Council Member David Grosso's Statement on Latest School Boundaries Proposal
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jsteele
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Just came through my inbox. Looking forward to Catania and Bowser statements...
For Immediate Release June 16, 2014 Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun (202) 724-8105 Grosso's Statement on Latest School Boundaries Proposal On Thursday, June 12, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education released an updated draft proposal on student assignment policies, DCPS school boundaries, and feeder patterns. After reviewing the proposal, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) released the following statement: "It is clear from the school boundary proposal released last week that the Deputy Mayor's office and the Advisory Committee heard and responded to the significant amount of community input they've received over the last few months. I am supportive of the direction this proposal is headed. It maintains a core system of neighborhood schools, while also preserving the opportunity for school choice. I am also pleased that diversity in student enrollment was kept as a top principle reflected in the Advisory Committee's decision to prioritize access to early childhood programs for at-risk students, and recommending "set asides" for out-of-boundary students in zoned elementary, middle, and high schools. While I understand the concerns of some communities impacted by changing boundary lines or feeder patterns, it is my hope that the Advisory Committee's proposed grandfathering provisions will limit any abrupt changes for students and families. Unfortunately, revisions to the DCPS school boundaries are timely and cannot wait. Though this proposal moves the conversation forward, I am disappointed that it did not include any discussion or recommendations regarding the need for proactive planning, collaboration, and coordination between DCPS and the D.C. Public Charter School Board when it comes to opening new charter schools in the District. If our goal is to have citywide student assignment policies that are coherent and efficient, charter schools must be a part of the conversation. I will continue to push for that. Although the D.C. Council does not have a vote on student assignment policies or the school boundary proposal, we will ultimately have to work with the Executive to implement any plan that is approved. That includes the construction and re-opening of perhaps four middle schools and to work with WMATA to provide free Metrorail services for our high school aged-students. I am committed to working with my colleagues and the Executive to find the appropriate path forward. I look forward to hearing more community discussions and feedback on what has been released and I encourage everyone to engage in the conversation in the coming weeks. I appreciate that the Deputy Mayor's office has taken the helm for this process and appreciate all of the members of the Advisory Committee who have volunteered to do this hard work." To get more information and share your feedback on these proposed changes, you are invited to: Attend a community meeting June 16, 6 - 8 pm, Savoy Elementary School, 2400 Shannon Place, SE June 17, 6 - 8 pm, Dunbar High School, 101 N Street, NW June 19, 6 - 8 pm, Takoma Education Campus, 7010 Piney Branch Road, NW Provide testimony at Council of the District of Columbia public oversight roundtable on school boundaries on June 26, 2014 at 9AM. Call 202-724-8000 or e-mail jjordan@dccouncil.us to sign up. Email your concerns and questions to dme.studentassignment@dc.gov or call 202-478-5738. |
Anonymous
| He seems a milquetoast, just like Bowser. It's interesting that DCPS/DME have not scheduled any public comment meetings west of Rock Creek Park. |
Anonymous
| No point scheduling in Ward 3. They already come to all re other meetings and their wishes are obvious. |
Anonymous
| Very little WOTP representation at Savoy meeting tonight -- maybe one or two parents maximum. Parents were very frustrated with the proposals. Particularly lack of emphasis on quality first. |
Anonymous
It's pretty obvious that they want to discourage more input from WOTP. |
Anonymous
Yes, they've made it clear this group is "over-represented" in the survey and feedback results. Shame on you upper NWers! Shame, shame, shame! |
Anonymous
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Lots of talk about coordinating with charters.
Coordinate how? |
Anonymous
+1 That was in the recommendations. But what does it mean? |
Anonymous
| I know the DME does not have an easy job, so I'm sorry to express distrust, but i do have to question why the DME's proposal is so hands off charters. I'm not insinuating that their autonomy be taken or that neighborhood preference be applied (I'm completely against that). I just question why the proposal practically acts as if the charters aren't a prominent part of our educational landscape in DC. And all I'm left with is that perhaps the DME is so far in the charter camp that she is loathe to do anything to rock their boats. She did choose charter for her own kids, right? |
Anonymous
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^^
+ 1 |
Anonymous
It's an election year and Muriel has offered to let her keep her job. 'nuf said? |
Anonymous
The charters are Congress' baby. What would be the point in the DME proposing anything regarding them? Boehner and crew would come down on them faster than they could blink. |
Anonymous
No, I think the DME's motivation runs much deeper than a salary. She could likely leave tomorrow for some other sucker city desperate for a magician. No, I think this is about ideology. Besides, wasn't it Muriel who flirted with proximity preference for charters? If Smith was anxious to please her for job security, wouldn't some hint of that idea shown up in the proposal (which would have likely pleased many of Bowser's constituents in Ward 4)? |
Anonymous
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No plan in place to improve the quality of neighborhood schools will de facto force families into charters. With this new proposal the most at-risk kids will be given priority at the best schools, while the wealthiest will for the most part continue to access the best schools in the city, EVERYONE, and I mean everyone else will be forced into lottery-based charters.
Charters are conspicuously absent from the proposal because they will ultimately become the solution for DCPS. The only thing these proposals are doing is making an opening for charters to save the day. How can a discussion of school reform not include how to improve the quality of DCPS? I think the DME will throw her hands up and say that the charters are better equipped at handling issues of quality. After all Kaya Henderson has already said this at least once. |
Anonymous
I hope you're wrong, but it sounds plausible |