Fenty Administration Unveils the 2008 Master Facilities Plan for District of Columbia Public Schools

Washington, DC — Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by Allen Y. Lew, executive director of the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) and Michelle Rhee, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) chancellor unveiled the Administration’s 2008 Master Facilities Plan (MFP). The 2008 plan is considered a radical departure from previous school facility planning efforts.

“The Master Facilities Plan is the road map that the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization will use to deliver world-class public school facilities faster and more cost effectively,” said Mayor Fenty. “Whereas previous plans established a prolonged approach that left too many schools waiting while a select few were being rebuilt, this 2008 plan will dramatically change the face of every school in the District within the next five years.”

2008 Master Facilities Plan
The 2008 MFP organizes school modernization into three categories based on the kind of building component being modernized:  Academic, Support and Systems. The plan will be implemented through a phased approach. During the first phase, OPEFM will focus on the academic components; aggressive improvement of the learning environment is the immediate priority. Support and systems components will be prioritized for the second phase , beyond the first five years , except where necessary to address immediate concerns and ensure that the buildings remains stable and supportive of the academic programs.  

“The quality of any school system, and the ability to educate its students, is significantly impacted by the quality of the facility,” said Chancellor Rhee. “The Deputy Mayor for Education, Victor Reinoso, and OPEFM executive director Allen Lew and with their teams of talented professionals worked diligently in-step with us to ensure this comprehensive plan can and will address our evolving educational needs.”

“The MFP is a never-ending cycle,” said OPEFM Director Allen Lew. “Each cycle is reviewed and at end of the MFP, we must and will start this process all over again to ensure always-current, technologically proficient and superior facilities into the future for our children.”

The MFP is the road map OPEFM will use to deliver world-class public school facilities faster and more cost effectively.  The plan proposes a strategic, phased approach to school modernization that maximizes the impact for all students by building on the substantial work that has already been completed. This includes nearly $600 million in modernization and stabilization efforts already under way. Approximately $200 million was spent this summer on ongoing school stabilization repairs and significant upgrades to several facilities, like Eliot, that have received students from closed schools.

MFP Improvements
Upon assuming responsibility for the modernization of DCPS facilities in mid-2007, OPEFM encountered a situation of severe need. Not only had many anticipated modernization projects incurred years of delays and budget shortfalls, but the deferred maintenance problem across the entire system had grown so severe that it presented serious health and safety concerns for students, teachers and staff.  Therefore, OPEFM immediately implemented its stabilization effort that allowed, from late-FY 2007 through 2008, for a rapid series of blitzes to address major problems. The overriding objective of the Stabilization program was to ensure healthy, safe and comfortable environments.  

The Fenty administration immediately moved to implement stabilization initiatives investing more than $500 million in facilities repairs in 18 months.  

More than 114 schools have already received major facilities work that will serve as building blocks for the overall modernization program.  

Here’s a glimpse into the work that has already taken place:

• Sixteen schools received heating system repairs and 12 central air conditioning units were installed.


• Nearly 3,000 window air conditioning units were installed at 103 schools.


• Athletic fields at six schools were completely refurbished, including turf, bleachers and locker rooms.


• Seventy-five schools received major plumbing work to include repairs to restrooms and water fountains.  
  
• Three high schools received new doors, which improved security and safety.


• New science labs were installed at 13 schools to accommodate middle school students.
 

• Six schools were outfitted for pre-kindergarten students, this included the installation of classroom bathrooms and separate playground equipment. Entire wings of school buildings that had not been used for years were renovated and brought back to life, transforming older, underutilized facilities into vibrant learning centers once again.


• More than 3,500 safety and health violations, ranging from simple fixes like replacing an exit sign to addressing fire egress issues, were remedied.


• OPEFM repaired or replaced roofs at seven schools and six schools received new windows.
 

• More than 100 schools received fresh coats of paint.