WASHINGTON — A group of northeast DC public schools will soon receive major upgrades. Parents are excited for the changes, but they are frustrated how it will impact their students during the construction process.
One of the schools slated for modernization is John Burroughs Elementary School.
WUSA9's Jess Arnold has reported on a series of issues there earlier this year, including no heat, flooding, and a gas leak that sent kids home for multiple days.
"We're happy that they're going to modernize John Burroughs. The school is over 104 years old," mother of two at the school, Asibi Carnegie said.
She and other parents, however, say they're frustrated because DC Public Schools told them during the process, their kids will be bussed three miles away to a swing space in Columbia Heights.
The modernization process is slated to take a couple of years.
“Looking out for the families that pour into Burroughs, I think needs to be a little bit considered, while they're making these decisions," Carnegie said.
She and the Parent Teacher Organization said that could be a 45 minute trip between their homes and the swing space, which can be a burden on parents who don't have flexibility.
They also are worried about the impact on before and after-school care.
"For people who are working multiple jobs, who have childcare concerns, who have come to rely on the flexibility that is associated with our pickup and drop off schedule, it's going to potentially be a really considerable challenge," parent and PTO Advocacy Chair, Micah Haskell-Hoehl said.
The PTO and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner asked DCPS to consider using a building that is in the neighborhood or build modular buildings, so kids don't have to travel as far.
DCPS has been pushing back on that idea, saying it's not feasible.
They forwarded WUSA 9 the letter they sent in response to that request, and it reads in part:
"There is presently no funding for modulars or an alternate swing site, such as the Howard University Divinity School. Modular campuses require a large footprint, take a field offline, typically require a delay to project completion, and are quite expensive, typically costing approximately $18 million. Additionally, modular sites require 18-24 months to complete, and significant stormwater requirements can further increase construction costs. Given these constraints around modular campuses, they are an option we use when there are no permanent swing space options available. A modular facility, only for use by Burroughs, would take the Burroughs field offline for a significant portion of the school year prior to modernization while students are in the building, and demobilization of the complex would occur after the school reopens. The field would require rehabilitation after the modulars were removed and would not be available until after the school swings out of the complex. If the complex were used for Bunker Hill or other schools in Ward 5, the field would be offline for longer, potentially 4-6 years.
We are actively exploring all alternative options and are taking your advocacy seriously."
Haskell-Hoehl said the school system did find it in the budget to build a modular space for Eaton Elementary parents in Ward 3 when their school was modernized about five years ago.
He's concerned this has become an equity issue.
Burroughs is a Title 1 school, which means the poverty rate is 35% or higher.
"This is a city wide issue, and we have seen some disparities in terms of distances between homeschools and swing spaces. Depending on where the homeschool is are located," he said. "I believe that DCPS probably, you know, has the the best of intentions but the letter of the law has just not forced them to do any more than this. So they're not doing it. And it's falling on the communities that are most excluded most of the time, and the burden is falling on the shoulders of them."
They're hoping to explore alternatives, like DCPS said it is working to do. So, joint PTOs are hosting a community forum Wednesday night at Burroughs Elementary from 6 to 7 p.m. Haskell-Hoehl said Councilmember Zachary Parker, Councilmember Christina Henderson, and representatives from DCPS will be there.