Oversight Hearing D.C. Department of General Services, February 28, 2023Testimony: Mary Filardo, Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I am here to bring a research perspective to thechallenges of managing public facilities, but in particular to the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and D.C. Department of General Services (DGS) maintenance of…
Read More »It is clear from the preliminary Banneker High School concepts now available (April 24th, and May 1st) that an 800 student high school doesn’t fit on the Shaw site and meeting the program requirements for Banneker will be far better on its current site. Here is why: Building Massing Problems: The concept design concludes that for energy efficiency, the best…
Read More »Four new and/or completely modernized DCPS schools are opening this fall with events this week and next: Bancroft Elementary, Ward 1, 1755 Newton St. NW, Thursday, August 16, 5:00 p.m. (also release of the city’s PARCC Assessment Scores) Boone Elementary (formerly Orr), Ward 8, 2200 Minnesota Ave SE, August 18, 4:00 p.m. MacFarland Middle School, Ward 4, 4400 Iowa Ave….
Read More »By Cathy Reilly: the Executive Director of the Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators (S.H.A.P.P.E) and member of the State Board High School Graduation Requirements Task Force. DCPS recently released draft regulations and policies for attendance, promotion, secondary grading and graduation. The public can provide feedback and comments online or at two in-person feedback sessions scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday, July…
Read More »Roughly 55% of DC public school students attend a DCPS school and 45% attend a public charter school. With such an even split between the two sectors, as well as ongoing issues related to mid-year mobility, school facilities, and the distribution of at-risk students, the city needs greater coordination between each side. The Mayor’s Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force aims to…
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The Office of the D.C. Auditor (ODCA) released its annual report this week on the city’s school modernization program as managed by the Department of General Services (DGS). The auditor found that DGS cannot prove that it complies with the federal Davis-Bacon Act, which requires contractors to pay prevailing wages on all federal and District construction projects totaling over $2,000….
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