front page - search - community

Board considers revised facilities plan
(Published February 7, 2005)

The D.C. Board of Education is considering a new plan to address D.C. public school facilities problems that seeks to make less-extensive improvements to a greater number of schools.

School officials' so-called "Option D" proposes to reduce the scope of construction projects planned for some public schools in order to free up money, which could then be reallocated to fix more schools.

The plan represents a switch from a focus on modernization to "systemic rehabilitation" for public schools, according to school officials.

The current modernization plan attempts to fix antiquated and decrepit school facilities by redesigning existing buildings and constructing brand new ones. It anticipates fixing 48 schools, about a third of the district's buildings, by 2020.

"Systemic rehabilitation" entails repairing only the outdated components of a building rather than constructing entire new buildings.

It includes replacing roofing systems, exterior walls, electrical systems, fire alarm systems, heating/ventilation/air-conditioning systems, plumbing, windows, doors, interior walls and partitions, and furnishings.

It does not include the construction of brand new program-related facilities such as libraries, art rooms, music rooms, gyms, cafeterias or special education classrooms.

Using this approach, proponents of Option D expect to see significant improvements made to 147 public schools and learning centers by 2020.

School board member Carrie Thornhill, a mayoral appointee, said the goal of Option D is for all DCPS schools to receive "some sort of treatment" in the next 10 years. During that time, the school board would continue to petition the mayor and council for more money, which they could use to accelerate the improvement process.

"We see this as an interim step while we make the case for additional resources," Thornhill said of Option D.

District IV board member William Lockridge, who represents Wards 7 and 8, said he firmly opposes Option D, calling it "the most dramatic change that can happen" since the school system spent more than a year developing its current facilities master plan. He proposed keeping the current program intact and finding other ways to lobby for more money.

Lockridge argued that Option D hasn't been fully explained in the community, and the board needs to hold meetings throughout the District "to see how the community feels about Option D." He said he plans to organize such a meeting in Southeast Washington to explain the plan to his constituents and seek their feedback.—By Stephanie Brinson