City Council Approves $15 Million Bond to Expand Friendship Public Charter School's Southeast Elementary Campus
Posted on: Friday, 9 June 2006, 18:00 CDT
WASHINGTON, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The District of Columbia City Council has voted to approve a $15 million bond that will finance a major campus expansion for Friendship Public Charter School's Southeast Elementary Academy. This bond will enable the Ward 8 public charter school to increase enrollment from 350 to 567, and upgrade its existing school building with 16 additional classrooms, a new gymnasium, cafeteria, interactive library and technology- rich SmartLab(TM) computer center. New construction will begin this fall with the goal of unveiling the fully renovated campus in 2007.
"The benefits of this bond financing are far-reaching. Ninety-four percent of Southeast students reside in Ward 8, and of these students, 80 percent are eligible for low-income subsidies. For current and future students, their parents and the surrounding community, access to high-quality public education that raises academic achievement and serves as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization is paramount. We applaud our city council for their vote," said Donald L. Hense, chairman, Friendship Board of Trustees.
Friendship Southeast Elementary Academy, located at 645 Milwaukee Place, S.E., occupies the site of the former Southeast Academy of Scholastic Excellence. In June 2005, the DC Public Charter School Board, when faced with the school's closing, requested that Friendship acquire the school facility. Friendship agreed to do so, making it the first time that a District charter facility, after being shuttered, was immediately taken over by another charter organization. In less than 40 days, Friendship hired 20 new teachers and completed over $500,000 in necessary renovations to open the new Southeast Elementary Academy on time for the 2005 academic year. This bond financing will further enhance Friendship's capacity to bring the best possible educational services to Southeast students and community.
The bond vote follows the launch of a multi-million dollar investment partnership between Friendship, Venture Philanthropy Partner (VPP) and NewSchools Venture Fund (NewSchools). Together, VPP and NewSchools will invest more than $4.5 million over the next several years to support Friendship's plans for growth and the management of its existing five campuses serving nearly 4,000 District students in grades pre-kindergarten to 12.
Friendship's plans for growth include the opening of two other groundbreaking public charter schools. The first, Friendship Tech Prep, will be a high-tech career academy designed to serve 600 students from grades seven to 12. Through Tech Prep's curriculum -- which fuses traditional academics with real-world technical applications -- students will prepare for careers in information technology, media technology, healthcare and environmental sciences. Tech Prep students will also have the opportunity to take college courses and earn course credits through partnerships with area community colleges. The second, Friendship Prep, will be the region's first kindergarten to 12 Spanish language immersion and International Baccalaureate (IB) program, serving 1,100 students at full capacity. By 2010, Friendship will serve more than 5,000 students.
Friendship Public Charter School (Friendship) is the District of Columbia's largest community of public charter schools, serving nearly 4,000 students in grades pre-k to grade 12 at five campuses. Since its founding in 1997, Friendship has succeeded in preparing a cross-section of children as scholars, workers and citizens by providing rigorous, college preparatory curricula, caring teachers, first-rate instructional technology, wrap-around social services, and a strong network of parental and community support. Friendship's five campuses are Chamberlain Elementary, Southeast Elementary Academy, Woodridge Elementary and Middle, Blow Pierce Junior Academy and Collegiate Academy.
CONTACT: Candice Tolliver of Friendship Public Charter School, +1-202-270-0844, ctolliver@friendshipschools.org.
Friendship Public Charter School
CONTACT: Candice Tolliver of Friendship Public Charter School,+1-202-270-0844, ctolliver@friendshipschools.org
Web site: http://www.friendshipschools.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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