DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is defending the debacle over this entire project. But there's not much that can be done about it now other than learning from it and make it a cautionary tale going forward and .

Whether DC should have a performing and visual arts high school, who should attend, whether that school is meeting its mission, whether it should be expanded and so forth is a separate and distinct question. Whether the board structure should be changed is a really good question and one the Council should take up as a condition of further funding.

Ellington has been without a permanent principal/HOS for 2+ years now since the sudden death of Father Payne lsat year. The current head is an interim and will only be there through 2016-17.

A search process is getting underway. If you care about the future of this institution get involved in that, or lobby the Council to get involved at that.

What have we learned really? We all knew about this, it's not some revelation because of the audit. And NO ONE has taken Bowser, the Council, Grosso, anyone to task. Maybe we're bellyaching on DCUM but that's the extent of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..."Much of the cost overruns - $60M - can be attributed to the underground parking."

Underground parking changes the entire scope of a project, especially when dealing with tight neighborhood like that.

I've seen weird things get put into an ed spec document, but this takes the cake. The problem is there is no fingerprint to say exactly who asked for the change and why.

Janney got an underground parking garage but no one takes them to task.

That is particularly galling, given that it is practically on top of a metro (unlike DE or Murch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP (although I'm only the OP because I saw the report and put it here first)

I think the DC Auditors office deserves praise for doing their job and not burying this under a rug, where I'm sure the Council and Administration would like it to go.

What kills me is this: It also states that students who attend the historic performing arts school have schedules atypical of most DCPS students. Consequently, significant amounts of space will go unused for extended periods of time once the building's upgrades are complete. Therefore, the auditor is also suggesting that DCPS increase the school's enrollment or open up its grounds to other educational programs.

+1.

Essentially, DC taxpayers ponied up $200 million to fund a luxury product for non-DC residents.

Hopefully someone ends in jail for misuse of public funds, if not outright corruption.

Who exactly would you jail? The problem the auditor's report is that literally dozens of people were involved but no one was in charge. There seems to be plenty of incompetence but no malfeasance.

No idea, we need an investigation to determine that. The best process is usually to follow the money. Where did those $178+ million come from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP (although I'm only the OP because I saw the report and put it here first)

I think the DC Auditors office deserves praise for doing their job and not burying this under a rug, where I'm sure the Council and Administration would like it to go.

What kills me is this: It also states that students who attend the historic performing arts school have schedules atypical of most DCPS students. Consequently, significant amounts of space will go unused for extended periods of time once the building's upgrades are complete. Therefore, the auditor is also suggesting that DCPS increase the school's enrollment or open up its grounds to other educational programs.

+1.

Essentially, DC taxpayers ponied up $200 million to fund a luxury product for non-DC residents.

Hopefully someone ends in jail for misuse of public funds, if not outright corruption.

Who exactly would you jail? The problem the auditor's report is that literally dozens of people were involved but no one was in charge. There seems to be plenty of incompetence but no malfeasance.

No idea, we need an investigation to determine that. The best process is usually to follow the money. Where did those $178+ million come from?

We we've had 2 audits that followed the money. Read the reports and then come back with your nominees for arrest warrants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Actually, parking isn't a waste of money, that is why it is such a huge issue in zoning. The fraud and waste here is in the cost of the parking.

The zoning in effect for this project would have stated 2 spots for every 3 adults employed in the building, so probably about (135 * 2/3) = 90 parking spots (BTW that seems like a super high staff ratio for a public school with 500 kids, especially the high number of non-teaching staff). Where on this planet does parking, even underground parking, for 90 spots cost $60 million dollars, or $666,666 per parking space? Is just doesn't. The average cost per space in DC is something like $40,000 per space. The whole thing should have cost less than what they are paying for a single parking space.

The problem is not that they HAVE underground parking; the problem is in what they are PAYING for it. This is the problem on all of the school projects. You have to have parking, and sometimes given the site constraints and size of the school, you may even have to have underground parking; but you don't have to pay over half-a-million dollars per spot to get it. This is where we can smell fraud, waste, and abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact of the matter is that there were two viable options for relocating Ellington. 1 is the empty school on U Street by the metro station and the other would have been to co-locate, either with Cardozo or Roosevelt.

Both the U Street school and Cardozo are metro accessible locations that are at the heart of the historic epicenter of the DC Arts scene, going back to when the heroes of modern blues and jazz, like Duke Ellington himself, would play at the stages and clubs on U Street.

It is such a crime that the city and Ellington Board didn't see THAT symbolism and produce a solution that would have provided the students with a ready showcase and opportunity to be a part of the new scene on U Street.

Instead, we have this $200 fiasco that forces people to drive and students who don't drive much extra travel time to get to the campus.

This. This is half of it, the other half is the level of political interference, if not outright corruption/bribery, that would have been necessary for the Ellington leadership and board to avoid these sensible alternatives in favor of the ludicrously expensive option of staying put. My personal guess is that this was more a case of influence than actual bribery of mayor and council, but I wouldn't rule out corruption. Either way it's terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact of the matter is that there were two viable options for relocating Ellington. 1 is the empty school on U Street by the metro station and the other would have been to co-locate, either with Cardozo or Roosevelt.

Both the U Street school and Cardozo are metro accessible locations that are at the heart of the historic epicenter of the DC Arts scene, going back to when the heroes of modern blues and jazz, like Duke Ellington himself, would play at the stages and clubs on U Street.

