Fighting for Hyde- Addison Elementary

If I’ve learned anything in my time on the District Council, it’s that a decision on a project isn’t final until the shovels are in the ground. That’s why I’m still fighting to keep the Hyde-Addison swing space in or around Georgetown.

Like many parents and teachers, I found out last week that D.C. Public Schools has decided that the only options to house the Hyde-Addison Elementary program during the planned two-year renovation project are the University of the District of Columbia and Meyer Elementary School, both more than three miles away from Hyde-Addison.

It would be undesirable enough for the older elementary school students to have to travel that distance, but bussing pre-K students — 3- and 4-year-olds — more than three miles to either Van Ness or Columbia Heights just can’t be on the table.
This process of reviewing and deciding on a temporary swing space has become an ordeal in and of itself. Two weeks ago, I was told by the mayor’s office that the plan was to move the Hyde-Addison program to Hardy Middle School beginning next summer. While this move would require some logistical issues to be figured out, it would keep the Hyde-Addison program close to the community and avoid disruptive crosstown bussing of young students.

Then, last week, it was determined that Hardy did not have enough space and that the only options were to relocate to a facility on the UDC campus in Van Ness, beginning in two years, or to Meyer Elementary next year.

From the numerous parents I’ve spoken with this week, along with the hundreds of emails and dozens of calls I’ve received, it’s clear that no one supports a swing space miles away — and with good reason. I’m continuing to push back on the mayor’s team and the deputy mayor for education on the sudden switch from Hardy to not-Hardy.
There’s no such thing as an easy relocation of an entire school program. No one expects this project to be without its inconveniences. That being said, between Hardy Middle School, the to-be-completed-next-summer Duke Ellington School and the Jelleff Recreation Center, there is enough space to keep the Hyde-Addison students and teachers within the community while the school construction work takes place.

I will be at the upcoming Citizens Association of Georgetown meeting to discuss the Hyde-Addison project. I’ve encouraged both
Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles to attend as well, so that we can discuss the proposals with the community and determine a path forward. The meeting was originally scheduled for Oct. 18, but it is in the process of being rescheduled to accommodate Deputy Mayor Niles. Check the CAG website — cagtown.org — for the most up-to-date information. I encourage everyone to attend.