DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can this system continue? IF DE is a public school, it should be treated like one. Is the council at least working on changing the governance structure?

The school is legally a joint venture between the Kennedy Center, GWU, and DCPS.

DCPS could seek to renegotiate the agreement but never heard anyone express interest in that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the DC council going to do about this disgrace? Doesn't somebody have to provide answers or at least a plan?

The DC Council isn't really at fault, because they were not consulted at all, as this article concerning the audit makes clear:

http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/audit-details-cost-overruns-ellington

If the DC agencies responsible for this boondoggle were not REQUIRED to consult the DC Council for approval, well one thing the Council could do is pass legislation requiring oversight in the future. Oversight should not be "optional." If the agencies WERE required to consult, but chose not to, then that would have to be justification for hearings at the Council, and possibly firings and criminal actions taken.

The Council has power over contracts even though they're out of their depth on project management and procurement. It's largely a boondoggle for officials and an opportunity for favor peddling. It mostly comes into play in the bidding process rather than during project management.

The real problem is poor project management by DGS, which does not effectively monitor the work being completed, accurately account for expenses and cost overruns, manage approval process for expenditures, or safeguard the funds allocated for the intended services.

With all the local politics involved, it doesn't look like anyone is really trying to fix this mess, and the misuse of public funds continues.

What happens in similar cases in other cities? Is there a process for some DOJ agency to intervene and fiscal I've things, perhaps based on the recent audit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the DC council going to do about this disgrace? Doesn't somebody have to provide answers or at least a plan?

The DC Council isn't really at fault, because they were not consulted at all, as this article concerning the audit makes clear:

http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/audit-details-cost-overruns-ellington

If the DC agencies responsible for this boondoggle were not REQUIRED to consult the DC Council for approval, well one thing the Council could do is pass legislation requiring oversight in the future. Oversight should not be "optional." If the agencies WERE required to consult, but chose not to, then that would have to be justification for hearings at the Council, and possibly firings and criminal actions taken.

The Council has power over contracts even though they're out of their depth on project management and procurement. It's largely a boondoggle for officials and an opportunity for favor peddling. It mostly comes into play in the bidding process rather than during project management.

The real problem is poor project management by DGS, which does not effectively monitor the work being completed, accurately account for expenses and cost overruns, manage approval process for expenditures, or safeguard the funds allocated for the intended services.

And beyond favor pedaling, I strongly believe that there has been a lot of outright theft in this project. I haven't read this audit closely yet, but I did read the last one and at that time, the report said that there were millions of dollars unaccounted for. Millions. Anyone here work at DOJ? Would love them to take an interest.

[Anonymous]

If there were allegations of criminal malfeasance, fraud or theft on the part of a city employee or contractor the DC Attorney General could take action.

But all Patterson's report found was a lot of mismanagement and lack of adherence to best practices. It's galling but not criminal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the DC council going to do about this disgrace? Doesn't somebody have to provide answers or at least a plan?

The DC Council isn't really at fault, because they were not consulted at all, as this article concerning the audit makes clear:

http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/audit-details-cost-overruns-ellington

If the DC agencies responsible for this boondoggle were not REQUIRED to consult the DC Council for approval, well one thing the Council could do is pass legislation requiring oversight in the future. Oversight should not be "optional." If the agencies WERE required to consult, but chose not to, then that would have to be justification for hearings at the Council, and possibly firings and criminal actions taken.

BS

The DC council controls the funding. All they had to do was nix the funding. They're very good at doing that to other schools.

[Anonymous]

What about the DC Attorney General and his office? Can't they do something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The parking thing isn't unique to Ellington. DCPS says they must install one at Murch because of zoning, and will be destroying a playground to do it. Doesn't Janney have one too?

Now supposedly the city is saying no more underground parking garages but in the initial waves of building they were de riguer (similar to kilns at elementary schools).

Underground parking isn't always a waste of money. It depends.

What is clear is that it is a waste of money in this case. The school should have been moved to a more central, metro accessible location.

The reason it was not is because its political backers like the prestige of the current site and saw the sensible suggestions to move it as being part of The Plan.

That's as far as I can determine. It is a total scandal, reminiscent of Barry- era DC.

Oh come on. There was every reason to leave Duke where it was, given that it had thrived there for decades. Downtown real estate and building costs would have been even more expensive than Georgetown. This continuing irrational effort to tie the location to the inexcusable cost overruns is nothing but snooty Georgetown and Burleith residents who are angry that a bunch of predominantly African American kids have the temerity to attend public school in their neighborhood.

Do you realize that you proved my point? I said that Ellington backers are conspiracy theorists about The Plan and then look at what you write, accusing the nearby neighbors of The Plan.

Well, since I am PP, and I am a nearby neighbor, I think I know a bit about what I am talking about.

The concern trolling for the poor Ellington students who will have to travel to Burleith in their new school, just like they did in the old school, is ridiculous. The school has been in Burleith for decades. Why should it have moved? Who would have benefitted from the move? Why were all the neighbors, and none of the Ellington families pushing for a move? You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to see what was going on here. All you had to do was listen.

