Saturday, 3 November 2012

Re: [WardFive] Re: Building a resolution for/with community buy-in for moratorium Re: Ward 5 calls for a moratorium on school closures Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7


 

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From: wardfive@googlegroups.com <wardfive@googlegroups.com>
To: ward5@yahoogroups.com <ward5@yahoogroups.com>; Ward 5 Google Groups <wardfive@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sat Nov 03 11:50:35 2012
Subject: [WardFive] Re: Building a resolution for/with community buy-in for moratorium Re: Ward 5 calls for a moratorium on school closures Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7

Good Morning Ward 5,
 
1. Ward 5 Education should take lead on this.  -- Faith Hubbard, you are up at bat.  Let's have the meeting at Luke C. Moore and maybe we can have a LOOK and SEE MORE into this whole Charter School influencing on closing of our schools. 
 
2. Kenyan should be having this meeting with Kaya in a Public Place.  We need to ask questions.  This would be a good opportunity to have a meeting regarding our schools without it being Scripted and directed by DCPS.
 
3. Then we can have Kenyan put forth legislation that will have some teeth.  You see that I don't believe in micky mouse marketing trick or treat, roll up sleeves, weather reporting, council person Mcduffee "invited" announcements and contrived legislations being put forth.  I need a Council Person who is going to do what he said he would which was to LEAD.
 
So everyone knows, I support Kenyan but I am Caribbean raised with a LION for a father.  We are thought to "TIGER MOM PUSH/LOVE our children to reach their potential as well as don't like Judas type folks around influencing them.  It is time to start some A** Kicking.  At a certain stage, and I love Eric's (indc) saying -- at some time, Kenyan has to put on his own "Big Boy Pants" and stop using already already grooved with agenda/intention hand me downs from others down at the Wilson Bldg and their henchmen holding your hands.
 
Kenyan, if you don't know it -- you have a huge wealth of brain power and experience here in Ward 5 at your disposal for the next 1.5 years.  Use it.  We might be able to fill up some of those Super Cans that our Seniors are going to get.  And next time you put forth legislation for our Seniors, it needs to be for more than some ___________ Super Cans. That type of legislation needs to not be the "headliner" but just a "by the way".
 
Rob Ramson

On Sat, Nov 3, 2012 at 10:59 AM, KPW <WKPW3@aol.com> wrote:
 

Maybe, Folks, Rob's "I have a Dream" piece can be worked into a resolution.  However, since the Councilmember has not mentioned a resolution yet, Rob's statement needs to be tailored for a community group to use and possibly fashioned for the one being built.

--KPW
 
Rob's I Have a Dream statement
Therefore as the Councilmember for Ward 5, I am calling for a moratorium on school closures in Ward because I have b(integrity)*lls, pending a detailed public report analyzing the outcomes of the 2008 school closures, the opportunity for public commentary sessions on both school assessment and proposed future closings, as well as the disclosure of a full list of proposed school closures within Ward 5 for the present and coming term.  In addition, I would like to know all options that have been exhausted before we decided to close the schools we are choosing to close.
 
For our meeting, I am also bringing along Erich Martel, a retired DCPS teacher who is well versed in the issues at hand and anyone else in our community who would like to be present to hear the answers from the person we pay.
 
Without any doubt, I am expecting that my community who are concerned about our schools and the education of our children and their children to step forward and support my leadership on this.  It is time that we stopped playing politics with our children's future, including our Community's Assets.
Ward 5 Council Member -- because I was allowed to serve my Community and not be a puppet and because Rob Ramson believes that I am capable enough to stand on my own - and I will as soon as I remember that I learned everthing that I ever needed to know about decency in kindergarden!!
Our Kids Deserve it.  Hell folks died so that I could be educated and have the ability to sit on the Council to protect the rights of future generations.
 
Without any doubt, I am expecting that my community who are concerned about our schools and the education of our children and their children to step forward and support my leadership on this.  It is time that we stopped playing politics with our children's future, including our Community's Assets.
Ward 5 Council Member -- because I was allowed to serve my Community and not be a puppet and because Rob Ramson believes that I am capable enough to stand on my own - and I will as soon as I remember that I learned everthing that I ever needed to know about decency in kindergarden!!
Our Kids Deserve it.  Hell folks died so that I could be educated and have the ability to sit on the Council to protect the rights of future generations.

