DC NORTH

Ward 4 Reports

by: Ingrid Drake

“It’s Going On Too Long!” Say Residents at Rally for Development of 6425 14th St. NW

A Brightwood resident since 1959, Reba M. Diggs has worked hard keeping the neighborhood attractive so that it reflects the tight-knit community. But on April 11, Diggs felt she had to take a stand with 40 of her neighbors in front of an abandoned apartment building at 6425 14th St. that has frustrated the community for years.

“The problem is, we have no one in there. So people dump trash constantly. We’ve had beds, mattresses…” says Floria Jones, whose home is right next door. In the past, the building bred mice and mosquitos, but now the windows are boarded up and the DC Dept. of Public Works maintains the property. Even though the abandoned apartment building guarantees Jones a parking space in front of her house, she is eager to trade in that privilege for some new neighbors.

The Brightwood Community Association (BCA) organized the rally, as part of its ongoing campaign to get the property owner, Vincent Abell of Modern Management, or the DC government, to put the building into productive use. A representative of Ward 4 Councilman Adrian Fenty attended, as well as Nicholas Majett, Acting Deputy Director of Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA).

“I guarantee you will see some action by DCRA in the next couple months,” promised Majett, who said he felt strongly about supporting the residents because he grew up in Ward 4, and DCRA Director Patrick Canavan has listed the property as a priority.

Using DC’s vacant property law, the city is currently taxing the property at five times the normal rate. DCRA plans to inspect the building – which the fire department has recently labeled an unsafe structure– and issue the property owner a notice of any violations. According to Majett, there could be at least 100 violations, each with a fine of up to $2,000. The owner will likely get 30 or 60 days to fix the problems, but if Abell chooses not to, the city will do the repairs and charge the owner.

Yet, Marta Bertola, an attorney representing Abell, says “It is the District who is responsible for the building’s present condition and the owner’s inability to rehabilitate it.” Citing legal battles with the DC government dating back to 1985, it is Bertola’s position that the DC government owes Abell $100,000 ordered by a DC Superior Court judge in 1998, and that DCRA has denied the owner from registering the property as vacant.

A few ideas of how the building should be developed were discussed at the rally – some residents expressed support for affordable rental and ownership and did not want to see luxury condominiums, while other residents just wanted to see something happen at the site.

The principal of the nearby Brightwood Elementary School, Wanda A. Fox, has been calling for more affordable housing for families to rebuild Brightwood’s student body, which has dramatically decreased due to rising housing prices and condo conversions in the area.

“With all the community has had to deal with for years,” says D. Kamili Anderson, BCA’s President, who has testified before the city council about 6425 14th St, “it would be nice if the building could be designated as an affordable residence for seniors in the area, who no longer want to live in their homes, but want to stay in the neighborhood.”

Learn more about the Brightwood Community Association at http://www.brightwooddc.com/ or contact D. Kamili Anderson at: (202) 821-8276. For nuisance property concerns, contact the DCRA’s Nicholas Majett at 202-442-4338

Coolidge Principal Unveils New Changes

Over the last month, Coolidge Senior High School principal L. Nelson Burton has outlined a series of changes designed to “recapture some of our glory, rebuild the spirit around here. The kids deserve it.”

Principal Burton, a Coolidge alum who took over last fall after three principals left the school within four years, says he studied what was working in the school and designed changes to accentuate the positive. Plus, “kids constantly are coming to my door with ideas” that Burton has incorporated into some of the following proposals for next fall:

Instead of taking six 50 minutes classes earning 6 credits for the year, students will earn 8 credits each year by taking four 80 minutes classes;
Students will have the option of taking classes before and after school - 7:35 AM and 3:30 PM – as a way to catch up on needed credits or get ahead;

Introducing new electives, such as golf, creative writing, journalism/media, and web design;

The incoming freshman class will enter into an academy where they all take classes together, including required band and JROTC;
Also considering having students paint stairways and lavatories, “so they’ll own it,” which will lead to less graffiti;
Restructuring the peer mediation program into a class, where students also get to hear disciplinary issues and decide punishments; and
Having every sport DC offers, including rugby, which some students are trying to start up as the first team in DC public school (DCPS).

DCPS has designated Coolidge as the business school among senior high schools. Burton has already doubled the number of Advanced Placement (AP) classes and introduced new courses such as African American History. Burton is also trying to keep the school open next year from 7 AM to 10 PM as a way to keep kids engaged in the school building, instead of the streets.

Students, teachers, parents, and other community members’ reaction to the proposals has been mostly positive. “I’m looking forward to see if these changes are going to work,” says Terry Going with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and father of two Coolidge students. “I’d like to see a more stable school next fall.”

