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Tag: dc public schools

  • Allegations of sex abuse put DC teacher on leave. Former student talks with WTOP – WTOP News

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    A former D.C. student, who is now 22-years-old, recently took to social media to level allegations of sex abuse against his former coach, a teacher at Banneker High School.

    A former D.C. student, who is now 22 years old, recently took to social media to level allegations of sex abuse against his former coach, a teacher at Banneker High School.

    The accusation has left parents and students upset, and the school sent a letter home to parents saying the teacher is now on leave.

    On the same day that letter went out, the man behind the allegations sat down to talk with WTOP about what happened.

    Rashad Williams said he was 17 years old at the time of the incident. He said it happened in July of 2020, though he doesn’t know exactly when. That’s also the timeline listed in a report taken by D.C. police, which otherwise offers few details.

    “He woke me up out of my sleep,” said Williams, who then described a sex act his teacher was committing. “When I woke up, I just kind of froze up. I froze up.”

    “It traumatized me, genuinely traumatized me,” Williams said. “I cried a little bit. I was just trying to figure out how I’d get home. I just went out the bathroom and I just, I acted like nothing happened so I could get home because he was my only way home.”

    Williams said nothing ever happened again because he cut off all contact with the teacher and coach. At the time, the world had essentially shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “I just genuinely thought he was trying to mentor me and help me be a better student,” Williams said.

    “Around this time, I was smoking,” Williams said, referring to marijuana use. “He would smoke with graduates or other teenagers outside of school.”

    Williams said that at the time he was lonely and looking for camaraderie.

    “Him giving me that access to the weed and stuff like that, it was beneficial for me,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to get anything else out of it other than that — the weed, smoking and just the camaraderie, you know, the connection.”

    D.C. Public Schools has given WTOP a statement saying it “is required to maintain confidentiality regarding personnel matters and cannot provide comment on individual employees.

    The statement goes on to say the school district treats allegations of employee misconduct with the “utmost seriousness.”

    Last week, a letter was sent home to parents at Banneker confirming “an allegation of sexual misconduct has recently been made against a staff member at Banneker High School.”

    The letter from the principal goes on to say, “While I am unable to provide further details as these allegations are being investigated by MPD, I can confirm that the staff member is out of the building on leave and will not report while this matter is under review.”

    School counselors and other mental health supports have been offered to students while the matter is investigated.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    John Domen

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  • What’s DC doing to get schools, streets, sidewalks back to normal in snowstorm aftermath? – WTOP News

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    D.C. officials are making a push to get life back to normal as piles of rock-hard snow continue to block sidewalks and streets more than a week after a wintry storm.

    Snow is cleared and deposited in the parking lot of the RFK stadium on Jan. 31, 2026 in D.C. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Alex Kent)

    Piles of rock-hard snow continue to narrow roadways and sidewalks in the District, more than a week after a winter storm coated the D.C. region in snow and ice.

    District officials are making a push to get life back to normal, announcing plans Monday to reopen schools on time, pick up trash on schedule and mapping out a game plan to continue dumping truckloads of icy stuff at drop-off spots around the city.

    They’re also putting the heat on residents and business owners to get icy sidewalks cleaned up — sharing reminders about potential fines for sidewalks, alleys and entryways that aren’t cleared.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it an “unprecedented snow event.”

    “In the context of how the snow came down, the snow then multiple hours of sleet and freezing rain, followed by a historic run in our city of below freezing temperatures,” Bowser said. “Those are the conditions we are responding to. I remain very grateful for the Herculean efforts of our snow team.”

    There’s hope from D.C. officials that the week’s forecast will be more forgiving, with higher temperatures expected during the day that could melt snow. But nighttime temperatures will still be bitterly cold this week, and there’s a chance for some flurries overnight Tuesday.

    Schools to reopen on time Tuesday

    For the first time since the winter storm, officials said public schools will open on time Tuesday in the District.

    D.C. students have been navigating slick pathways while heading back to in-person classes over the past several days. The District’s public schools reopened Thursday, several days earlier than most other school systems.

    In fact, a few neighboring counties closed schools through Monday, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and Fairfax County in Virginia.

