A month ago you may recall I lightly touched the topic of the proposed DCPS closing and consolidation plan, but only after reading an in depth investigative piece on Teach For America; the Ameri Corps like program that recruits a rotating cycle of not-so-committed teachers that find their way are funneled into our public school system. Well today, just as I was rethinking a news story I’ve been working on, DCPS dropped the finalized plan into the inbox of thousands, mine included. It seems that after all the discussions, proposal submissions from parents, advocates and the like, who banned together and were very vocal that no schools should be closing – at least not now, not in Ward 7 – what did Chancellor Kaya Henderson do? Why of course….she closed them still. As for Ward 8, Councilmember Marion Barry was vocal that perhaps a closure and consolidation plan was needed in his ward, especially in regards to Malcolm X Elementary. I have to admit, I’m not all that up to par on how much the communities in Ward 8 joined together to save their schools or voiced their concerns on the situation. I know for Ward 7 we fought hard with our voices and attending every city council hearing and community meeting on the subject.
According to the final plan, with the exception of Smothers Elementary that was on the list of proposed schools to close in Ward 7, all the other schools on the list from Ward 7 will close as planned. The only thing DCPS tweaked was where the students would be sent to and stating that transportation would be provided.
Here is the list of Ward 7 Schools.
Davis Elementary – Students to be sent to Plummer with transportation
Kenilworth Elementary – Students to be sent to either Thomas or Houston Elementary. Transportation for those going to Thomas if necessary.
Ron Brown Middle School – Students to be sent to Kelly Miller
Winston – Students to be sent to Stanton, Johnson and Kramer
For Ward 8, Johnson Middle School and Malcolm X Elementary will be kept open. However, Ferebee-Hope will close with students sent to Hendley and MC Terrell will close with the students sent to ML King.
For the full list click here — DCPS Final Closure and Consolidation Plan.
All I can say is, for Ward 7 it does feel like we wasted our time. We shall see how all of this pans out, like where will the money normally spent on our schools will go now. At least today’s DCPS news helped me shape my angle for a news story I’m working on.
I knew there was a reason I had this song on repeat today…
Mahoganie: Musings East of the Anacostia River 
CB
March 29, 2013
Not sure why so many people are upset about DCPS closings if the schools are 1) underenrolled and 2) underperforming. Why do we as a people accept mediocrity then complain that we’re not given a fair chance. Hate to say this but if more parents were like you, this wouldn’t be an issue. So exactly what do folks/parents really want, a (so-so) school in their neighborhood or an excellent school you may have to travel to???
mahoganie
March 29, 2013
We’ve been fighting for years on this side of the Anacostia. I don’t doubt there are some that accept the status quo, but for the most part we’ve been fighting; maybe not as hard or as strong as the parents and advocates in other parts of the city, but we’ve been fighting. There’s so much to cover when you talk about the reasons why people are upset and tensions are high. Out of the 15 schools slated to close, only two are outside a predominately black neighborhood, leaving many to believe that part of this is a race issue, regardless that the head of DCPS is a black woman. We also feel that the process and decision was very lazy and wasn’t given much thought. NO ONE wants to see a school close, but we just don’t feel that DCPS looked into scenarios deep enough to reconsider or put a temporary hold on it as we requested here in Ward 7. They asked for input from the community and didn’t take our input to heart or to use.
There are so many issues that parents have with the system, but the system “ain’t tryna hear us tho.”