DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 10:29 and 11:05.

The city got it into its collective heads that these very expensive Cadillac projects would 'change culture.' They WANTED over the top projects, as if that would affect student performance.

See this excerpt from Washington Business Journal article from 2014. http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2014/05/02/forget-facelifts-architects-are-giving-d-cpublic.html

"As this ambitious campaign proceeds, some noteworthy architecture is emerging to accommodate the newest approaches to K-12 education. These new schools reflect a more fluid, dynamic and campus-style approach to learning than the rigid “cells and bells” approach of the past.

Overseeing the building improvements is architect Brian Hanlon, who was appointed director of the District Department of General Services in 2011. He is trying to raise the level of public school design and construction in much the same way that the D.C. public libraries have recast their buildings.

But Hanlon is more interested in certified business enterprises than starchitects. He is relying on design-build partnerships to speed construction and guarantee costs and has awarded multiple school projects to the same firms, throwing into question his pursuit of innovation.

Nevertheless, Hanlon insists, “We are pushing the envelope of design to change the culture.” That effort is clearly being made at some of the newer D.C. school projects, as evident from my recent tours of Ballou High School, now being constructed in Southeast’s Congress Heights neighborhood, and Dunbar High School, opened last year in the Truxton Circle section of Northwest.

The gutsy design for Ballou, created by D.C.-based Bowie-Gridley Architects and Perkins and Will, is rising on a hillside next to the dilapidated 1950s school where classes are now held. Once the complex opens in 2015, the old school will be torn down to make way for new athletic fields and a stadium."

This guy left DGS when Grey left office, now at a think tank. He is probably high on the list of people who are to blame for this mess. Clearly his plans didn't 'speed construction, guarantee costs' and at least in 2014 as bragging about how DGS awareded multiple projects to the same firms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Here. All three joint venture partners could and should be held accountable.

The whole board should be replaced and a Special Master appointed to oversee the school's affairs.

Yes. Probably that's the only way to stop digging the huge and growing financial hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Here. All three joint venture partners could and should be held accountable.

The whole board should be replaced and a Special Master appointed to oversee the school's affairs.

Yes. Probably that's the only way to stop digging the huge and growing financial hole.

The Duke Ellington Board has nothing to do with "the huge and grwoing financial hole.' They didn't sign the contracts or manage the vendor or create the requirements.

Perhaps we should replace all of DGS and appoint a special master to run that agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Here. All three joint venture partners could and should be held accountable.

The whole board should be replaced and a Special Master appointed to oversee the school's affairs.

Yes. Probably that's the only way to stop digging the huge and growing financial hole.

The Duke Ellington Board has nothing to do with "the huge and grwoing financial hole.' They didn't sign the contracts or manage the vendor or create the requirements.

Perhaps we should replace all of DGS and appoint a special master to run that agency.

That would be a great idea. During the B-A-D B-A-R-R-Y era, a majority of DC agencies operated under special masters and of course the entire DC government was subject to a federal control board. That's eventually how we got Anthony Williams, the best DC mayor ever. The Gray-Bowser trajectory has a back to the future quality about it, as in Barr.y Era II

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's selective about ARTS talent and skills. YOu need a minimum GPA to get in and stay (2.0), but they aren't picking out kids based on academic records.

Not is DE exactly hitting it out of the park when it comes to academics and core teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am not sure why previous poster was comparing DE as a whole with only AAs at Wilson. Surely not every student at DE is black?

Ellington

76.5% Black
7.8% White
10.7% Hisp
2.7% Asian

The non-AA cohorts are too small (<25 students per grade) to have their PARCC scores separated out and reported publicly so the data isn't available.

Ellington is decidedly short on diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Ellington parent, middle class, EOTP. Our HS options were abysmal and Ellington is doing great things for my DC. Also I see the population they are working with and realize that they are "saving" many many kids. As an example, LGBTQ kids have a safe haven there with the arts program-- Cardozo boys have targeted Ellington boys all year in both swing space locations. The other day four Cardozo males chased an Ellington male student into the school, with a knife, because the boys are perceived as gay due to the arts program. A teacher stood between the Ellington student and the Cardozo students. With a stick. Police intervened.

