Henderson

With the first of two D.C. Council hearings on a plan to close 20 public schools schools scheduled to start today at 4 p.m., opposition to School Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s proposal has started emerging from various quarters.

As the Post reported yesterday, some parents are nervous with one element of Henderson’s plan that would create two schools campuses attended by sixth- through twelfth-graders. While Henderson hasn’t said much about how the schools would be designed, she said that a mixed middle school-high school has worked at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus, home to Bell Multicultural High School and Lincoln Multicultural Middle Schools.

Not surprisingly, the city’s elected leaders have started sounding off on Henderson’s plan. Councilmember Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), whose ward would see five school closures and consolidations, told the City Paper that more resources have to be directed to those schools to get them up to adequate enrollment.

Today, Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) wrote to residents that he oppose Henderson’s plan to shutter Garrison Elementary School and Francis-Stevens Elementary School:

With regard to Garrison, I have let the Mayor and the Chancellor know that I am opposed to its closure and understand Councilmember Graham agrees, as a number of Ward 1 families also support Garrison. Garrison, with its lively and involved support system consisting of parents, a strong PTA, and community support from the Logan Circle Citizens Association and the ANC, should remain open. If consolidation is needed, students can come from Seaton to Garrison. Garrison is at nearly 70% capacity – higher than almost any other school set to close.

With respect to Francis-Stevens, I have let the Mayor and the Chancellor know that I am opposed to its closure also. While I support School Without Walls and think the concept of using space at Francis-Stevens is an interesting idea, I cannot support the idea of closing Francis-Stevens as it exists today. When the executive closed Stevens School, a commitment was made to the community regarding Francis-Stevens. If enrollment numbers are down, it more likely indicates problems with the K-8 model rather than a lack of need or demand for educational resources in the neighborhood.

A group of residents that send their kids to Garrison have started a petition to save it; Henderson has said that the school is under-enrolled and its students could benefit from attending nearby Seaton Elementary School, which has modernized classrooms.

One councilmember who has remained on the fence has been Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), who despite some outcry to the proposed closure of Spingarn High School has said that he hopes Henderson keeps her promise of modernizing the school and reopening it as a technical campus.

While Henderson has said that her proposal is merely the start of a conversation and that there is “wiggle room” in which schools are closed and which remain open, she stressed earlier this week that 20 schools had to be closed. On Tuesday, Henderson said that under-utilized buildings took money away from programs and teaching, and that schools that are adequately enrolled get a better bank for the city’s buck and provide better learning opportunities for students.

This first of the council’s hearings on the school closure plan starts today at 4 p.m., and continues Monday, November 19 from 2-6 p.m. Henderson has also scheduled community meetings on November 27 (Ward 8), November 28 (Ward 7), November 29 (Ward 5), and December 5 (wards 1-4 and 6).