The Coolidge Community Working Group met on Thursday, June 30th for its first meeting with the architects of the building feasibility study. The Working Group provided some initial input that will help inform the feasibility study, which is the first step in making a proposed modernization a reality. For more details on that process, check out the meeting notes below.
Working Group members started with a walk-through of the Coolidge facility followed by a presentation from Josh Tuch (DCPS Facilities) and HOK Architects. Members discussed key questions in small groups and shared their input with Josh and the HOK team. The group, which includes parents, teachers, administrators, DCPS Central Office employees, and community members, will continue to meet with the architects until the feasibility study completes in the fall.
Meeting notes are here, the architect’s presentation is here, and some photos and highlights from the meeting are below. Special shout-out to Whittier parent and Working Group member Julie Lawson for her kind words and play-by-play twitter coverage of the meeting. Definitely #FF (do people still say that? No? Okay, well we recommend following her anyway). The next meeting will be in late August, exact date TBD.
Terry Going, Coolidge alumnus, leads a group of parents and community members through the school’s outdoor garden and sitting area. The group was impressed by the sheer size of the green space available to students.Coolidge alumnus Terry Going points out a historic sign from the World-War 2 era, a small piece of history built into the school.Community members discuss the status of Coolidge’s outdoor athletic facilities, possible upgrades, and access to the public and the neighborhood.Architect Stefan Jaborek discusses with parents and community members how to unite goals of efficiency, practicality, accessibility, and beauty for the school’s facilities. Jaborek and his colleagues Quinton Pop and Katrik Shah work for HOK, an international architecture firm focused on efficient, environmentally-friendly modernization and beautification.The group surveys a science classroom and discusses issues of space and adaptability – certain parents and community members begin making recommendations for the new modernized school (e.g. expandable lab tables)Coolidge alumnus Terry Goings shows the group one of two gymnasiums on the school’s campus. The school is 271,000 sq. ft., which is the size of five White Houses or more than one and a half Capitol Buildings.After the walkthrough, the group sits to hear a presentation on the mission and goals for the project. DCPS Facilities Coordinator Josh Tuch leads the discussion, setting the group up for a productive brainstorm session and open discussion.Coolidge Principal Richard Jackson and alumnus Terry Goings share ideas about outdoor spaces for students. The group talked about safety, natural light, and the use of space. Other discussion topics included: teaching and learning, community engagement, and interaction between neighboring schools, among several others.Josh Tuch (DCPS Facilities) opens up a discussion following a brainstorming session where community members shared their opinions and ideas on each topic.Julie Lawson, a Whittier parent of twitter fame, shares her small group’s ideas.Principal Jackson shares his thoughts about academics at Coolidge and the needs of his students.
The Coolidge Community Working Group (CWG) is coming together for its second meeting this Thursday evening for a building walk-through and a meeting with the feasibility study architects. We on the School Planning and Facilities teams at DCPS have had an opportunity to meet one on one with most of the group members, and are excited about the folks who have come together to engage around their neighborhood high school. The members, along with their connection to Coolidge High School, are below.
Cabinet members met the new RBHS staff, received updates on the facilities, hiring plans, and enrollment. Read the May meeting minutes and the update from Principal Williams for more information.
MacFarland Principal Aqueelha James and Assistant Principal Mark Sanders met with the MacFarland Community Cabinet last Thursday to discuss how members can continue their engagement around MacFarland as it becomes a functioning DCPS school next year. Some key quotes:
AP Sanders: “The beginning of the school year next year once we get school started there’s two campaigns we’ll be running…One will be getting another class of 6th graders and pulling more 7th grade students too…The longer term campaign will be…MacFarland is a neighborhood community school and I want everyone to hear that message loud and clear. We want everyone to be there.”