It is such a crime that the city and Ellington Board didn't see THAT symbolism and produce a solution that would have provided the students with a ready showcase and opportunity to be a part of the new scene on U Street.

Instead, we have this $200 fiasco that forces people to drive and students who don't drive much extra travel time to get to the campus.

This. This is half of it, the other half is the level of political interference, if not outright corruption/bribery, that would have been necessary for the Ellington leadership and board to avoid these sensible alternatives in favor of the ludicrously expensive option of staying put. My personal guess is that this was more a case of influence than actual bribery of mayor and council, but I wouldn't rule out corruption. Either way it's terrible.

Agreed, but that's criminal too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP (although I'm only the OP because I saw the report and put it here first)

I think the DC Auditors office deserves praise for doing their job and not burying this under a rug, where I'm sure the Council and Administration would like it to go.

What kills me is this: It also states that students who attend the historic performing arts school have schedules atypical of most DCPS students. Consequently, significant amounts of space will go unused for extended periods of time once the building's upgrades are complete. Therefore, the auditor is also suggesting that DCPS increase the school's enrollment or open up its grounds to other educational programs.

+1.

Essentially, DC taxpayers ponied up $200 million to fund a luxury product for non-DC residents.

Hopefully someone ends in jail for misuse of public funds, if not outright corruption.

Who exactly would you jail? The problem the auditor's report is that literally dozens of people were involved but no one was in charge. There seems to be plenty of incompetence but no malfeasance.

No idea, we need an investigation to determine that. The best process is usually to follow the money. Where did those $178+ million come from?

We we've had 2 audits that followed the money. Read the reports and then come back with your nominees for arrest warrants.

??

An audit is an audit, not a criminal investigation.

Given local politics, perhaps the DOJ needs to step in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..."Much of the cost overruns - $60M - can be attributed to the underground parking."

Underground parking changes the entire scope of a project, especially when dealing with tight neighborhood like that.

I've seen weird things get put into an ed spec document, but this takes the cake. The problem is there is no fingerprint to say exactly who asked for the change and why.

Janney got an underground parking garage but no one takes them to task.

That is particularly galling, given that it is practically on top of a metro (unlike DE or Murch).

Completely agree. I'm a Murch parent and was sick over the stupid underground parking issue. They were going to sacrifice playground space so that teacher could have parking. Why the hell are we really there? To provide education or appease the unions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All DC public schools have parking except for 4.

And yes, it's part of the teacher contract - parking access.

Given the specifics, there are a lot of reasons I support parking for teachers and staff. I know not many jobs in DC provide parking, but I think it's needed for teachers/staff.

But let's be real - blaming Duke Ellington's problems on teacher parking is a major red herring designed to deflect attention from the real problems.

Are you sure about that figure? Do you know the 4?

Not the PP, but I know Eaton does not have parking (I'm a parent there and they are always asking us for our visitor parking permits to help with the parking situation).

[Anonymous]

How much has Peggy Cooper Cafritz wasted on this boondoggle? She might need to start selling pieces from her art collection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much has Peggy Cooper Cafritz wasted on this boondoggle? She might need to start selling pieces from her art collection.

Good question.

Here's the quasi-criminal (innocent until proven guilty) cast of characters.

DESAP Board of Directors

Officers

Charles Barber, Esq., President Darrell Ayers, Treasurer

At-Large Members Michael Brewer Brenda Brownlee Peggy Cooper Cafritz Larry Franklin Robert D. Horvath, Jr.Jeanette S. McCune Alex Romain Gregory Squires

Ex-Officio Members Grace Hong Brian Nielsen Desepe de Vargas

[Anonymous]

Janney got an underground parking garage but no one takes them to task.


That is particularly galling, given that it is practically on top of a metro (unlike DE or Murch).

I tried to take them to task, but I was told that parking is everyone's god given right in this town. I also had to listen to Janney having underground parking being a reason for all schools to have it. I have come away with the opinion that DC is full of engineers who specialize in designing underground parking garages. And hate art. Because it's not "useful," like the underground parking garages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much has Peggy Cooper Cafritz wasted on this boondoggle? She might need to start selling pieces from her art collection.

Good question.

Here's the quasi-criminal (innocent until proven guilty) cast of characters.

DESAP Board of Directors

Officers

Charles Barber, Esq., President Darrell Ayers, Treasurer

At-Large Members Michael Brewer Brenda Brownlee Peggy Cooper Cafritz Larry Franklin Robert D. Horvath, Jr.Jeanette S. McCune Alex Romain Gregory Squires

Ex-Officio Members Grace Hong Brian Nielsen Desepe de Vargas

You need to add Grosso, Bowser, Catania, Gray, Henderson and Evans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much has Peggy Cooper Cafritz wasted on this boondoggle? She might need to start selling pieces from her art collection.

Good question.

Here's the quasi-criminal (innocent until proven guilty) cast of characters.

DESAP Board of Directors

Officers

Charles Barber, Esq., President Darrell Ayers, Treasurer

At-Large Members Michael Brewer Brenda Brownlee Peggy Cooper Cafritz Larry Franklin Robert D. Horvath, Jr.Jeanette S. McCune Alex Romain Gregory Squires

Ex-Officio Members Grace Hong Brian Nielsen Desepe de Vargas

You need to add Grosso, Bowser, Catania, Gray, Henderson and Evans

+1.

OK, here we have them all.