Images (72)
Showing first 60 of 72 pages.
Document
| id |
id
621036366
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 72SEP-03-1998 17:53
OFC OF THE DEP SECY
202 401 9027
P.02/19
September 3, 1998
FACTS ABOUT DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPAIR/CONSTRUCTION ISSUES:
Reports on the Poor Conditions of School Facilities: Several reports on the District's public
schools have documented the less-than-adequate conditions including concerns about safety and
problems with leaky school roofs. The majority of the District public schools were built more
than 50 years ago. They generally have not been well maintained, and, consequently, substantial
deferred maintenance existed. A 1996 GAO report stated that 97 percent of the DC public
schools reported a need to upgrade or repair on-site building to good overall condition. (See,
June 1996 GAO Report: School Facilities-- Profiles of School Condition by State, State profile
for the District of Columbia.)
March 1992- Parents United Law Suit: Parents United, an education advocacy group, filed a
law suit on March 3, 1992, alleging failure of the DC officials to adequately inspect for and
remedy violations of the DC Fire Prevention Code and other safety hazards in the public schools.
The Settlement of the Parents United case: On November 3, 1997, a settlement was reached
among Parents United, the Mayor, the Fire Chief, and the District of Columbia Public Schools
Chief Executive Officer (General Becton), which laid the foundation for ensuring that DC public
schools were free of Fire Code and requiring the DCPS to continue the necessary repairs and
capital improvements to the school building, as indicated in the System's Long-Range Facilities
Master Plan. ( See attached 1 page summary of settlement agreement.)
Under Past Administrations DC Schools had Problems opening on time Last year the
District of Columbia public school system opened three weeks late, commencing the 1997-98
school year on September 22, 1997. In July 1997 a DC Superior Court judge ordered that schools
would be closed while roof work was performed. In August the DC public school system decided
to delay the start of the school year until roof repairs were completed (September 22, 1997).
US Army Corps of Engineers Assistance to the School system: On April 17, 1998, US Army
Corps of Engineers signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the DC public schools for
engineering, technical and procurement assistance for capital contracts. The FY 98 Capital
Projects were prioritized into three categories:
Projects needed to support the "Summer Stars" summer school program
Projects needed to be substantially completed during the summer to ensure no-time
reopening of schools on September 1st.
Projects that could begin in the summer and carry over into the school year. (As the
Corps continues working on capital projects during the school year, they are coordinating
with building principals so work will have minimal impact on school operations.)
Projects included window replacements, air conditioning system replacements (including chillers
and cooling towers) boilers replacement, asbestos abatement, emergency generator replacements
Relations
belongs_to