As an alum of Spingarn, I find this announcement disheartening, but not surprising. Spingarn has long been set up for failure by DCPS. The administrators, teachers, and staff are just as committed as their colleagues at the best performing schools. However, they have been consistently asked to make bricks with no hay. If we take a closer look at the lack of support, you'd be surprised that the school has survived this long.
I think back to the closure of the original Phelps about 10 years ago. They sent many of the vocational teachers to Spingarn without the proper equipment and lab space. It is no surprise that the programs have had marginal success and failed to grow the student population. Additionally, the school has long needed renovation. I've seen better restrooms in the schools of third-world countries. The facilities, as a whole, are sub-par. During a visit last fall, I was shocked to see graffiti in honor of a slain classmate from 12 years ago.
Additionally, the population of kids at Spingarn have many unmet social needs. The school is a reflection of what's going on in our communities. Ironically, a considerable number kids enrolled have been kicked out of charters. Closing this school will only shift such challenges to other similar schools that will eventually suffer the same fate.
There is a great deal of potential in the Young/Brown/Phelps/Spingarn campus if given adequate support. It will be a crying shame to see such a gem never reach its full potential in the traditional public school system. Given the struggles of the surrounding communities, this school should remain open with the proper support. That means proper facilities and a curriculum that meets the need of that community.
Sadly, we will continuously see this scenario played out every few years. The charter and public systems will continue to cannibalize each other unless there is adequate strategic planning that considers need, location, growth, and curriculum focus. I'm going to lobby officials to reconsider...not based upon nostalgia, but the actual need for a traditional public high school in that area.
I'm proud of the education I received and my overall experience. Spingarn is a school worth fighting for.
-Delano
From: Karen Alston <kalston266@gmail.com>
To: wardfive@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 11:58 AM
Subject: Re: [WardFive] Re: [ward5] Spingarn HS to be Closed
I did a client event years ago at Springarn and when I left I was depressed. Extremely depressed and never went back to the school. I agree the grounds and facility are beautiful -- the school left me traumatized. Sorry for the honesty. I don't want to feel that way......
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Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.
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On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Rob <indianrob@gmail.com> wrote:
Matt,Do you have any kids?? Maybe you missed it -- our community does not want this attacking approach on our Public School System -- ask 90% if Black Folks over here. Why would we give away our Prime Real Estate -- a School in a Cluster like this that sits across from a Golf Course, a great football and track and field facility with Tennis and Basketball Courts (in desparate need of renovation) to a Charter School. DCPS should refocus the feeders system to that location and we won't have to spend 100+ Million on renovation.Isn't the Job of Central Office of DCPS to implement a School Curriculum and environment that will encourage students to attend and learn. Where is that program. Maybe we should set the incentive/encourage this enrollment.RobIf true, it's not surprising, unfortunately. It has a long history of poor performance and a student body that has high truancy. And, the school has appeared in numerous reports detailing these issues but it hasn't turned around much.It's sad to hear this news, but hopefully it will encourage parents to ensure their children attend their new school. I also wonder what will become of the school itself- will it be sold to a charter school like the city did with Webb?Matt
On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 10:32 AM, Gigi Ransom <gigifor5c12@yahoo.com> wrote:
Was just informed that Kaya Henderson was at Spingarn HS this morning and announced the closing of the school.Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
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