Drafting a resolution for/with community buy-in for a moratorium to stop Ward 5 school closures
 
Whereas, ___ schools were closed in Ward 5 in _____ 

Whereas schools like Crummel were closed and are wasting away when they could have been used in ways that the community supports;

Whereas, school closures are a community battle and all hands need to be on deck with bayonets loaded; otherwise, our Ward 5 community will come up short;
 
Whereas, kids must come first and this closing chaos, disruption and dilatory tactics need to stop;
 
Whereas, the IFF  (Illinois Facilities Fund) quality schools report, as stated in its key findings, is simply a "supply and demand analysis;" 
 
Whereas, children and families in Ward Five endured the city-wide closure of twenty-three (23) schools in 2008 and the resulting adverse impacts;
 
Whereas, nine (??) schools were closed in Ward Five;
 
Whereas, Ward Five residents again stand to be disproportionately affected and adversely impacted by further consolidation of traditional public schools;
 
Whereas, the IFF provides a quantitative summary of data from a single indicator, the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS), and consequently, cannot and does not explain the present state of our schools, nor can it be valued as a comprehensive assessment of school quality.
 
Whereas, residents are complaining that they feel that they have not been sufficiently informed about District of Columbia Public Schools' intended response to the pronouncements in the IFF report, and have not had the sincere opportunity to participate in any public commentary sessions addressing the outcomes of the last round of public school closures;
 
Therefore, we hereby request on behalf of parents, students and community stakeholders in Ward Five, that no schools are closed in Ward Five until a school reform plan based on a genuine, independent analysis of student achievement by class is advanced by Ward 5 constituents, parents, and community stakeholders at-large.
 
Therefore, be it resolved that there be moratorium on school closures in Ward 5, pending a detailed public report analyzing the outcomes of the 2008 school closures, the opportunity for public commentary sessions on both school assessment and proposed future closings, as well as the disclosure of a full list of proposed school closures within Ward 7 for the present and coming term.

-----Original Message-----
From: KPW <wkpw3@aol.com>
To: ward5 <ward5@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 10:50 pm
Subject: Building a resolution for/with community buy-in for moratorium Re: Ward 5 calls for a moratorium on school closures Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7

Rather than wait for somebody to start developing a resolution to start a moratorium, I threw some tidbits together that have been mentioned on the listserv.  Let's start building a resolution that different groups can adopt and use.  Please don't respond and tell me I shouldn't have included this or that.  It is best that people just add or delete the language as needed.  There is no pride in authorship.  I just grabbed stuff to get the ball rolling.  We don't need any statements as to whether a statement is good or bad or strategies about what is needed.  This is an action step.  Those that want a strong resolution, then add or change what is here or start a new one.  Add some facts or observations.  Add some historical truths.  Substitute another resolution for this.

I added a couple of articles I found for your information, but clearly there are more.  People from other wards can chime in, too, with their additions, deletions, or suggestions.  We need a Resolution Title.  Somebody else can take this to the next level to make sure this is right in substance and then in format.  Then somebody can do some wordsmithing.  Help and input are welcome, but criticisms are not.  There can be plenty of crusaders pushing other ideas as well without sabotaging this one.  

By the way, I'm not a resolution writer, just a provocateur, agitator, rabble-rouser.  

Does anyone already have a list of Ward 5 schools so that I don't have to look it up.  We need the high schools, middle/junior, k-8 extended, and elementary schools for both traditional and charter schools.  Let's highlight the schools with pre-kindergarten.  Does anybody have the list of schools that were closed and their status now?  What did they become?  I know that Slowe Elementary School became a charter school and Backus became UDC Community College.  If possible, let's get a list of schools that were closed over the decades and their status now, e.g., Crummel.  What has been the impact of the closing of schools, e.g., people sending kids out of boundary, people moving their families, school becoming a blight on neighborhood, crime, and so forth.  If the year that the school was closed and the neighborhood and location where the school are available, that would be helpful.

Go in peace, listserv folks.

