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Testimony

Office of the Mayor

Hearing on DCPS Budget

February 15, 2005

Nancy Huvendick, 21st Century School Fund

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on funding for the District of Columbia Public Schools. My name is Nancy Huvendick, I work with the 21st Century School Fund on public school facilities issues in the District. I am the mother of one 9th grade student in DC schools, and another recent graduate of DCPS who is currently a freshman in college.

Maintenance Funding Insufficient Even with Increases

We are all well aware that basic school maintenance has been lacking for years. The proposed increase for FY ’06 arevery welcomebut funding is still insufficient given the need.

Proposal: $5 Million This Year for “Ready Schools” Maintenance Initiative

One suggestion for DC’s recently reported surplus would be to put an additional $5 million toward a “Ready Schools” maintenance drive to get our schools better prepared to open their doors to students this coming September - - this is $5 millionthis summer for FY ’05.

DC Voice’s ongoing “Ready Schools” project last October sent teams of 50 volunteers to interview more than ¼ of DCPS principals about how ready their schools were to receive students last September. Their questionnaire covered staffing levels, availability of textbooks and materials, and whether the buildings were in good repair.

Not surprisingly, one of the biggest obstacles to a smooth school opening were facilities problems. The need to get buildings and grounds repairs finished before Labor Day ranked second to the principal’s worries about hiring teachers earlier.

Plan Now for Work in July and August

Knowing that the funds will be available would make it possible to start planning and procurement now for work to be done during July and August. The five million mightbe used to hire small, district based, contractors who would work with schools on cleaning, grounds work, maintenance and within-school space planning and consolidation.

Next September:

  • School yards would be manicured and beautified,
  • Buildingswould be scrubbed clean down to the corners, making it easier to keep them clean throughout the year,
  • Repairs and small improvements would be completed; i.e. window shades fixed or replaced, soap dispensers re-installed, etc.,
  • Under-utilized schools would be consolidated within their buildings (storage areas; excess office areas, etc.),freeing up space for shared use and, potentially, increased revenue.

An additional five million, spent for summer maintenance would be a visible sign to the students, teachers, principals, and school neighborhoods that DCPS is a school system on the upswing.

Nancy Huvendick

DC Programs Director

21st Century School Fund

1816 12th St., NW, 4th Floor

The ThurgoodMarshallCenter

Washington, DC20009

202-745-3745 x15