Anonymous wrote:So what is going to happen to the building?

Here come the vultures

So what is going to happen to the building?

DCPS should have taken over the arts school. DC could use a quality program at the elementary school level. Maybe DCPS could put a program at Ellington if space available.

Hello,

The Arts program will be launched at the Armstrong campus. FPCS has always had a reputation for being one of the few charter organizations to offer more arts offerings than just music and visual arts. Those are the required courses for graduation but many campuses also offer dance and drama through the school day as well as extended learning. The Tech Prep campus has a very successful award-winning dance team. Collegiate has produced full musical productions such as "The Wiz, Dreamgirls, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, Hair Spray, Color Purple, Cinderella, The Lion King and Polly since 2009. They even re-staged "The Wiz" at the Lincoln Theater with a red carpet roll out for the students. Friendship is not new to the arts. In fact, in 2018, their board voted to ensure that every campus (8 in DC), had at least one full time music, visual art and foreign language teacher on staff. Friendship recognized the disservice that was to be - as the only arts school for students in DC, they stepped in and took action.

Anonymous wrote:From reading the documents, it sounds like Friendship does not plan to keep the City Arts building. It says that Friendship will acquire "the students, arts staff, and certain assets" of City Arts, and then goes on to say that middle schoolers at City Arts and their siblings will be guaranteed enrollment at Friendship Armstrong (which has a middle school now, apparently), and other elementary students at City Arts will be guaranteed a slot at one "one of Friendship's campuses". The flyer also makes it sound like there will be a new arts program ("City Arts at Friendship PCS") but it's unclear if that will be an arts program at Armstrong, or will just mean more arts programming at all the Friendship campuses.

My first thoughts are:

1) Suzuki music instruction could be a nice addition to Friendship Armstrong's offerings and could increase the school's appeal to some residents of Shaw and Bloomingdale; and

2) Maybe another charter school would like to move into the City Arts building. The outdoor space is not great, but the interior is actually really nice.

According to FPCS website it will be at all campuses:

https://www.friendshipschools.org/

From reading the documents, it sounds like Friendship does not plan to keep the City Arts building. It says that Friendship will acquire "the students, arts staff, and certain assets" of City Arts, and then goes on to say that middle schoolers at City Arts and their siblings will be guaranteed enrollment at Friendship Armstrong (which has a middle school now, apparently), and other elementary students at City Arts will be guaranteed a slot at one "one of Friendship's campuses". The flyer also makes it sound like there will be a new arts program ("City Arts at Friendship PCS") but it's unclear if that will be an arts program at Armstrong, or will just mean more arts programming at all the Friendship campuses.

My first thoughts are:

1) Suzuki music instruction could be a nice addition to Friendship Armstrong's offerings and could increase the school's appeal to some residents of Shaw and Bloomingdale; and

2) Maybe another charter school would like to move into the City Arts building. The outdoor space is not great, but the interior is actually really nice.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what the assets are, does that include the building?

TBH does lower Ward 5 really need as many schools as it has, including two right next to each other?

Yes if they take it over that would include the mortgage/lease.

Re Ward 5 -- all of the charters serve kids beyond Ward 5. I think Ward 5 has become a magnet because there are relatively affordable options there.

I wonder what the assets are, does that include the building?

TBH does lower Ward 5 really need as many schools as it has, including two right next to each other?

According to the Board Book for Monday's DCPCSB hearing, it looks like Friendship is looking to acquire City Arts and Prep:

https://www.livebinders.com/b/2536296#anchor