KPW


Drafting a resolution for/with community buy-in
 
Whereas, school closures are a community battle and all hands need to be on deck with bayonets loaded; otherwise, our Ward 5 community will come up short;
 
Whereas, kids must come first and this closing chaos, disruption and dilatory tactics need to stop;
 
Whereas, the IFF  (Illinois Facilities Fund) quality schools report, as stated in its key findings, is simply a "supply and demand analysis;" 
 
Whereas, children and families in Ward Five endured the city-wide closure of twenty-three (23) schools in 2008 and the resulting adverse impacts;
 
Whereas, nine (??) schools were closed in Ward Five;
 
Whereas, Ward Five residents again stand to be disproportionately affected and adversely impacted by further consolidation of traditional public schools;
 
Whereas, the IFF provides a quantitative summary of data from a single indicator, the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS), and consequently, cannot and does not explain the present state of our schools, nor can it be valued as a comprehensive assessment of school quality.
 
Whereas, residents are complaining that they feel that they have not been sufficiently informed about District of Columbia Public Schools' intended response to the pronouncements in the IFF report, and have not had the sincere opportunity to participate in any public commentary sessions addressing the outcomes of the last round of public school closures;
 
Therefore, we hereby request on behalf of parents, students and community stakeholders in Ward Five, that no schools are closed in Ward Five until a school reform plan based on a genuine, independent analysis of student achievement by class is advanced by Ward 5 constituents, parents, and community stakeholders at-large.
 
Therefore, be it resolved that there be moratorium on school closures in Ward 5, pending a detailed public report analyzing the outcomes of the 2008 school closures, the opportunity for public commentary sessions on both school assessment and proposed future closings, as well as the disclosure of a full list of proposed school closures within Ward 7 for the present and coming term.


 Articles with more information
 
 
Erich Martel 
The Ward 5 Quality Schools Engagement Meeting and the IFF Report:
Why Community Meetings Must Challenge the IFF Report's Legitimacy and Reject Its Recommendations
August 15, 2012
Directories
Schools
The Ward 5 Quality Schools Community Engagement Meeting and the IFF Report: Why Community Meetings Must Challenge the IFF Report's Legitimacy and Reject Its Recommendations
Erich Martel, Retired DCPS High School Teacher (Cardozo, Wilson, Phelps), ehmartel at starpower dot net
On July 31, 2012, I attended the Ward 5 Quality Schools Community Engagement Meeting, one of five ward meetings. It was initiated by the DME (Deputy Mayor of Education) to address the recommendations of the IFF (Illinois Facilities Fund) report, which recommends the closure, "turnaround" or "transfer to charter operators" of 37 DCPS schools, including five in Ward 5.
Before and during the Ward 5 meeting, the DME, DME staff and Public Agenda facilitator insisted that the meetings were not about the IFF report, but only to solicit the public's ideas about school quality. In discussion group #3, efforts to include a statement opposing the IFF report were opposed by the DME staffer and the Public Agenda facilitator. Their response was to minimize the importance of the IFF report and to assure us that our concerns would be best addressed by describing the elements of "quality" that we want to see in our schools. The other part of their strategy was to split the participants into multiple groups, have them spend the entire time discussing, making long lists, then putting colored stickies on our preferences, and, finally, reports from each group to the whole group. No time was allotted for the whole group to vote on the recommendations it
This two-part strategy (divide participants into small groups; focus discussion on broad generalities, instead of the real issue) is designed to isolate concerned parents and community members in small groups and limit discussion to an agenda that avoids the most important issues.
The resulting lists of "qualities" will be attached to the DME's recommendations, in his report. He will write that every quality criterion can be met by closure, turnaround, or transfer to charter operators, the IFF report's recommendations. In the meantime, while the DME is diverting parents and residents' concerns into make-believe discussions about school quality, the Public Charter School Board has initiated a speeded-up process for "experienced charter operators" to open new charters in DC by August 2013 and the DCPS Chancellor is seeking charter authority to cover up her and Rhee's failed reform policies. Both charter initiatives have the full support of Mayor Gray and DME Wright.
 
