For Immediate Release:

November 13, 2012 Contact: Darrell Jackson 202.724.8028 DJackson@DCCOUNCIL.US McDuffie Response to the Proposed DCPS School Closure List Washington, DC Today, D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) released a list of proposed schools for closure or consolidation throughout the District of Columbia. Currently, there are five impacted schools in Ward 5 on the list Spingarn High School, Spingarn STAY, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Hamilton Molten Academy and Mamie D. Lee School. Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D Ward 5) released the following statement about the proposed school closures: Today, we learned of Chancellor Hendersons proposed plan to close or renovate 36 public schools, with five in Ward 5 being impacted. In 2008, Ward 5 was hit with several school closings. Many residents felt that there was a lack of community engagement and that they were left out of process. I am hopeful that DCPS will not allow the same mistakes to take place and provide an opportunity for the community to be fully engaged. A newly renovated Spingran High School is a win for Ward 5. The Chancellor has assured me that Spingarn High School will not be closed, but that it will be completely modernized. DCPS goal is to turn Spingarn into a state-of-the art career and technical educational center, and for Marshall Elementary to remain in the DCPS inventory for future use. Ultimately, the DCPS proposal should be guided by what is in the best interest of our students. DCPS has advised that they plan to fully engage Ward 5 education stakeholders - including parents, students and teachers, to listen to their concerns. I look forward to working with the Chancellor to deliver the best results for the residents of Ward 5 and to ensure that the community has a seat at the table and that their voices are heard. DCPS will hold a variety of meetings to get feedback on the proposed consolidations, including a Ward 5 dialogue on November 29 at 6pm at the Langley Education Campus with Councilmember McDuffie, ANC Commissioners, the Ward 5 Council on Education and other community stakeholders. Additionally, the Ward 5 Council on Education will hold an informational meeting on November 20 at 6:30pm at the Lamond-Riggs Library and the D.C. Council will hold two public oversight hearings on the school closures on November 15 and November 19 at the John A. Wilson Building, Room 412.

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