    Bowser was asked Monday about reported outages at some D.C. schools amid the bitterly cold temperatures last week and whether families are owed an apology.

    “We don’t owe an apology for opening schools, and when it’s record cold weather and facilities this large, there are frequently heating failures,” Bowser said. “We work quickly to respond. And I don’t think that we’ve had to close because of heating.”

    Delano Hunter, the director of the D.C. Department of General Services, said the storm was a “one-two punch,” first with the wintry mix nicknamed “snowcrete,” which has been mostly cleaned up from public areas, such as schools and bus depots.

    “But the second punch is really the extended cold weather, so it has been hand-to-hand combat for our HVAC systems and our boiler systems,” Hunter said.

    He said the extreme cold temperatures can cause systems to fail at older facilities.

    “With aging infrastructure, we’ve been able to install contingencies, bring some of those systems back online, and then relay that information to our partners so they can make operational decisions,” Hunter said.

    Possible fines for messy sidewalks

    More than 4,000 residents picked up free salt from the city over the weekend as D.C. pushes for clear sidewalks.

    A rule on the books in D.C. says residents and businesses must clear their sidewalks within the first eight hours after a storm — or face fines.

    That law was temporarily suspended last week, but D.C. officials said they’ve begun passing out flyers Monday with reminders about the regulation.

    City officials did not commit to a deadline before they’d enforce fines for messy paths, up to $25 for residents and $150 for business owners.

    According to the city, the enforcement teams are starting out with areas near public schools, libraries, senior homes and commercial corridors.

    Residents with disabilities or are 65 years old or older can apply for an exemption to the shoveling law.

    Strategy for clearing roadways, collecting trash

    Crews have already filled a 22-acre lot on United Medical Center’s campus with snow and ice. An estimated 900 loads of so called “snowcrete” are being hauled to drop-off sites at the old RFK stadium site and Carter Barron Amphitheater.

    “We know salting and plowing, in some cases, is having limited impact,” Sharon Kershbaum, director of the District Department of Transportation, said.

    Kershbaum said DDOT will add bobcats, as necessary, to dig out the wintry mix.

    “But for the most part, things are accessible, and as soon as you get to the collectors and arterials, you’re really able to get where you need to go,” Kershbaum said.

    All that effort has been targeted at reopening major routes and eventually secondary roadways.

    “We’re trying to open up all of the travel lanes on this next tranche of major arterials,” Kershbaum said. “Downtown, we’re continuing to clear out other segments again to help for pedestrian and transit access. The hauling operation has been considerable.”

    Interstates 295, 695 and 395 were cleared by Sunday, Kershbaum said.

    Crews will first focus on clearing snow off Connecticut Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, Georgia Avenue and 16th Street. The goal is to clear those roads from now through Wednesday.

    Meanwhile crews are also looking to clear what DDOT described as major north-south and east-west routes from now through Sunday. Those routes include 14th Street NW, North Capitol Street, H Street NE, Massachusetts Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, Military Road and Missouri Avenue.

    Bobcats have been clearing alleys, with a special focus on areas where trash is collected on Monday and Tuesday.

    Bowser said households that put out their trash in the alley or out front had collections as usual Monday. This week, crews will collect trash and recycling together.

    D.C. officials advised that if your trash isn’t picked up on its typical day, leave it out and it should be picked up the following day. Trash that hasn’t been picked up after two days can be reported to 311.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jessica Kronzer

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  • DC area high schools increase police and security presence at football games – WTOP News

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    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games. This is after several high-profile incidents during and after games.

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games. This is after several high-profile incidents during and after games.

    At Bowie High School in Prince George’s County Friday night when Bowie played against rival Wise High School, the number of officers was noticeably increased.

    “If you do not have a ticket, we are asking you to exit the premises,” said a school official on a megaphone standing in front of the entrance to the stadium. “Your parent or guardian must remain with you, throughout the game.”

    Before entering, spectators must pass through a metal detector, and tickets must be bought in advance to the sold-out game.

    Police also cleared out the parking lot and made sure people were not milling around. A large eye in the sky camera platform, similar to the one used in shopping centers, also stood over the entrance to the stadium.