The evidence (with links) supporting this analysis is below, followed by suggestions for moving forward. Statements or documents by the Mayor, the DME, the DCPS Chancellor and the Public Charter School Board all show that each one is seeking to increase "the number of high quality public charter school seats." In fact, OSSE's plan to water down graduation requirements may be part of their effort to attract charter high schools.
Evidence: The five "quality school community engagement meetings" are really about the IFF report
In written responses to the Council' oversight questions, this past February, the DME wrote: "DME is beginning a process of community engagement based on the IFF report data. This engagement will begin in April 2012 and last through the fall. DME is working with DCPS, PCSB, and community members to hold facilitated conversations in each of the 'Top 10' neighborhood clusters as identified in the IFF report."
The DME's statement clearly means "public engagement" on the subject of the "IFF report data." His next and final sentence attempts to shift focus away from the IFF report to something vague and undefined, "quality schools":
"An integral part of these community conversations will be soliciting feedback from communities about their vision for quality schools." (Office of the DME Performance Oversight Questions, 2/9/2012, p.12: http://www.dccouncil.us/files/user_uploads/budget_responses/fy11_12_agencyperformance_depmayorforeducation_responses.pdf )
Making "quality schools" an "integral part of these community conversations" does not negate the previous sentences' focus on IFF data. More importantly, "feedback" can only be solicited for information already reported to those expected to give feedback. The community had information on the IFF report's recommendations and its newly invented category, "performing seats," after the report was posted in January. That is the only information which ward residents could study and then give knowledgeable "feedback." The DME provided no information on the subject of a "vision for quality schools," on which the community could give knowledgeable "feedback."
There is nothing in the DME's response that makes "the IFF report data" an off-limits topic as the DME, DME staff and Public Agenda facilitator tried to enforce.
The evidence that the Mayor, the DME, the DCPS Chancellor and the DC Public Charter Board are promoting a rapid expansion of charter "seats"
1) The Mayor supports and takes credit for the IFF Study and its recommendations.
"Action 2.2.2: Develop Strategies To Create In D.C. Public Schools And D.C. Public Charter Schools.
"The IFF study, Quality Schools: Every Child, Every School, Every Neighborhood commissioned by the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of Education, indicated that the District will need to increase the number of educational options or "quality seats" that prepare children for future academic success in both DCPS and D.C. public charter school system. The study identified ten neighborhood clusters with a high need for quality academic seats. In conjunction with the report's findings, the DME will engage the community in conversations to further examine academic needs in each of the neighborhood clusters. At the conclusion of the community conversations, the DME will release a report with recommended strategies to bring forth more quality seats in the District." (Vincent Gray, One City Action Plan, p.25, July 2012:http://mayor.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mayor/publication/attachments/One_City_Action_Plan.pdf )
2) Chancellor Henderson and Mayor Gray want DCPS to have the authority to grant charters
"Henderson voiced unconditional support for chartering authority Thursday at a D.C. Council hearing.
"Henderson said the traditional school system would benefit by giving schools the kind of freedom that charters enjoy. What we know is that autonomy leads to innovation and success," Henderson said. She added that she viewed restoration of chartering authority not as a means of competing with the charter board but as a way to collaborate and move with dispatch to place good schools in underserved neighborhoods." "District Seeks Return of Charting Authority" by Bill Turque, Washington Post, 2/23/2012,http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/district-seeks-return-of-chartering-authority/2012/02/23/gIQAB54YWR_blog.html
Comments:
Henderson's touting of chartering authority as "autonomy [that] leads to innovation and success" is a deception:
a) The failure of many charter schools proves that innovation can lead to failure as well as success;
b) The current contract with the WTU allows for procedures, whereby the faculty of a school can vote to adopt a non-traditional schedule. If 2/3 or all faculty members (WTU bargaining unit) vote to adopt it, it can go into effect. Teachers who don't like the non-traditional schedule have the right to transfer to another school.
If the issue is a longer school day, that can be negotiated via a memorandum of agreement or new contract provision with the president of the WTU.
The real reason is that Henderson does not want to go that route, because it would limit her ability to terminate teachers in schools that are closed, turned around or transferred to charters. She wants to use chartering authority as another vehicle to excess and terminate teachers.
c) Henderson has managed or co-managed DCPS for over five years. In most of the 37 DCPS schools cited in the IFF, the majority of the faculty has been hired by Rhee and Henderson since June 2007. The management and academic policies they implemented must be independently analyzed to determine the reasons for 37 schools to have failed.
3. The DC Public Charter Board is Seeking to "expand the number of high quality public charter school seats available to the DC public."
- A speeded up process to attract "experienced charter operators" to open as early as August 2013;
- A process for new charter school start-ups to open as early as August 2014. http://tinyurl.com/cos67fl (on the DC Public Charter Board web site, 7/12/2012)
- See also: "DC Wants Experience Charter Operators, in a Hurry" by Bill Turque (7/3/2012), http://preview.tinyurl.com/8to6mh
 