When DC North spoke with a few dozen students after school at Coolidge, most of them expressed support for the changes Burton is making at the school. “I used to be late all the time,” said 11th grade Ashley Jennings, but since strict new rules against tardiness, she’s improved. “He’s taking action. Before he came, there were always people in the halls.”

Though none of the students expressed concern about requiring JROTC, some teachers and youth development specialists in the community have expressed concern.

“It’s a shame it’s one of the only well-structured career development initiatives within DCPS,” says Danielle Kurzweil with the Youth Action Research Group (YARG). “There should be other youth leadership programs and job training opportunities.”

While the US Army provides the program’s training and funding, Principal Burton rejects the notion that JROTC is a recruiting tool and says that many of the school’s student leaders are part of the program. According to JROTC instructor Major Charles Hatcher only two members of last year’ graduating class signed up for the reserves. Principal Burton says that on a case-by-case basis students can opt out of wearing the uniform, but cannot opt out of the class, which is designed to build camaraderie among the entire 9th grade class.

There is a need for a female JROTC instructor because there are currently three men, says Ms. Mitchell, who teaches health and PE. But the biggest issue facing the school is dwindling enrollment, says Ms. Mitchell, has seen student enrollment drop from 1000 to 600 over the 30 years she has been at Coolidge.

With these declines, Coolidge has had to cut the librarian to part-time, and may lose business teachers, social studies, and PE, says Mitchell, who is part of the Local School Restructuring Team. Before she retires, Mitchell would like to see DCPS leadership find a way for charter schools and public schools to come together: “somehow merging their resources, students, and facilities.”

The changes at Coolidge are not coming fast enough for some. Eleventh grader Edith Ellis thinks more-hands on learning is needed because, “most classes are boring. They can be [made] more exciting.”

One young woman, an 11th grade who asked that her name not be used, is transferring to Cardozo next year. With no air conditioning, fire alarms always sounding, and trouble getting an appointment with her academic counselor, the young woman says she cannot wait to see if the changes go through. Yet, worried about making the situation at Coolidge sound worse than it is, the young woman added there are positive things happening, like the 4th District police department who has been doing a good job protecting the school and relating with the students, including one officer who coaches the ladies basketball team.

On May 18th, Coolidge will be celebrating International Day, with students and faculty dressing in traditional attire, tasting foods at least 15 nations. For more details, call Principal Burton at 202-576-8624. Coolidge’s PTA meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM in the cafeteria or contact Terry Goings at 202-486-3646.


