://blog.metrotrends.org/2011/09/dc-schools-stunning-exit-rate/" style="color: black">suffer a notably high "exit rate"</a>, especially at the schools east of the river. (MetroTrends) ... Tommy Wells warns not to "<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/wells-to-ward-5-dont-demagogue-by-demographics/2011/09/08/gIQAgbO1CK_blog.html', '11970')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/wells-to-ward-5-dont-demagogue-by-demographics/2011/09/08/gIQAgbO1CK_blog.html" style="color: black">demogogue by demographics.</a>" (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11970/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9020/why-is-capital-bikeshare-usage-low-east-of-the-river/ style="color: black">Why is Capital Bikeshare usage low east of the river?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 31, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/977/wells-concerned-about-parking-in-bike-lanes/ style="color: black">Wells concerned about parking in bike lanes</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 20, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9281/ggw-discusses-the-focus-on-anacostia/ style="color: black">GGW discusses: The focus on Anacostia</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 21, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5306/join-tommy-wells-for-reelection-kickoff-saturday/ style="color: black">Join Tommy Wells for reelection kickoff Saturday</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11938/park-service-will-allow-cabi-on-the-mall/ style="color: black">Park Service will allow CaBi on the Mall</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 6, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11970 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:21:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11891/henderson-vs-parents/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jscott/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Jamie Scott</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Some DCPS parents are criticizing Kaya Henderson for <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-schools-criticized-over-closure-of-parent-family-centers/2011/08/30/gIQALZZnsJ_story.html', '11891')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-schools-criticized-over-closure-of-parent-family-centers/2011/08/30/gIQALZZnsJ_story.html" style="color: black">closing parent resource centers</a> last month. Henderson says the closures are temporary but Rhee-era worries over parent engagement remain. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11891/henderson-vs-parents/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7658/henderson-could-be-just-what-dc-schools-need/ style="color: black">Henderson could be just what DC schools need</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 18, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11717/cheh-appoints-self-to-school-board-by-giving-up-on-hardy/ style="color: black">Cheh appoints self to school board by giving up on Hardy</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 19, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9728/rhee-feared-hardy-principal-was-weeding-out-poor-kids/ style="color: black">Rhee feared Hardy principal was weeding out poor kids</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 21, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2868/then-and-now-gate-to-henderson-castle/ style="color: black">Then and Now: Gate to Henderson Castle</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 13, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11891 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:36:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11875/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jscott/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Jamie Scott</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Marion Barry <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2011/08/thats_our_barry.php#photo-1', '11875')" href="http://dcist.com/2011/08/thats_our_barry.php#photo-1" style="color: black">called Ward 8 a ghetto</a> after making a illegal u-turn in a damaged car. (DCist) ... The USDOT <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/us-government-backs-off-mandate-for-new-street-signs/2011/08/30/gIQAhDNnpJ_story.html', '11875')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/us-government-backs-off-mandate-for-new-street-signs/2011/08/30/gIQAhDNnpJ_story.html" style="color: black">withdrew a requirement</a> for local governments to replace street signs. (Post) ... Another historic DC school is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/08/30/city-puts-another-decaying-historic-school-up-for-bid/', '11875')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/08/30/city-puts-another-decaying-historic-school-up-for-bid/" style="color: black">for sale</a>. (City Paper) ... See a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/08/freshly-baked-new-design-for-wonder.html', '11875')" href="http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/08/freshly-baked-new-design-for-wonder.html" style="color: black">possible redesign</a> of the Wonder Bread factory in Shaw. (DC Mud)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11875/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10193/preservation-league-revives-wonder-bread-factory/ style="color: black">Preservation League revives Wonder Bread Factory</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 29, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/974/church-anti-preservation-bill-comes-back/ style="color: black">Church anti-preservation bill comes back</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 20, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11236/should-barry-be-worried-about-next-years-ward-8-primary/ style="color: black">Should Barry be worried about next year’s Ward 8 primary?