What is this IFF Study All About and What Could it Mean for DC Schools?
February 3rd, 2012 | by Soumya Bhat
In a city still reeling from a series of school closures under the Fenty administration, education leaders in the District are abuzz over a controversial report on the school system released last week. Commissioned by the Deputy Mayor for Education, "Quality Schools: Every Child, Every School, Every Neighborhood," also known as the IFF study, recommends that the city close or turnaround 38 traditional public schools and three public charter schools and encourages the replication of high-performing charter schools in  neighborhoods with  the greatest need. DC officials have issued reassurances that there will not be any dramatic transfer of the city school system to public charter schools, but the study has sparked tensions between advocates of traditional public school and public charter schools.
The study analyzes supply and demand for "performing schools" in DC and provides data on the ten neighborhoods that have the largest gap in education service. This is defined as the difference between the number of students living in the neighborhood and enrolled in K-12 public schools (the demand) and the number of seats available in high-performing schools as defined by IFF (the supply). The study relied on DC-CAS test results to measure the number of "performing seats" at each school. IFF developed a four-tier system to rank schools from highest performing (Tier 1) to lowest performing (Tier 4) across 39 neighborhood clusters in the city. Not surprisingly, the need for performing seats was highest in DC's poorest neighborhoods and for elementary school grades. Over half of the Tier 4 schools are located in Wards 7 and 8 and out of the additional 39,758 Tier 1 seats needed to meet demand across neighborhoods, 21,164 are for kindergarten to fifth grade.
One of the report's main recommendations is to close or turn around Tier 4 DCPS schools and replace them with high-performing public charter schools. The researchers go as far as to suggest an incentive to maximize existing building capacity – "With cooperation and coordination between DCPS and PCSB [Public Charter School Board], PCSB can use the buildings as incentives to recruit the highest performing charter school operators into the Top Ten priority neighborhood clusters."
DCFPI's take? Policymakers should take the analysis with a grain of salt. There have been numerous criticisms of the study, from the rigor of the supply and demand analysis technique to IFF's ties to charter school funders. For example, the researchers base their definition of quality on a school's test scores rather than on student achievement growth from year to year, a better predictor of how well equipped schools are at teaching at-risk student populations over time. IFF also did not make the link between performing seats and schools serving large numbers of special education or English language learner students or poverty rates across neighborhoods. Ignoring these critical factors when making policy decisions regarding school closure, turnaround, or expansion would be short-sighted.
This report was posted on February 3rd, 2012 by Soumya Bhat and is filed under Blog: The District's Dime,Education.
 


-----Original Message-----
From: stephanie rones <stephanierones@yahoo.com>
To: ward5 <ward5@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 9:52 pm
Subject: Re: Ward 5 calls for a moratorium on school closures Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7

 
It would not be wise, fair or prudent to repose so much trust and responsibility in our new Councilmember. He is still trying to get his sea legs.
 
School closures are a community battle and all hands need to be on deck with bayonets loaded. Otherwise, our community will come up short (again).
 
Kids must come first and this closing chaos, disruption and dilatory tactics need to stop.
 
Note which Wards are not included on the list.

 
 
From: "kingjulianne@yahoo.com" <kingjulianne@yahoo.com>
To: ward5@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, November 2, 2012 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: Ward 5 calls for a moratorium on school closures Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7
 
Please forgive me, but I want to remind the listserv that the primary concept of my brief campaign for city council revolved around a moratorium on permanent school closures.  This is an assault on our children's future.  I have a child in DCPS to protect, so I can't say much now.  We need our Councilman to step out and slay the dragon of school privatization.  Will he do it?