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Ward 4 Reports

by: Ingrid Drake
“It’s Going On Too Long!” Say Residents at Rally for Development of 6425 14th St. NW A Brightwood resident since 1959, Reba M. Diggs has worked hard keeping the neighborhood attractive so that it reflects the tight-knit community. But on April 11, Diggs felt she had to take a stand with 40 of her neighbors in front of an abandoned apartment building at 6425 14th St. that has frustrated the community for years. “The problem is, we have no one in there. So people dump trash constantly. We’ve had beds, mattresses…” says Floria Jones, whose home is right next door. In the past, the building bred mice and mosquitos, but now the windows are boarded up and the DC Dept. of Public Works maintains the property. Even though the abandoned apartment building guarantees Jones a parking space in front of her house, she is eager to trade in that privilege for some new neighbors. The Brightwood Community Association (BCA) organized the rally, as part of its ongoing campaign to get the property owner, Vincent Abell of Modern Management, or the DC government, to put the building into productive use. A representative of Ward 4 Councilman Adrian Fenty attended, as well as Nicholas Majett, Acting Deputy Director of Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). “I guarantee you will see some action by DCRA in the next couple months,” promised Majett, who said he felt strongly about supporting the residents because he grew up in Ward 4, and DCRA Director Patrick Canavan has listed the property as a priority. Using DC’s vacant property law, the city is currently taxing the property at five times the normal rate. DCRA plans to inspect the building – which the fire department has recently labeled an unsafe structure– and issue the property owner a notice of any violations. According to Majett, there could be at least 100 violations, each with a fine of up to $2,000. The owner will likely get 30 or 60 days to fix the problems, but if Abell chooses not to, the city will do the repairs and charge the owner. Yet, Marta Bertola, an attorney representing Abell, says “It is the District who is responsible for the building’s present condition and the owner’s inability to rehabilitate it.” Citing legal battles with the DC government dating back to 1985, it is Bertola’s position that the DC government owes Abell $100,000 ordered by a DC Superior Court judge in 1998, and that DCRA has denied the owner from registering the property as vacant. A few ideas of how the building should be developed were discussed at the rally – some residents expressed support for affordable rental and ownership and did not want to see luxury condominiums, while other residents just wanted to see something happen at the site. The principal of the nearby Brightwood Elementary School, Wanda A. Fox, has been calling for more affordable housing for families to rebuild Brightwood’s student body, which has dramatically decreased due to rising housing prices and condo conversions in the area. “With all the community has had to deal with for years,” says D. Kamili Anderson, BCA’s President, who has testified before the city council about 6425 14th St, “it would be nice if the building could be designated as an affordable residence for seniors in the area, who no longer want to live in their homes, but want to stay in the neighborhood.” Learn more about the Brightwood Community Association at http://www.brightwooddc.com/ or contact D. Kamili Anderson at: (202) 821-8276. For nuisance property concerns, contact the DCRA’s Nicholas Majett at 202-442-4338 Coolidge Principal Unveils New Changes Over the last month, Coolidge Senior High School principal L. Nelson Burton has outlined a series of changes designed to “recapture some of our glory, rebuild the spirit around here. The kids deserve it.” Principal Burton, a Coolidge alum who took over last fall after three principals left the school within four years, says he studied what was working in the school and designed changes to accentuate the positive. Plus, “kids constantly are coming to my door with ideas” that Burton has incorporated into some of the following proposals for next fall: Instead of taking six 50 minutes classes earning 6 credits for the year, students will earn 8 credits each year by taking four 80 minutes classes; Students will have the option of taking classes before and after school - 7:35 AM and 3:30 PM – as a way to catch up on needed credits or get ahead; Introducing new electives, such as golf, creative writing, journalism/media, and web design; The incoming freshman class will enter into an academy where they all take classes together, including required band and JROTC; Also considering having students paint stairways and lavatories, “so they’ll own it,” which will lead to less graffiti; Restructuring the peer mediation program into a class, where students also get to hear disciplinary issues and decide punishments; and Having every sport DC offers, including rugby, which some students are trying to start up as the first team in DC public school (DCPS). DCPS has designated Coolidge as the business school among senior high schools. Burton has already doubled the number of Advanced Placement (AP) classes and introduced new courses such as African American History. Burton is also trying to keep the school open next year from 7 AM to 10 PM as a way to keep kids engaged in the school building, instead of the streets. Students, teachers, parents, and other community members’ reaction to the proposals has been mostly positive. “I’m looking forward to see if these changes are going to work,” says Terry Going with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and father of two Coolidge students. “I’d like to see a more stable school next fall.” When DC North spoke with a few dozen students after school at Coolidge, most of them expressed support for the changes Burton is making at the school. “I used to be late all the time,” said 11th grade Ashley Jennings, but since strict new rules against tardiness, she’s improved. “He’s taking action. Before he came, there were always people in the halls.” Though none of the students expressed concern about requiring JROTC, some teachers and youth development specialists in the community have expressed concern. “It’s a shame it’s one of the only well-structured career development initiatives within DCPS,” says Danielle Kurzweil with the Youth Action Research Group (YARG). “There should be other youth leadership programs and job training opportunities.” While the US Army provides the program’s training and funding, Principal Burton rejects the notion that JROTC is a recruiting tool and says that many of the school’s student leaders are part of the program. According to JROTC instructor Major Charles Hatcher only two members of last year’ graduating class signed up for the reserves. Principal Burton says that on a case-by-case basis students can opt out of wearing the uniform, but cannot opt out of the class, which is designed to build camaraderie among the entire 9th grade class. There is a need for a female JROTC instructor because there are currently three men, says Ms. Mitchell, who teaches health and PE. But the biggest issue facing the school is dwindling enrollment, says Ms. Mitchell, has seen student enrollment drop from 1000 to 600 over the 30 years she has been at Coolidge. With these declines, Coolidge has had to cut the librarian to part-time, and may lose business teachers, social studies, and PE, says Mitchell, who is part of the Local School Restructuring Team. Before she retires, Mitchell would like to see DCPS leadership find a way for charter schools and public schools to come together: “somehow merging their resources, students, and facilities.” The changes at Coolidge are not coming fast enough for some. Eleventh grader Edith Ellis thinks more-hands on learning is needed because, “most classes are boring. They can be [made] more exciting.” One young woman, an 11th grade who asked that her name not be used, is transferring to Cardozo next year. With no air conditioning, fire alarms always sounding, and trouble getting an appointment with her academic counselor, the young woman says she cannot wait to see if the changes go through. Yet, worried about making the situation at Coolidge sound worse than it is, the young woman added there are positive things happening, like the 4th District police department who has been doing a good job protecting the school and relating with the students, including one officer who coaches the ladies basketball team. On May 18th, Coolidge will be celebrating International Day, with students and faculty dressing in traditional attire, tasting foods at least 15 nations. For more details, call Principal Burton at 202-576-8624. Coolidge’s PTA meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM in the cafeteria or contact Terry Goings at 202-486-3646.