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 13, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8202/downtown-needs-a-school-more-than-a-boutique-hotel/ style="color: black">Downtown needs a school more than a boutique hotel</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1637/new-council-legislation-third-church-wmata-compact-and-more/ style="color: black">New council legislation: Third Church, WMATA compact, and more</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 30, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11875 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:32:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11843/tourism-trumps-education-in-richmond/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ericfidler/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Eric Fidler</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Except when granted a waiver, most public schools in Virginia may not open before Labor Day. The state implemented this law <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/loudoun-county-schools-early-start-highlights-debate-over-virginia-law/2011/08/25/gIQAF2PrlJ_story.html?wprss=rss_local', '11843')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/loudoun-county-schools-early-start-highlights-debate-over-virginia-law/2011/08/25/gIQAF2PrlJ_story.html?wprss=rss_local" style="color: black">to protect the tourism industry</a>. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11843/tourism-trumps-education-in-richmond/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7915/for-congress-in-virginia-and-dc-state-board-of-education/ style="color: black">For Congress in Virginia and DC State Board of Education</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 1, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3231/friday-meta-discussion-education/ style="color: black">Friday meta-discussion: Education?</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 14, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8029/does-dc-really-need-a-deputy-mayor-for-education/ style="color: black">Does DC really need a Deputy Mayor for Education?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 12, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11843 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:46:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11780/bringing-crowds-to-a-game-in-style-minus-the-traffic/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/mcjohnson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Matt Johnson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Like many colleges with large football programs, the University of Iowa faces major congestion problems on football game days, when tens of thousands of fans converge on its stadium. But Iowa has come up with an innovative solution to the traffic. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="embed"><iframe width="500" height="311" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V2ELZfHWBb8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A railroad runs directly behind the football stadium, which got university administrators thinking. Working with <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Northern_Railway', '11780')" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Northern_Railway" style="color: black">Iowa Northern Railway</a>, the University proposed running a train from satellite parking areas to the football stadium on game days. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Iowa Northern thought it was a great idea, and the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081605aai.html', '11780')" href="http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081605aai.html" style="color: black">Hawkeye Express</a> was born. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the beginning, they leased equipment from Colorado's Ski Train. For the third season, they purchased a former Amtrak locomtove and 6 bi-level former commuter cars from Chicago's Metra, now painted in Hawkeye black and gold. The train, while owned by Iowa Northern, operates over tracks owned by <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Interstate', '11780')" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Interstate" style="color: black">Iowa Interstate Railroad</a> (whose chairman, Henry Posner III, is a prominent passenger train advocate). <p style="margin-top: 1em">The train takes 8 minutes to get from the parking areas in Coralville to the stadium and costs fans $10. It has operated for seven seasons of Iowa football. <p style="margin-top: 1em">No other university uses special trains just for football games. But it's certainly not the only university where fans can ride a train to the game. The University of Pennsylvania's stadium is just steps from the SEPTA Regional Rail station at University City. Georgia Tech's Grant Field is just a few blocks from the MARTA subway. And these aren't the only examples. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the past, many university stadiums were served by special trains from near and far. For many at the University of Iowa, this service hearkens back to the days when Rock Island trains brought fans from as far away as Chicago. <p style="margin-top: 1em">For most, it's just a way to avoid parking problems and congestion. And, as the film shows, it's also a fun way to go.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11780/bringing-crowds-to-a-game-in-style-minus-the-traffic/#comments">32 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4246/marc-should-and-must-allow-bikes/ style="color: black">MARC should (and must) allow bikes</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 9, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7511/marc-shares-more-information-including-on-time-issues/ style="color: black">MARC shares more information including on-time issues</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 8, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11012/csx-troubles-lead-to-marc-delays/ style="color: black">CSX troubles lead to MARC delays</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 24, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8569/urban-football-stadiums-in-the-us-the-good/ style="color: black">Urban football stadiums in the US: The good</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1382/are-you-ready-for-some-metro/ style="color: black">Are you ready for some Metro?