Check Your School’s “Mini-Master Plan” Before the Council Passes the DCPS Master Facility Plan

From the 21st Century School Fund:

Before the Council approves this master plan, make sure that you look at the plans for your school and discuss them with Local School Restructuring Team and PTA representatives, the principal and other interested community members. Concept plans were done with no participation from local schools; they require community review. Please consider how the plan fits current and planned academic programs and community needs with respect to class size, administrative offices, space required for special programs, outdoor activities, assembly and/or cafeteria space, parking, and so forth. Are the condition assessment and the proposed capacity accurate and reasonable?

For instance, the plan for Oyster Elementary School, which was designed for 350 students, calls for 500, and converts the art, music, teacher and library workrooms all into classroom space. Plans for Ballou High School describe the area used by 700 students in the STAY program as “un-assigned space”.

Let your council member know immediately about concerns you may have.

How to find your school’s “mini-master plan” from the latest 2009 Master Facilities Plan for the DC Public Schools:

It is easy to look at your individual school “mini-master plan” through links from DCPS School Close-Ups:

Go to www.21csf.org
- Click on the School Close-Ups school house icon - - upper right corner
- Click the “School List” on the home page, click on your school
- Select the blue “Facilities” tab from the individual school display
- Under the school photo is a link to the Proposed 2009 Mini Master Plan

First there is an aerial view of the school, then a 3 or 4 page condition assessment of the building including a program profile, a history of recent maintenance and repair (called “modernization”), and finally, there is a color-coded floor plan of the concept for the school including any proposed additions, etc.

If you have questions about finding your school plan, please contact Nancy Huvendick at the 21st Century School Fund via e-mail or phone; 202-745-3745 x15.