Bowser cuts school renovation funds - Murch, others delayed or cancelled while Ellington tops $178 M

[Anonymous]

What is the chancellor's role vs what is the mayor's role when it comes to capital improvement budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Matt Frumin dug through the budget and pulled together a lot of numbers which he has analyzed here:

http://www.matthewfrumin.com

This is the clearest explanation that I have seen of the impact of Bowser's budget. I support Duke Ellington and want it to have a world class facility. But Frumin makes clear that budget realities combined with Ellington's increasing cost are really negatively impacting other school modernization. It seems entirely reasonable to revisit the budget and reconsider whether Ellington really need all of those funds.

Agreed, and I'm an Ellington fan. My child was accepted there, although he chose to go elsewhere, and I wish the school every success.

For comparison purposes:

$178+ million to modernize Ellington according to the Frumin piece (http://www.matthewfrumin.com/)

vs.

$150 million for a fabulous project to transform the Commons at Yale into a world class performing arts space, with $20 million left over for programming and operations. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/arts/design/stephen-a-schwarzmangives-150-million-for-yale-cultural-hub.html

For those saying (absurdly) that the Ellington renovation is "almost complete," they haven't finished the first year of the initially projected 2+ project years, and by all published accounts, they are behind schedule for a variety of reasons.

And today there's a column in Slate by a Yale grad saying that a $150m performing arts space is way over the top. (http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2015/05/12/stephen_schwarzman_yale_gift_so_many_better_uses_for_that_money.html )

Oh the irony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the chancellor's role vs what is the mayor's role when it comes to capital improvement budget?

One thing that is clear: Neither the mayor nor the chancellor has any formal influence over the Duke Ellington board of directors. Not one director is appointed by the DC government. Instead the board is effectively self-perpetuating, with no accountability to the mayor or DCPS. So in effect, DC is giving the autonomous Ellington board a check for $170 million, plus most of Ellington's annual operating budget!

[jsteele]

Here is David Grosso's recommendations for changing the budget:

http://www.davidgrosso.org/grosso-analysis/2015/5/13/committee-on-education-fy2016-budget-report-summary

He takes some money from Duke Ellington and from Garrison.

[Anonymous]

Ellington could stand to put some of its plans on hold and give the unspent money to schools that need to put doors on their restrooms and whatnot. Ellington's the only school with massive fundraising power, yet they are taking public money to build the Taj Mahal for themselves. Instead, they should be building some "basic level" stuff and in the meantime take a couple of years to fundraise some millions to build the upgrades they want.

[Anonymous]

Does the Chancellor appoint the principal of Ellington? Or "head" or whatever it's called?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the Chancellor appoint the principal of Ellington? Or "head" or whatever it's called?

Nope. The DC government doesn't even get to appoint a single director, either.

[Anonymous]

Garrison just can't buy any love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Chancellor appoint the principal of Ellington? Or "head" or whatever it's called?

Nope. The DC government doesn't even get to appoint a single director, either.

The structure of a charter school with the per-pupil of DCPS -- and the drain on the coffers of a pro sports team.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Here is David Grosso's recommendations for changing the budget:

http://www.davidgrosso.org/grosso-analysis/2015/5/13/committee-on-education-fy2016-budget-report-summary

He takes some money from Duke Ellington and from Garrison.

It's not much of a reduction for Ellington - only $3M, while Garrison gets a big hit. I don't see the equity in this at all. There doesn't appear to be any other schools that getting reductions like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Here is David Grosso's recommendations for changing the budget:

http://www.davidgrosso.org/grosso-analysis/2015/5/13/committee-on-education-fy2016-budget-report-summary

He takes some money from Duke Ellington and from Garrison.

It's not much of a reduction for Ellington - only $3M, while Garrison gets a big hit. I don't see the equity in this at all. There doesn't appear to be any other schools that getting reductions like this.

I'm having a hard time reading this. How much is the Garrison hit this time?

[jsteele]

Here is what Grosso's recommendations say about Garrison:

The Committee directs a reduction of $5.2 million in FY16 and a reduction of $15.6 million in FY17. Recognizing that funds are limited and that there are still 24 schools that still have not seen modernization, the Committee is recommending that DCPS revert back to phased modernizations for elementary schools unless the school is an “open-concept” floor plan, the school is co-located with another agency whose facility is also being modernized, or the complexity of the project makes phasing almost impossible or cost prohibitive. The remaining $20 million in FY16 provides Garrison with funds for a full Phase I enhanced modernization.

[Anonymous]

So these are Grosso's recommendations but the mayor makes the final call, right? How much weight does the Education Committee have on these decisions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Garrison just can't buy any love.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Here is David Grosso's recommendations for changing the budget:

http://www.davidgrosso.org/grosso-analysis/2015/5/13/committee-on-education-fy2016-budget-report-summary

He takes some money from Duke Ellington and from Garrison.

It's not much of a reduction for Ellington - only $3M, while Garrison gets a big hit. I don't see the equity in this at all. There doesn't appear to be any other schools that getting reductions like this.

I'm having a hard time reading this. How much is the Garrison hit this time?

Like $20 million.