Just because the school has been located somewhere for decades doesn't mean it makes sense for it to remain there. As for who would have benefitted, I'd suggest the students attending Wilson as some could have been shifted to a new Western HS that could accommodate kids from the attendance zine and from across the city. It arguable could then open up more seats at Wilson for OOB students. That's a lot of kids who would have been better off in my mind. Then again, bizarre decades-old conspiracy theories are much more fun.

This idea is a joke. The proposed new "Western High School" would be a failure. The same NW families that are rejecting Hardy would reject the new Western HS, and it would be either 4/5 empty, or full of OOB kids - who, just like the Ellington kids, would have to travel from all over the city to get to Burleith. And what do you think would have happened if the city had tried to renovate old Ellington into new Western HS, and build a new Ellington? Take the $100+ million cost overrun...and double it.

There was no reason to move Ellington; the idea of a new Western High School is a pipe dream. The cost overruns are inexcusable - but are not related to these ideas.

It is not a joke that Wilson is 1800-1900 students in a building designed for 1600. It is also not a joke that the bulge of students coming through the feeders is huge and will only increase the pressures (with few to limited OOB students). Western High School would be an excellent idea if not for those whose interests lie diametrically opposed to common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there were allegations of criminal malfeasance, fraud or theft on the part of a city employee or contractor the DC Attorney General could take action.

But all Patterson's report found was a lot of mismanagement and lack of adherence to best practices. It's galling but not criminal.

True, the criminal aspect is far from proven, but there's clear misuse of public funds. Mostly local, but I'd guess federal too, since the Department of Ed pays Title I and other funds.

Who at the federal level is in charge of fiscalizing stuff like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there were allegations of criminal malfeasance, fraud or theft on the part of a city employee or contractor the DC Attorney General could take action.

But all Patterson's report found was a lot of mismanagement and lack of adherence to best practices. It's galling but not criminal.

True, the criminal aspect is far from proven, but there's clear misuse of public funds. Mostly local, but I'd guess federal too, since the Department of Ed pays Title I and other funds.

Who at the federal level is in charge of fiscalizing stuff like this?

All the funds for these building are from the city's capital budget -- nothing to do with any federal education or Title 1 education dollars which are used for operating schools, not building them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there were allegations of criminal malfeasance, fraud or theft on the part of a city employee or contractor the DC Attorney General could take action.

But all Patterson's report found was a lot of mismanagement and lack of adherence to best practices. It's galling but not criminal.

True, the criminal aspect is far from proven, but there's clear misuse of public funds. Mostly local, but I'd guess federal too, since the Department of Ed pays Title I and other funds.

Who at the federal level is in charge of fiscalizing stuff like this?

I'm no lawyer, but there are sins of commission and sins of omission. The money doesn't have to be outright stolen to result in liability for mismanaging public dollars. Having no documented approvals for millions of dollars spent should raise a lot of red flags with the AG.

[Anonymous]

^^ By that standard everyone in DC government could be in jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can this system continue? IF DE is a public school, it should be treated like one. Is the council at least working on changing the governance structure?

The school is legally a joint venture between the Kennedy Center, GWU, and DCPS.

DCPS could seek to renegotiate the agreement but never heard anyone express interest in that.

Because DC stands for "Dysfunctional City."

Fund cost overruns for what is now a $200M project, with no board rights? Duh. Even Marion Barr.y could have done better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the DC council going to do about this disgrace? Doesn't somebody have to provide answers or at least a plan?

The DC Council isn't really at fault, because they were not consulted at all, as this article concerning the audit makes clear:

http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/audit-details-cost-overruns-ellington

If the DC agencies responsible for this boondoggle were not REQUIRED to consult the DC Council for approval, well one thing the Council could do is pass legislation requiring oversight in the future. Oversight should not be "optional." If the agencies WERE required to consult, but chose not to, then that would have to be justification for hearings at the Council, and possibly firings and criminal actions taken.

BS

The DC council controls the funding. All they had to do was nix the funding. They're very good at doing that to other schools.

Again, about those compromising photos in Peggy Cooper Cafritz's collection...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can this system continue? IF DE is a public school, it should be treated like one. Is the council at least working on changing the governance structure?

The school is legally a joint venture between the Kennedy Center, GWU, and DCPS.

DCPS could seek to renegotiate the agreement but never heard anyone express interest in that.

Because DC stands for "Dysfunctional City."

Fund cost overruns for what is now a $200M project, with no board rights? Duh. Even Marion Barr.y could have done better!

The Ellington Board isn't running this $200M project. DGS and DCPS are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ By that standard everyone in DC government could be in jail.

there is a lot of subjectivity is determining what qualifies as wasteful or ineffective spending. Not knowing where the funds went besides out the door is another matter entirely. There's stupid and then there's criminally stupid.