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S.H.A.P.P.E.
Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators
P.O. Box 21091 - Washington, D.C. 20009
Phone: 202-723-3310 - Fax: 202-723-2915
Email: cathy.p.reilly@verizon.net
October 30, 2003
Sarah Woodhead
Director of DCPS Facilities Management
Penn Center
1709 3rd Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Dear Sarah,
I am writing to follow up on the status of the project to install
exterior doors with magnetic closures which will negate the need for
padlocks in the senior high schools where there are security issues.
Following our letter of June 3rd, 2003, we appreciated the
meeting called by Kathy Patterson with MPD, Dr.Vance, DCPS Security, the
Fire Department and Emergency Preparedness. At that meeting and the follow
up meeting on August 22nd, we understood that there would be
Emergency Preparedness funds available for this project this year. We have
learned that OFM testified before the Council that the comprehensive
estimate for the high schools is 5 million dollars.
While there was a priority on comprehensive high schools used as
neighborhood emergency shelters - Wilson, Roosevelt, Coolidge, Ballou,
Woodson and Eastern, we understand there are adequate funds to cover the
remaining schools that have had serious arson incidents like Anacostia, as
well as Dunbar, Spingarn and Cardozo, (shooting).
We understand any project of this magnitude will involve a high level
of planning and preparation. Glenn Mitchell of OFM graciously arranged a
visit to Carter G Woodson in early September. This was a good start. We do
have some questions and concerns as your office moves forward:
- The schools involved should be an integral part of the process as
decisions are being made regarding product selection. How will this be
achieved?
- It will be crucial to work with schools as to how to do this work
with the least interruption to instruction by communicating to the
principal and the LSRT.
- You have chosen to proceed with a pilot model in Cardozo, what is
the timeframe for installation of the doors into Cardozo?
- Since the model of doors being installed at Cardozo is reported to
require heavy maintenance at Carter G Woodson, what is the timetable
for evaluating them?
- How were these doors selected? Was there an RFP issued to ensure
that we received the best product to meet our needs in the DCPS senior
high schools? If not, what process was used to make the selection of
vendor?
- What is the criterion being used to establish the priority order for
schools?
- Exactly which schools were included in the estimate given to the
Council for 5 million dollars?
- What are the conditions of the funding? What is the timetable for
using these funds? Has 5 million been identified and confirmed?
We are eager to move forward and to take advantage of this funding
window. We look forward to working with you and those convened by Council
Member Patterson to ensure that the schools can benefit from this funding
by getting started immediately and working with quality doors that are
both safe from intruders, allow easy egress in the case of fire and
function well in their everyday use.
Sincerely,
Cathy Reilly
Director of S.H.A.P.P.E.
cc: Councilmember Kathy Patterson
Mr. Glenn Mitchell
Mr. Louis Erste
Back to top of page
S.H.A.P.P.E.
Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators
P.O. Box 21091 - Washington, D.C. 20009
Phone: 202-723-3310 - Fax: 202-723-2915
Email: cathy.p.reilly@verizon.net
November 3, 2003
Theodore Tuckson
Chief of Security
DCPS
3535 V Street, NE
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Tuckson,
I am so sorry for the loss of life at Anacostia. It certainly
underscores the enormity of the task and confirms our worries regarding
the upsurge of gang activity.
Thank you for sending Ms. Marshall to the SHAPPE meeting at Woodson.
She suggested that we follow up with you regarding the following issues.
SHAPPE lobbied for additional funding for security in order to support
DCPS in attracting a more stable and mature security workforce. We also
met with you to provide input for the RFP prior to it being issued. As a
follow up we are interested in whether the RFP was distributed widely, are
there higher pay and more provisions for quality training? As long time
advocates of comprehensive and thoughtful security, we would appreciate
seeing a copy of the RFP and contract. Thank you.
The particular questions that emerged during the meeting were:
- Schools do not have a document outlining the role and responsibility
of the security officer. This is crucial for the principal and the
assigned school resource officer to have in order to help everyone be
as effective as possible. None of the principals present at the
meeting had such a document.
- In some schools they have been able to purchase radios for the
security staff but others were not aware this had to be included in
their NPS budgets and assumed the security contract dealt with this
issue. What is the cost, how is this communicated to the local
schools, and are there provisions for officers and schools where there
are currently no radios?
- Who is responsible for the maintenance of the metal detectors? How
often are they broken? What is the process for getting them fixed?
- How are security officers assigned? There is currently a special
education center with 50 ED students on the third floor of Spingarn
with no security officers assigned. Is the assignment done by numbers
of students, buildings? This situation at Spingarn is putting people
at risk and may just be the result of an oversight.
- A parent present at the meeting witnessed her son being frisked
after his shirt was pulled up or removed. This was extremely upsetting
and appeared highly inappropriate because there was no provocation
(the metal detector did not go off, the student had no previous
incidents). What are the conditions under which students are frisked
and what are the instructions given to the guards in term of how to
frisk? What recourse does this parent have?
In addition these questions were submitted to me following the meeting.
- What are the particular screening factors that take place prior to
the hire of a security officer? For example, will only a
"felony" conviction show up on a criminal background search
or will any and all arrests and adjudications of those arrested be
revealed?
- What exactly is the proper uniform of a security officer, are there
badges that they should be wearing to make them easily identifiable,
and who monitors their dress code?
- Who is the PERSON who is responsible for each particular school’s
security detail? Is that person's contact information easily and
readily accessible and available?
- There are specific ACLU guidelines that limit, prohibit or endorse
random and general searches, are these followed?
- Exactly what training do these security officers take and how are
the ranked, prior to placing them in the schools.
- Are the security officers randomly and periodically drug tested?
We fully understand what a difficult job it is to ensure the safety of
our young people. You have always been very helpful and responsive to our
concerns. It might be helpful, when your schedule permits to meet with a
few of the parents and principals who were particularly concerned. We look
forward to hearing from you. Thank you again.
Sincerely
Cathy Reilly
Director of SHAPPE
cc: Mr. Lou Erste
Dr. Elfreda Massie |