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 3, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11780 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:29:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11790/whats-closed/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC public schools <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/11/08/24/dc_public_schools_closed_today_for_inspections_after_earthquake.php', '11790')" href="http://wamu.org/news/11/08/24/dc_public_schools_closed_today_for_inspections_after_earthquake.php" style="color: black">are closed</a> to inspect buildings; 2 students suffered minor injuries in the quake. (WAMU) ... <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post_now/post/schools-dc-landmarks-closed-in-quakes-aftermath/2011/08/23/gIQAduG5ZJ_blog.html', '11790')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post_now/post/schools-dc-landmarks-closed-in-quakes-aftermath/2011/08/23/gIQAduG5ZJ_blog.html" style="color: black">Schools are also closed</a> in Prince George's, Fauquier, Culpeper and Spotsylvania counties. A few federal buildings are closed</a> and federal workers can take unscheduled leave or telework. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11790/whats-closed/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1005/dc-allows-community-uses-keeps-parking-minimums-for-closed-schools/ style="color: black">DC allows community uses, keeps parking minimums for closed schools</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 27, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11525/why-cant-the-feds-telework-on-extremely-hot-days/ style="color: black">Why can't the feds telework on extremely hot days?</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 10, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4875/should-the-federal-government-snowproof-metro/ style="color: black">Should the federal government snowproof Metro?</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 11, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8202/downtown-needs-a-school-more-than-a-boutique-hotel/ style="color: black">Downtown needs a school more than a boutique hotel</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 22, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11790 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:18:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11672/northeast-high-school-is-reborn/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jscott/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Jamie Scott</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">H.D. Woodson high school on 55th Street NE <s>Benning Road</s> is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/a-hopeful-moment-as-new-hd-woodson-high-school-opens-its-doors/2011/08/09/gIQAF6p1DJ_story.html', '11672')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/a-hopeful-moment-as-new-hd-woodson-high-school-opens-its-doors/2011/08/09/gIQAF6p1DJ_story.html" style="color: black">reopening this fall</a> after a three year, $102 million modernization process. The school has new athletic and classroom facilities and won't look like a prison anymore. (Post) NBC Washington <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Sneak_Peak__The_New_Woodson_High_Washington_DC-127697053.html', '11672')" href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Sneak_Peak__The_New_Woodson_High_Washington_DC-127697053.html" style="color: black">takes a first look</a> inside.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11672/northeast-high-school-is-reborn/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7253/will-one-old-school-become-a-new-school/ style="color: black">Will one old school become a new school?</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3564/then-and-now-monroe-school-auditorium/ style="color: black">Then and Now: Monroe School auditorium</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 29, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6693/bruce-monroe-wont-stay-a-park-might-not-be-a-school/ style="color: black">Bruce-Monroe won't stay a park, might not be a school</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 30, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8877/truxton-circle-school-and-youth-housing-in-doubt/ style="color: black">Truxton Circle school and youth housing in doubt</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 23, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7702/meet-seed-dcs-one-of-a-kind-public-boarding-school/ style="color: black">Meet SEED, DC's one-of-a-kind public boarding school</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 22, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11672 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:40:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11610/does-ward-3-need-a-new-school/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mary Cheh <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/08/new-middle-school-proposed-ward-3', '11610')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/08/new-middle-school-proposed-ward-3" style="color: black">wants another school in Ward 3</a>, where many schools are over capacity. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2011/08/indication-that-there-is-little-respect.html', '11610')" href="http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2011/08/indication-that-there-is-little-respect.html" style="color: black">Richard Layman says</a> if other wards had better schools, then Ward 3 wouldn't be full of so many out-of-boundary students. (Examiner, RPUS)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11610/does-ward-3-need-a-new-school/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2195/live-chat-mary-cheh-friday-at-1-pm/ style="color: black">Live chat: Mary Cheh, Friday at 1 pm</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 29, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9816/ward-2-now-too-large-wards-7-and-8-too-small/ style="color: black">Ward 2 now too large, wards 7 and 8 too small</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 24, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2011/could-the-slowing-economy-benefit-dc-schools/ style="color: black">Could the slowing economy benefit DC schools?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7641/grays-ward-2-town-hall-sidesteps-divisions/ style="color: black">Gray's Ward 2 town hall sidesteps divisions</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10600/capitol-hill-community-rallies-for-ward-6-unity/ style="color: black">Capitol Hill community rallies for Ward 6 unity</a> <span class="nw">(May 25, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11610 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:38:00 EDT