- Time for the D.C. Public Charter School Board to lead [Dorothy I. Height Community Academy PCS, Options PCS and Friendship PCS mentioned]
- Five teams bid to redevelop St. Elizabeths east, but big names lacking
Time for the D.C. Public Charter School Board to lead [Dorothy I. Height Community Academy PCS, Options PCS and Friendship PCS mentioned]
The Examiner
By Mark Lerner
July 25, 2014
It is a terribly fascinating period for D.C.'s assertive charter school movement, and one that could impact the direction these alternative schools go for years to come. Issues regarding the use of public money have risen right to the surface of education reform as two charters, Options and Dorothy I. Height Community Academy, are involved in legal disputes with the District's Attorney General over contracts with independent entities. In addition, it was revealed this week that one member of the D.C. Public Charter School Board, Barbara Nophlin, has been consulting for Friendship PCS at the same time that the D.C. School Reform Act precludes members of the Board from working for charters.
This is the moment that the PCSB must show its determination to right the ship. It must proclaim loudly and clearly that when it comes to the responsible use of the community's cash it takes that oversight responsibility as seriously as a mother takes the care of her newborn child. If steps are needed to strengthen the Board's ability to be transparent in this area then those moves should be thrust into the civic discourse so that improvements can be immediately implemented.
In addition, while the Board has little direct control over the level of governance being performed at its 100 campuses, the need for strong training for these bodies must be emphasized. A couple of days ago Charter Board Partners announced a partnership with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools that will spread the organization's fine resources across the country. Simultaneously the PCSB should encourage in any way that it can the improvement of oversight by the non-profit boards that are located right here in the District. It is quite possible that better board training would have avoided both the legal troubles and negative publicity for the system that now educates 44 percent of all public school students.
Next year the city will transition to a new administration and there is great uncertainly about what this will mean to charters. Therefore, it is imperative that we get our house in the highest order before this change occurs. Only then will can we position ourselves for decades of future success.
Five teams bid to redevelop St. Elizabeths east, but big names lacking
Washington Business Journal
By Michael Neibauer
July 24, 2014
The big names in D.C.'s development community are, apparently, not interested in the opportunity that is St. Elizabeths east.
The District has received five bids to tackle the initial redevelopment of the 183-acre St. E's east campus. A handful of known, successful companies have shown interest, but for the most part, the most prodigious and best capitalized developers are staying away.
Maybe they've been scared away by the lingering doubt over the future of the Department of Homeland Security consolidation on the St. Elizabeths west campus. Maybe the District's on-again, off-again procurement strategy has turned them off. Perhaps they're unsure whether the next D.C. mayor will prioritize St. E's like Mayor Vincent Gray has. Or perhaps Ward 8 simply isn't on their radar, yet.
Whatever their reasons, the District's request for proposals issued in late March didn't lure the big players east of the Anacostia River.
Here are the bidders.
Anacostia Economic Development Corporation and Flaherty & Collins Development (Master Development Partners); Bob Geolas of Research Triangle Park Foundation (Innovation Advisor); and Scott Sklar of George Washington University (Academic Advisor)
Four Points LLC (Master Developer); The Warrenton Group (Residential); Capitol Services Management, Inc. (Academic and Innovation Manager); Consortium of Universities (Academic Advisor); Washington Business Group (Community Outreach and Small Business); and Congress Heights Main Streets (CDC) (Community Engagement & Workforce Training)
Partnership for Collaborative Innovation, which includes Thoron Capital (Managing Partner); Gordon Jones, Founding Director of the Harvard Innovation Lab (Innovation Partner); and Creative Opportunities Venture, Inc. (Community Partner)
Redbrick LMD (Master Developer); NVR, Inc. (Residential); Consortium of Universities and TenSquare LLC (Charter Schools), DC Innovates and Capital E (Academic and Innovation Partners)
St. Elizabeths Collaborative, which includes Friedman Capital Advisors (Master Developer) and NVR Inc. (Residential)
The first phase at St. E's is expected to include about 1.6 million square feet of mixed-use development — some new, some historic reuse — near the Congress Heights Metro station. The bidders will present their ideas to the community in the fall before the Gray selects a winner.
"It offers an opportunity to create a technology-focused, transit-oriented community that includes business, research, higher education and residential uses in a collaborative environment," according to a release from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.