Principal James: “So when we do open with a comprehensive program both schools will have something in common that we are a global studies school. And we want there to be a beautiful vertical articulation, and that’s part of why Mr. Sanders will oversee…the high school dual language part. And phase 2, after MacFarland moves into its own building and opening that comprehensive part. I can’t wait to see what it will be for a graduating 8th grader in dual language or comprehensive to make that decision to go to Roosevelt especially with that vertical articulation”
AP Sanders: “The difference between reading about the Mexican American War from an American and a Mexican author, it’s a bit of a different spin on that. And if they’re studying that in the dual language track, we want there to be alignment with the comprehensive program”
Cabinet member: “Keeping that line between MacFarland and Roosevelt. I love how you guys have merged that. It’s not the same school but the program is basically one in the same. If you have a parent of a 10th grader who can talk to an incoming 6th grader that’s great. It’s easier to have one source than to have to go to a variety of separate meetings”
Cabinet members received updates on the facilities, budget, staff vacancies, and outreach efforts. Read the March and April meeting minutes for more information.
Demolition is performing punchlist (small tasks) items on the 1st Floor.
Abatement is complete on the 1st Floor.
MEP (mechanical, engineering, & plumbing) contractors are installing hangers in the academic corridor spaces. Ductwork will be arriving by the end of the week and plumbing pipe installation to begin by the end of this week.
Academic Wing – Second Floor
Demolition is ongoing with wall, above ceiling MEP, and flooring being removed.
Containments are being set up for abatement and abatement is planned to begin next week on the 2nd Floor.
Multipurpose Wing – First Floor
Performing punchlist on demolition items.
Abatement is complete.
MEP contractors are coordinating in the multi-purpose wing.
Layout for underground plumbing is ongoing and slab cuts will begin on Thursday, 4/28, for the underground pipe trenches.
Ductwork installation began in the fraternity hall space.
Multipurpose Wing – Second Floor
Abatement is complete on the floor tile in the corridor area. Abatement is ongoing in the stairwells. Abatement on the auditorium floor tile will begin the week of May 2nd.
The corridor plaster ceiling has been removed and demolition is ongoing in the locker room area.
Boiler Room
Demolition is complete.
Link Corridor
Openings have been made in the 2nd Floor façade to remove materials from the 2nd Floor and demolition of the stairwell at the link will begin week of May 2nd.
MEP contractors are laying out above ceiling work and installing hangers in the link corridor.
After a month of taking comments on the proposed name of the school and on 3 schools mascot options, we finally have the results. Students, families, and community members told us what they wanted – and we listened. In August the doors will open to the new Ron Brown College Preparatory High School. We are the MONARCHS! The lion “Monarchs” represents a strong leader- a king of the land. He represents trust and integrity and service for his people.
It’s been a while since our last Coolidge update. We’re excited about this one because it’s the first of many more over the coming months and years as we begin the school’s modernization process. The Coolidge Working Group officially kicked off this week with its first meeting on Tuesday, May 10th. Notes are here, recap below.
— DCPS Community Action Team (CAT) (@DCPS_Community) May 11, 2016
The Coolidge Community Working Group is unique because it combines responsibilities typically associated with a Community Cabinet (school programming) with those typically associated with a School Improvement Team (building modernization). Because both processes are starting at the same time, members have an opportunity to give input on both the modernized school building and some of the elements that go inside of it.
At Tuesday’s meeting we asked the group to begin thinking about how we should gather feedback about the school from the larger network of prospective parents and community members. It was a rich discussion among our stakeholders and an energizing start to the project for all of us at DCPS. Coolidge buzz is growing!
Roosevelt Planning Principal Aqueelha James met with the Community Cabinet last week to talk about next steps for the group as the school transitions to the new building this fall. The notes are below. Ms. James also gave Cabinet members a sneak peek at the new Roosevelt website currently in development! It’s still in progress but check out the latest below.
Principal Aqueelha James and MacFarland Assistant Principal Mark Sanders will host an enrollment fair for both Roosevelt High School and MacFarland Middle School on Saturday, May 21st from 10am to noon in the Roosevelt Gym. Registration will happen on site, so make sure to bring your proof of DC residency. Flyers in English and Spanish are below, please contact DCPS.Planning@dc.gov with any questions.
Note: this event is tailored to prospective families. We look forward to hosting many more events for our Ward 4 neighbors in the future, but will not be able to offer building tours on the 21st.
DCPS School Planning 