Frustrated Hyde-Addison Parents Confront Mayor, Deputy Mayor
By December 5, 2016 0 1056
•Georgetown’s St. Johns Church meeting room was packed. Concerned citizens and parents, standing two deep along the walls — many with red T-shirts declaring “Don’t Wing the Swing” — applauded when District Council member Jack Evans and Mayor Muriel Bowser were introduced.
But they were silent when Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles was introduced. There was frustration and anger in the air. The meeting soon became contentious.
Evans described how he had been involved for over a decade with the modernization of what had become the only elementary school in Georgetown. Even as the construction project combining Hyde, a small, overcrowded school, with Addison, a shuttered mental health facility, was being completed, further renovation plans had begun: to build a playground, expand the number of classrooms and create a cafeteria and dedicated spaces for music, art and physical education.
“In the last five hard years, we’ve seen this school’s renovation project prioritized in the city budget, permit obstacles removed, plans finalized and money appropriated,” Evans said. “That money can easily disappear, evaporate and easily be used elsewhere if we don’t move ahead now.”
But now it’s the many frustrated parents who are seemingly putting on the breaks.
The only thing that wasn’t planned was where the more than 300 schoolchildren — some as young as three years old — would go to school during the two years of construction.
“There are several nearby options: specialty schools and even the large field of another district’s elementary school that have been housing other swing students from other soon-to-be-finished projects,” said Alissa Alben, who has three children at the school. “We were told by Jack that the mayor had agreed they would go to Hardy.”
But suddenly Deputy Mayor Niles announced in a letter this fall that the children would be bused instead to Meyer Elementary in Shaw, a site also in need of renovation and almost an hour away through heavy traffic. Niles gave and continues to give no reason for her decision despite urgent requests.
Mayor Bowser suggested another site: the University of the District of Columbia campus in Ward 3, which would still requiring busing but not as far. It would require delaying the project since that space would have to be renovated as well. The Schools Improvement Team (SIT) and many parents said no.
One former student told the crowd that her class had remained on campus during the original construction. “We were thrilled watching it all take place, especially when walls went down.”
“I’ve given you two options,” said the mayor firmly. “You don’t seem to like either. But time is running short. We need to make final logistic plans soon. Some of this project’s money could be appropriated for other city needs.”
Actually, it seems it has already. New design changes made to decrease costs were presented to the SIT just last week. They consolidate some of the spaces in the agreed-upon plan and place the cafeteria underground.
“The whole thing is ridiculous the way it’s being done,” said Greg Boyd, whose daughter goes to the school.
Alben conceded that other options are being looked at by increasingly desperate parents. They include finding another building in Georgetown (possibly contributed by a business) and organizing a temporary mini-school.
“But we don’t want our school to lose families permanently,” she said. “Maybe the best thing is just to stop the whole process now and do it later when there is a clear, nearby and safe place to move the children. We can wait.”
“I’m actually appalled, stunned to hear that,” Niles told The Georgetowner. “The money will be gone then.”
“Oh, they’ll do it someday,” Alben said. “All the schools eventually will be modernized. They have to be.”
“Any such moves have to come through the councilman,” said Mayor Bowser as she sat on the corner of a table, talking comfortably with parents crowded around her.
Niles just shook her head. “The decision is already made.”
No teachers’ voices were heard during the meeting. Washington Teachers Union President Elizabeth Davis told The Georgetowner she’s making inquiries.