In other news, the ceiling has fallen in at the swing space arts building (Garnet Patterson) and all arts programming there is done for the year. The kids' instruments, art projects, etc. are all locked inside this literal disaster area-- senior instrumental students did not have a performance at their senior awards dinner because instruments were not available.

The graduation rate is actually in the high 90s and almost all kids go on to a four-year institution. Not every kid is Denyce Graves or Dave Chappelle, but after four years of taking ten classes every semester they are prepared for post-high school life and well-rounded. BTW, their are 550 students and the three kids I know who live outside the district are from Baltimore, McLean and Hyattsville. All of their parents definitely pay tuition. The new building can accommodate more students-- I think the target is something like 650.

Once the building is finished they plan on using it to the maximum extent possible-- opening it to the public for weekend and night classes and programs. They will partner with other schools and arts programs and community organizations. Which is why neighbors insisted on underground parking.

The arts are not just an afterthought here-- the kids are in a pre-professional arts setting. This is not the same as "band" at Wilson, or "ceramics" at Walls. They are learning techniques that they would learn in a conservatory or professional arts school. The building should have appropriate studio and rehearsal space. They really wanted a black box theatre, which is appropriate for an exceptional theatre arts program.

I agree with the poster who stated that DC is apparently renovating all the high schools with exorbitant price tags... not just Ellington. If you have driven by the renovated Roosevelt building you will see a gigantic building that was crazy expensive to renovate... but there's NO academic success there. Abysmal graduation rates, low academics, etc. At least at Ellington they successfully educate 550 kids each year (and despite what PPs have written, the vast majority are from DC) and send almost all seniors to colleges or conservatories.

I understand why Ellington's parents and faculty wanted to return to R street-- they had been in a non-renovated shabby old building for 40 years. Peeling paint, faded torn carpets, old dark studios in the basement, warped flooring, old tattered auditorium. Finally they get a renovation... and suddenly developers and Georgetown residents want the building back. The location isn't great for my family but I do understand it.

If you read the auditor's report, the price tag and cost explosion is solely on DGS and DCPS, not the Ellington board or community. All the calls for criminal investigations and slandering the school's mission, students and staff and board, sounds very condescending and quite frankly racist.

Crying 'racist' is the last refuge of scoundrels -- and the time-worn DeeCee way to deflect scandal when evidence of fraud, waste and abuse surfaces involving those in and around the District government. See. e.g, BarryMarion, Mayor-for-Life.

[Anonymous]

I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Here. All three joint venture partners could and should be held accountable.

The whole board should be replaced and a Special Master appointed to oversee the school's affairs.

Yes. Probably that's the only way to stop digging the huge and growing financial hole.

The Duke Ellington Board has nothing to do with "the huge and grwoing financial hole.' They didn't sign the contracts or manage the vendor or create the requirements.

Perhaps we should replace all of DGS and appoint a special master to run that agency.

That would be a great idea. During the B-A-D B-A-R-R-Y era, a majority of DC agencies operated under special masters and of course the entire DC government was subject to a federal control board. That's eventually how we got Anthony Williams, the best DC mayor ever. The Gray-Bowser trajectory has a back to the future quality about it, as in Barr.y Era II

True

In terms of the Board, though, that has to change drastically too. If most of the money comes from DC taxpayers, DC representatives should have a control majority.

If DE wants to be fully independent, go raise your own private funds like any other non profit in town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

No - but it is racist to confuse your apparent anger and disgust with the students (which is utterly irrational, and to this (white) guy, appears to be most easily explained by your anger that black and brown students would have the temerity to attend school in Georgetown) with your entirely rational anger and disgust at DCPS/DGS/Mayor/Council/contractors and others who are actually responsible for this $200 million boondoggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

No - but it is racist to confuse your apparent anger and disgust with the students (which is utterly irrational, and to this (white) guy, appears to be most easily explained by your anger that black and brown students would have the temerity to attend school in Georgetown) with your entirely rational anger and disgust at DCPS/DGS/Mayor/Council/contractors and others who are actually responsible for this $200 million boondoggle.