Sent from my HTC EVO 4G LTE exclusively from Sprint

----- Reply message -----From: "KPW" <WKPW3@aol.com>To: <ward5@yahoogroups.com>Subject: Ward 5 calls for a moratorium on school closures Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7Date: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 7:14 PM
 
Well, I guess we start calling for a moratorium on the listserves.  Perhaps the Ward 5 Council on Education, if they haven't already, take the lead on drafting a resolution or something calling for a moratorium.  Maybe there are other groups that can do the same.  How about ANCs before the January redistricting switch, civic associations, business groups, community organizations, PTAs, CDCs, and other groups could do their own call for a moratorium.

KPW
-----Original Message-----From: Debbie Smith-Steiner <DLSmith112@msn.com>To: ward5 <ward5@yahoogroups.com>Sent: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 7:02 pmSubject: Re: Has Ward 5 called for a moratorium on school closures? Re: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7
 
Ask CM McDuffie through his CoS when he first took office.  And then again on this listserveSuccess is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed.

       Booker T. Washington
On Nov 2, 2012, at 6:36 PM, KPW <WKPW3@aol.com> wrote:

Does there need to be a vote by some group in order to get a moratorium or is it understood?  We took a major hit before when Councilmember Thomas' first term?  Is this going to be a pattern that school closings are proposed when Ward 5 gets a new councilmember and before he has been in office long enough to be a major force on the council (which our councilmember will eventually become, of course)?

-----Original Message-----
From: stephanie rones <stephanierones@yahoo.com>
To: ward5 <ward5@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 5:47 pm
Subject: [ward5] Fw: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7 [2 Attachments]

 
[Attachment(s) from stephanie rones included below]


 
Thanks,

Stephanie Kristina Rones
Stephanie Rones
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Watson, Tiffany (Council)" <TWatson@DCCOUNCIL.US>
To:
Sent: Friday, November 2, 2012 5:26 PM
Subject: Letter - Councilmember Alexander Supports Moratorium on School Closures in Ward 7
<image002.png> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
November 2, 2012
 
 
Kaya Henderson, Chancellor
District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
 
Dear Ms. Henderson:
 
On October 4, 2012, the Ward 7 Education Council held a general body meeting with Ward 7 residents and community stakeholders and adopted a motion calling for a moratorium on the closing of schools in Ward 7.  The resolution reads, "We hereby request on behalf of parents, students and community stakeholders in Ward 7, that no schools are closed in Ward 7 until a school reform plan based on a genuine analysis of student achievement by class is advanced by Ward 7 constituents, parents and community stakeholders at-large."
 
This motion has been duly adopted by participants in the Ward 7 Community Conversation held by Deputy Mayor for Education De'Shawn Wright in response to the IFF quality schools report.  This report, as stated in its key findings, is simply a "supply and demand analysis."  It provides a quantitative summary of data from a single indicator, the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS).  Consequently, it cannot and does not explain the present state of our schools, nor can it be valued as a comprehensive assessment of school quality.
 
I have received numerous complaints from residents who feel that they have not been sufficiently informed about District of Columbia Public Schools' intended response to the pronouncements in the IFF report, and have not had the opportunity to participate in any public commentary sessions addressing the outcomes of the last round of public school closures.
 
Children and families in Ward 7 endured the closure of twenty-three (23) schools city-wide in 2008 and the resulting adverse impacts.  Today, Ward 7 residents again stand to be disproportionately affected and adversely impacted by further consolidation of traditional public schools.
 
Therefore as the Councilmember for Ward 7, I support the Ward 7 Education Council's resolution calling for a moratorium on school closures in Ward 7, pending a detailed public report analyzing the outcomes of the 2008 school closures, the opportunity for public commentary sessions on both school assessment and proposed future closings, as well as the disclosure of a full list of proposed school closures within Ward 7 for the present and coming term.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Yvette M. Alexander
Councilmember – Ward 7
 
 
Cc:       Mayor Vincent C. Gray
            Deputy Mayor De'Shawn Wright
Chairman Phil Mendelson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tiffany B. Watson
Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander Ward 7
Council of the District of Columbia
Director of Communications
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 724-8068 - Main Office
 

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