From the archives about school closings and school property

I blogged this last year, in response to a different school property management measure, a City Council initiative to move the management of the DCPS properties to the DC Government's Office of Property Management.

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The very interesting thing is late last year, I repeated a "rumor" I'd heard about DC school property. I don't usually do this, because I don't like to truck in rumors, but my inference about the sources and provenance gave this a lot more credibility than average.

-------Nov 5, 2005 in the hstreetdc yahoogroup archives-----

One piece of the latest under the table political scuttlebutt is that Congress is considering creating another Control Board to take over the DC Public School System. This would allow for the Federal City Council supported new group to take over managing the school property portfolio, and would allow them to release properties to either developers or charter schools without much interference.

This is very worrisome
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Interestingly enough, after I wrote that I got hassled in email by John Hill and a query from the EdBuild program. Journalists were interested too, but I don't know if they were able to confirm the story.

This could well be another move in that direction. Seemingly about better management [edited] but could be another way to give better access to the building portfolio to outside development forces.

[edited]

Also see the EdBuild website and an article from The Common Denominator about the EdBuild program, organized by the Federal City Council.
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On the matter of the schools, Sue H. calls our attention to this report from the Urban Institute, Housing in the Nation's Capital 2006. Note chapters 4 and 5:

• Chapter 4 explores school characteristics across District of Columbia neighborhoods, highlighting variations in facilities investments, student composition, student academic performance, and choices regarding enrollment in public charter schools or DCPS schools.
• Chapter 5 highlights strategic opportunities to advance the city's goals of growth and inclusion by more systematically linking investments in public schools with investments in housing and neighborhood revitalization.