As a brown parent, I ask you to please don't invoke our name in this. First, I am shocked at how few Hispanics attend the school. Second, most posters here are rightly talking about the budget disaster. I have seen zero "anger and disgust with the students" so, white or not, please don't make stuff up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

No - but it is racist to confuse your apparent anger and disgust with the students (which is utterly irrational, and to this (white) guy, appears to be most easily explained by your anger that black and brown students would have the temerity to attend school in Georgetown) with your entirely rational anger and disgust at DCPS/DGS/Mayor/Council/contractors and others who are actually responsible for this $200 million boondoggle.

As a brown parent, I ask you to please don't invoke our name in this. First, I am shocked at how few Hispanics attend the school. Second, most posters here are rightly talking about the budget disaster. I have seen zero "anger and disgust with the students" so, white or not, please don't make stuff up.

You are not reading this thread carefully. There is a lot of talk about the budget disaster - as there should be. And a healthy dose of beating up on the school and its students and their achievements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

No - but it is racist to confuse your apparent anger and disgust with the students (which is utterly irrational, and to this (white) guy, appears to be most easily explained by your anger that black and brown students would have the temerity to attend school in Georgetown) with your entirely rational anger and disgust at DCPS/DGS/Mayor/Council/contractors and others who are actually responsible for this $200 million boondoggle.

No one is criticizing the students (although it is a legitimate question why the taxpayers of DC so overwhelmingly subsidize a school with so many non-DC residents). No one is saying anything about students' color (except for noting that Ellington is remarkably non-diverse as compared to the DC population). It is perfectly legitimate to question why $200 million is being spent on a site in Georgetown that is not Metro-accessible, not very central to various parts of the District and not nearby to any professional arts venues. It is eminently legitimate to ask why the Ellington board is unaccountable to those who pay over 80% of the school's operating budget and 100% of its capital budget and how the board and DC government officials let costs balloon as they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

No - but it is racist to confuse your apparent anger and disgust with the students (which is utterly irrational, and to this (white) guy, appears to be most easily explained by your anger that black and brown students would have the temerity to attend school in Georgetown) with your entirely rational anger and disgust at DCPS/DGS/Mayor/Council/contractors and others who are actually responsible for this $200 million boondoggle.

As a brown parent, I ask you to please don't invoke our name in this. First, I am shocked at how few Hispanics attend the school. Second, most posters here are rightly talking about the budget disaster. I have seen zero "anger and disgust with the students" so, white or not, please don't make stuff up.

You are not reading this thread carefully. There is a lot of talk about the budget disaster - as there should be. And a healthy dose of beating up on the school and its students and their achievements.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love it. It's racist to criticize a $200 MILLION dollar project that is over-budget by well over 100%. Whooooookay!

No - but it is racist to confuse your apparent anger and disgust with the students (which is utterly irrational, and to this (white) guy, appears to be most easily explained by your anger that black and brown students would have the temerity to attend school in Georgetown) with your entirely rational anger and disgust at DCPS/DGS/Mayor/Council/contractors and others who are actually responsible for this $200 million boondoggle.

As a brown parent, I ask you to please don't invoke our name in this. First, I am shocked at how few Hispanics attend the school. Second, most posters here are rightly talking about the budget disaster. I have seen zero "anger and disgust with the students" so, white or not, please don't make stuff up.

You are not reading this thread carefully. There is a lot of talk about the budget disaster - as there should be. And a healthy dose of beating up on the school and its students and their achievements.

There's no question that Ellington, particularly its board and administration, need to be criticized heavily and held accountable. No one is beating up on students and their achievements.