    School officials are also moving some games to Saturday to allow for additional police and oversight.

    The new rules also mean that only students of the two schools playing can attend and all tickets must be purchased in advance. There are no walk-up ticket sales.

    Parent Kevin Wolfork, a former pro football player himself, is good with the security changes.
    “Everybody’s going to be safe, the students, all the parents and all the players. That’s very important,” he said. “The students are safer. Parents are safer, and the kids are safer. That’s what it’s all about.”

    At many stadiums, now if you leave during the game, you can’t come back in.

    Bowie High Teacher Jessica Mealey supports the additional police.

    “I know some people are very gung-ho about their teams and words can be spread quickly, to altercations,” she said. “Sometimes people get very spirited, and it’s good to have protection in case things get a little out of hand.”

    Many school districts are urging spectators to arrive early at future games to get through security.

    Expect the new restrictions to remain in place for the rest of the school year.

    On Sept. 19, at Wise High School, two students were arrested during a robbery that was taking place in the parking lot.

    “We did not want to penalize the school when, in fact, the incident did not involve students from Wise or Flowers this weekend,” the Prince George’s County Public School District said in a statement to 7News. “Police and sheriffs will support monitoring the exterior and PGCPS security and staff will monitor inside the game. Only students from the schools playing will be able to attend and students must bring their student IDs.”

    Former Wise High School player Travon Burrells says it’s important for people to experience the excitement of high school football, but he agrees fan safety is very important.

    “I believe more students or more parents should get an opportunity to purchase their tickets, but I agree with the safety out here,” he said. “For the kids’ safety and for everybody’s safety out here, so there won’t be no nonsense going on.”

    In D.C., officials recently announced that parents must be with their students at games following an incident at Archbishop Carroll High School when two students were stabbed.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC Public Schools and Charter Schools will increase security. This, after what officials called “instances of spectator conflict” and the mayor said the new security rules that began Sept. 12 will last through Oct. 10.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Dan Ronan

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  • DC-area high schools increase police and security presence at football games – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games.

    At high school football stadiums around the D.C. area, fans are seeing a significantly increased police presence at games. This is after several high-profile incidents during and after games.

    At Bowie High School in Prince George’s County Friday night when Bowie played against rival Wise High School, the number of officers was noticeably increased.

    “If you do not have a ticket, we are asking you to exit the premises,” said a school official on a megaphone standing in front of the entrance to the stadium. “Your parent or guardian must remain with you, throughout the game.”

    Before entering, spectators must pass through a metal detector, and tickets must be bought in advance to the sold-out game.

    Police also cleared out the parking lot and made sure people were not milling around. A large eye in the sky camera platform, similar to the one used in shopping centers, also stood over the entrance to the stadium.

    School officials are also moving some games to Saturday to allow for additional police and oversight.

    The new rules also mean that only students of the two schools playing can attend and all tickets must be purchased in advance. There are no walk-up ticket sales.

    Parent Kevin Wolfork, a former pro football player himself, is good with the security changes.
    “Everybody’s going to be safe, the students, all the parents and all the players. That’s very important,” he said. “The students are safer. Parents are safer, and the kids are safer. That’s what it’s all about.”

    At many stadiums, now if you leave during the game, you can’t come back in.

    Bowie High Teacher Jessica Mealey supports the additional police.

    “I know some people are very gung-ho about their teams and words can be spread quickly, to altercations,” she said. “Sometimes people get very spirited, and it’s good to have protection in case things get a little out of hand.”

    Many school districts are urging spectators to arrive early at future games to get through security.

    Expect the new restrictions to remain in place for the rest of the school year.

    On Sept. 19, at Wise High School, two students were arrested during a robbery that was taking place in the parking lot.

    “We did not want to penalize the school when, in fact, the incident did not involve students from Wise or Flowers this weekend,” the Prince George’s County Public School District said in a statement to 7News. “Police and sheriffs will support monitoring the exterior and PGCPS security and staff will monitor inside the game. Only students from the schools playing will be able to attend and students must bring their student IDs.”

    Former Wise High School player Travon Burrells says it’s important for people to experience the excitement of high school football, but he agrees fan safety is very important.

