DC council giving away DCPS property to Lab School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lab took over the lease of a private school that went bankrupt 5 years ago. The Hardy doesn't have a gym either. Also, public funding is more of a losing situation for Lab. DCPS take forever with reimbursement. DCPS makes more money by leasing the building which it's done since the 1990s long b/f Lab was in the building.

But the point of DCPS isn't to make money, it's to serve students.

Moreover, while it may have been "surplus" when leased, there is now a space shortage for DCPS in Ward 3 with no relief in sight,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lab took over the lease of a private school that went bankrupt 5 years ago. The Hardy doesn't have a gym either. Also, public funding is more of a losing situation for Lab. DCPS take forever with reimbursement. DCPS makes more money by leasing the building which it's done since the 1990s long b/f Lab was in the building.

But the point of DCPS isn't to make money, it's to serve students.

Moreover, while it may have been "surplus" when leased, there is now a space shortage for DCPS in Ward 3 with no relief in sight,

It does serve DC students. There are DC students who go there who live in Ward 3. There are DC students that are funded there b/c the DC schools could not teach them.

In regards to space shortage, have you guys even read the DCPS strategic plan?
http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/DC_Public_Education_FMP_Appendix_B-C.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lab took over the lease of a private school that went bankrupt 5 years ago. The Hardy doesn't have a gym either. Also, public funding is more of a losing situation for Lab. DCPS take forever with reimbursement. DCPS makes more money by leasing the building which it's done since the 1990s long b/f Lab was in the building.

But the point of DCPS isn't to make money, it's to serve students.

Moreover, while it may have been "surplus" when leased, there is now a space shortage for DCPS in Ward 3 with no relief in sight,

How is DC making money by leasing the building? 80K a year to lease such a large space is peanuts.

[Anonymous]

So it passed. Councilmembers White and Silverman voted against. Councilmembers Grosso, Cheh, Evans and May spoke in favor, it was a voice vote so only the against votes were recorded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lab took over the lease of a private school that went bankrupt 5 years ago. The Hardy doesn't have a gym either. Also, public funding is more of a losing situation for Lab. DCPS take forever with reimbursement. DCPS makes more money by leasing the building which it's done since the 1990s long b/f Lab was in the building.

But the point of DCPS isn't to make money, it's to serve students.

Moreover, while it may have been "surplus" when leased, there is now a space shortage for DCPS in Ward 3 with no relief in sight,

It does serve DC students. There are DC students who go there who live in Ward 3. There are DC students that are funded there b/c the DC schools could not teach them.

In regards to space shortage, have you guys even read the DCPS strategic plan?
http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/DC_Public_Education_FMP_Appendix_B-C.pdf

Have you read the multiple explanations above of how DCPS pays for those students? There is no basis for adding a free lease (after deducting improvements) on top of the contracted tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it passed. Councilmembers White and Silverman voted against. Councilmembers Grosso, Cheh, Evans and May spoke in favor, it was a voice vote so only the against votes were recorded.

Why do they bother passing laws if they aren't going to follow them.

I'm especially disgusted by Cheh who just flipped off her constituants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it passed. Councilmembers White and Silverman voted against. Councilmembers Grosso, Cheh, Evans and May spoke in favor, it was a voice vote so only the against votes were recorded.

Why do they bother passing laws if they aren't going to follow them.

I'm especially disgusted by Cheh who just flipped off her constituants.

Big time. She's been trying to walk a line where she says the process was followed, but it wasn't.

Well, now she owns the school crowding problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who think that DC should get a tuition discount, by law tuition for special ed schools paid by DCPS is established by OSSE.

My point was not to suggest a literal tuition discount. It was to point out that, like all private special education schools where DCPS kids are placed, they are already compensated through tuition, and it is not appropriate to single out Lab among all similar institutions for an additional, unearned benefit in the form of a real estate subsidy.

Someone paid for this. Which council person received a donation from Lab? Can we find out who sponsored the bill?

Bowser's campaign treasurer was Ben Soto. He also was the mastermind behind FreshPAC. His wife is on the board of Lab.

Let's hope these conflicts of interest are noted during the hearing.

His son is at the Lab School and the city pays for him to go there free while they are building a $3 million house in Forest Hills. Yes, I am sure he is behind it. Quid pro quo.

[Anonymous]

I really hope a lawsuit results from this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hope a lawsuit results from this.

Who would bring a suit?

[Anonymous]

How do we get wamu or the post to look into it? Or is the post in bowsers pocket?

[Anonymous]

Contact the City Paper to look into. They seem to be the local version of TMZ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who think that DC should get a tuition discount, by law tuition for special ed schools paid by DCPS is established by OSSE.

My point was not to suggest a literal tuition discount. It was to point out that, like all private special education schools where DCPS kids are placed, they are already compensated through tuition, and it is not appropriate to single out Lab among all similar institutions for an additional, unearned benefit in the form of a real estate subsidy.

Someone paid for this. Which council person received a donation from Lab? Can we find out who sponsored the bill?

Bowser's campaign treasurer was Ben Soto. He also was the mastermind behind FreshPAC. His wife is on the board of Lab.

Let's hope these conflicts of interest are noted during the hearing.

His son is at the Lab School and the city pays for him to go there free while they are building a $3 million house in Forest Hills. Yes, I am sure he is behind it. Quid pro quo.

And since they are a private school they set their own admissions and scholarships policy. So they can bypass the DCPS special ed process when they want to.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have an update on the emergency hearing today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have an update on the emergency hearing today?

The measure was approved.