Reply to DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington

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Reply to "DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Just to put in all in disturbing perspective, the Duke Ellington renovation (approximately $200 with the project still far from completion) costs almost as much as the cost of the four-year total renovation of the storied, luxury Hotel Ritz in Paris (rumored cost of EUR 200 million).  According to the New York Times, the Ritz project, a complete historic restoration and facilities expansion in one of the world’s most expensive cities, includes total renovation of all of the rooms and décor, restoration of antique furniture and fabricating of reproductions, a new underground ballroom, two retractable roof restaurants, a Versailles-style courtyard garden and a tunnel under the Place Vendome.

It seems that the Duke Ellington board took the tune “Puttin’ on the Ritz” a little too much to heart!   :oops: 
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The Duke Ellingnton board did NOT design the building or hire the contractors.

DCPS owns the building and created the Ed specs. DGS ran the bid process and is (mis)managing the contractors. [/quote]

You're telling me that Ellington's administration and board had nothing to do with space programming, design, extras and finishes?  If that's the case, they're even more disengaged from providing good management and oversight than people suspect?  I have no doubt that DGS is not run well, but do you really think that DGS added all of the cost-driving extras to the Ellington budget, while Ellington's leadership sat passively?  Especially when DGS is cutting even basics out of other school renovations.  Man, you must be drinking so kind of kool-aid.[/quote]

Have you been involved in a DCPS school renovation project?

The school community leadership and members are part of the SIT -- they give opinions, ask questions but at the end of the day they have no power. In this sense the DE Ellington is no more or no less responsible than the SIT members at Murch, lafayette, Janney, Wilson, Ballou or Dunbar.

But the SIT doesn't make decisions. They point out problems with the design - e.g. the first one for Ellington forgot rooms for costume changes and a arts-related things taht DGS forgot to include despite the fact that it existed in the old building.

The "Taj Mahal' features of the design came from DGS. This all happened back when the director was 're-envisioning' school spaces for the city and hoping to change academic culture through architecture and design. The roof feature, underground parking and other luxurious stuff came from DGS, not the school.

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