    “I believe more students or more parents should get an opportunity to purchase their tickets, but I agree with the safety out here,” he said. “For the kids’ safety and for everybody’s safety out here, so there won’t be no nonsense going on.”

    In D.C., officials recently announced that parents must be with their students at games following an incident at Archbishop Carroll High School when two students were stabbed.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC Public Schools and Charter Schools will increase security. This, after what officials called “instances of spectator conflict” and the mayor said the new security rules that began Sept. 12 will last through Oct. 10.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Dan Ronan

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  • Searching and applying for after-school programs in DC is now at your fingertips – WTOP News

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    Looking for after-school or weekend programs for your children in D.C.? A new website from the District aims to help you out.

    Looking for after-school or weekend programs for your children in D.C.? A new website from the District aims to help you out.

    “We’ve been constantly hearing families say that they don’t know where or how to access out of school time, meaning after school and summer programs for D.C.’s children and youth,” Shontia Lowe, executive director of the D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education’s Office for Out of School Time, said. “The problem was access and information.”

    She said a new website the District launched aims to fix that issue.

    The portal, called MOST-D.C., is a one-stop shop for finding after-school programs for kids.

    “So families can log into the portal and search for programs by ward, by location, by school, by program type, to determine what are the best programs to meet the needs of the students,” Lowe said.

    It’s offered in English and Spanish and they’re adding additional languages soon. There are more than 1,000 summer and after-school programs on the site now, and administrators will continue to add more.

    “Families may traditionally perhaps prioritize a program that’s close to their school, close to their work or close to their home. They don’t have to choose. They can see all of the above through the most.dc.gov portal,” she said.

    There are currently more than 6,500 parent accounts and more than 8,000 students linked to programs on the site. They hope that number will grow even more.

    Funding for the website was rolled out in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s most recent budget.

    “My hope is that MOST-D.C. becomes a household name in families, for families across the wards,” Lowe said. “Families have a plethora of programs to choose from.”

    Find the portal online here.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Citing instances of ‘spectator conflict,’ DC schools say students need chaperone to attend football games – WTOP News

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    D.C. Public Schools students will now need an adult chaperone to attend high school football games, the school system said Friday, citing “multiple instances of spectator conflict.”

    D.C. Public Schools students will now need an adult chaperone to attend high school football games, the school system announced Friday, citing “multiple instances of spectator conflict.”

    The policy, one of several changes announced to enhance safety, will remain in place until at least Oct. 10, the school system said. An adult chaperone can bring a maximum of three students to a game.

    In addition, schools will attempt to reschedule games within the next month to start earlier in the afternoon, between 4 and 5 p.m., instead of the typical start time of 6 to 7 p.m.

    Spectators will now also be directed to sit in separate, assigned sections for the home and away teams, and concession sales will end promptly at the end of the third quarter.

    “Our hope is that these changes will be temporary, and we commit to reevaluating later in the season with the goal of maintaining safety and our football traditions,” Drewana Bey, deputy chancellor for social, emotional and academic development, said in a letter to families.

    Bey directed anyone with questions about the updated protocols to email the school system’s athletic department or contact their student’s school directly.

    Click below to see the full letter to the school community outlining the new policies:

    Click to view full-size image.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Thomas Robertson

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  • WATCH: ICE raids create anxiety for teachers, parents, students in DC schools – WTOP News

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    One week after classes began, D.C. schools are working to address fears from parents, students and staff over raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a surge of federal law enforcement in the District.

    President Donald Trump’s administration has put a focus on reducing illegal immigration and crime in D.C. That emphasis on crime reduction has also brought thousands of National Guard troops to the nation’s capital.

    Watch the video below from CNN.

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    Jessica Kronzer

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  • DC students head back to school amid Trump’s law enforcement surge – WTOP News

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    D.C. students head back to school Monday amid new challenges, including a new cellphone ban and a federal surge of law enforcement.

    From saving on school supplies to the impact of federal cuts, the WTOP team is studying up on hot-button topics in education across the D.C. region. Follow on air and online in our series, “WTOP Goes Back to School” this August and September.

