Monday, February 09, 2004
Old Post Office Should Be Leased To Charter Schools
Here is a recent letter to the editor I wrote to the Washington Post (one of many that they have not published):
I know exactly what should be done with the Old Post Office (�Problem: What to Make Of the Old Post Office?� February 2, 2004; Page E02). The space should be made available for lease to the close to 40 charter schools now operating in the District.
Your newspaper documents the problems with the site in attracting retailers. It has limited parking and the heating, air-conditioning systems, and roof needs upgrading.
But to those of us who have had to teach kids in dilapidated warehouses, relocating to the Old Post Office would be like given the keys to Harvard University.
Stephen F. Lustarten of Blake Real Estate, Inc comments that the site is isolated. �There�s no synergy of retail around it,� he says in your article. But could you imagine the excitement of going to school next to the White House and blocks from all of the riches of the Smithsonian Institution? My mind races with thoughts of multiple schools sharing resources and lessons of organizational best practices while situated in a historic building.
The toughest problem facing the charter school movement is facilities. Having to compete for space in the high-cost D.C real-estate market necessarily means that funds that should be dedicated to educating students will be diverted to rent. Several schools face delayed openings or closure because they cannot locate affordable classroom space.
Many of our city�s leaders, including the Mayor Williams, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Chairman of the D.C. School Board, and Councilman Kevin Chavous, say they support the charters. Its time for them to put their mortar where there mouth is.
PermaLink | 5:28 AM |
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I know exactly what should be done with the Old Post Office (�Problem: What to Make Of the Old Post Office?� February 2, 2004; Page E02). The space should be made available for lease to the close to 40 charter schools now operating in the District.
Your newspaper documents the problems with the site in attracting retailers. It has limited parking and the heating, air-conditioning systems, and roof needs upgrading.
But to those of us who have had to teach kids in dilapidated warehouses, relocating to the Old Post Office would be like given the keys to Harvard University.
Stephen F. Lustarten of Blake Real Estate, Inc comments that the site is isolated. �There�s no synergy of retail around it,� he says in your article. But could you imagine the excitement of going to school next to the White House and blocks from all of the riches of the Smithsonian Institution? My mind races with thoughts of multiple schools sharing resources and lessons of organizational best practices while situated in a historic building.
The toughest problem facing the charter school movement is facilities. Having to compete for space in the high-cost D.C real-estate market necessarily means that funds that should be dedicated to educating students will be diverted to rent. Several schools face delayed openings or closure because they cannot locate affordable classroom space.
Many of our city�s leaders, including the Mayor Williams, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Chairman of the D.C. School Board, and Councilman Kevin Chavous, say they support the charters. Its time for them to put their mortar where there mouth is.
PermaLink | 5:28 AM |
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