    Students enter Stoddert Elementary School for the first day of classes, on Aug. 25, 2025. (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    D.C. students with their first-day jitters head back to school Monday. And the school year comes with challenges including a new cellphone ban and a federal surge of law enforcement.

    “What I want to be clear to all of them, is our children deserve and will get a joyful start to their school year,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, while addressing dozens of teachers amid the federal crackdown that brought hundreds of more federal law enforcement and National Guard members to the streets of D.C.

    The surge came after President Donald Trump declared a public emergency two weeks ago.

    D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said during a news conference about the influx of police: “It’s business as usual; we have prepared for this moment. We’re ready to receive students, our teachers, our educators, staff, school leaders.”

    “We want our students to know that the schoolhouse continues to be the safest place for our young people,” he continued.

    Ferebee and the mayor encouraged the tradition of clapping the students back into school.

    “Tell them that we’re with them. We want them to have a great school year, and we’re all going to be standing shoulder to shoulder with them,” said Bowser.

    As for possible violent incidents on school grounds, Ferebee said “our staff is trained to intervene if there are any altercations.”

    “If you look at violent acts among students in schools and DCPS, specifically, we’ve seen a decline in those events that are happening on our campuses,” said Ferebee.

    The chancellor also noted that DCPS hopes the new bell-to-bell ban on cellphone usage will lead to fewer incidents of bullying.

    That ban on cellphones during the entire school day that was piloted by D.C. middle schools will now spread to every school across DCPS.

    “Last two years we’ve had a phone-free environment for our middle schools, we’ve seen great results from that,” said Ferebee.

    He said DCPS had conducted surveys and focus groups surrounding that ban.

    “Students who said they were resistant at first, but found themselves to be better connected with their peers, and less distracted in the classroom. So, we believe this is going to be a strong approach to ensure that students continue to thrive,” said Ferebee.

    While each school may have a different policy on how those phones are stored during the school day, they must be out of sight during class and in the hallways.

    Some have raised concerns that if there is a school emergency, should students have access to their phone?

    “If there’s an emergency, the last thing we want students to do is to be on their cellphone, right? We want them to be focused on the guidance and directions that they’re receiving from adults in emergency situations,” said Ferebee.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Luke Lukert

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  • DC students get one last summer blowout before school starts next week – WTOP News

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    It’s the final week of summer vacation for D.C. Public Schools students, and the city’s Department of Human Services held a “Back to School Party” at The Fields at RFK Campus on Tuesday.

    It’s the final week of summer vacation for D.C. Public Schools’ students, and the city’s Department of Human Services held a “Back to School Party” at The Fields at RFK Campus on Tuesday.

    “Today’s about community. It’s about the District, it’s about families, and it’s about young people,” DHS Chief of Staff David Ross said. “It’s about ensuring our youth have everything they need to be successful in school, in life and in the District.”

    Ross was on hand to highlight everything his agency does, including its Youth Services Division.

    “We’re offering services that support families and parents. So we want to make sure the community knows we’re here to support them,” Ross said.

    A DJ played music from the soundstage while others served pizza, sandwiches and drinks to the kids. Others staffed various booths showcasing a number of D.C. services, including D.C. Fire and EMS and the Metropolitan Police Department. There was face painting and a moon bounce.

    Several raffles were held. Bentley, who attends Langdon Elementary School, won a mountain bike.

    “All about this bike, man. It’s two of my favorite colors. I just came up to it and was like, ‘That’s the bike I want!’” he said.

    Eleven-year-old Callie, who will be attending Eliot-Hine Middle School this school year, enjoyed the pizza and the art station.

    She said her favorite subject was “lunch!”

    “I don’t know. It’s just my strong point,” she said with a laugh. “It’s actually my first year going to middle school, so I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I’m excited for it to start though!”

    Eight-year-old Kendricks, a student at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School, was standing in line to get her face painted.

    “My favorite subject is recess because I like playing a lot,” she said.

    Kids attending the event also got free school supplies, clothes and even haircuts.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Alan Etter

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  • More money and planning time — DC reaches tentative agreement with teachers’ union – WTOP News

    More money and planning time — DC reaches tentative agreement with teachers’ union – WTOP News

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    D.C. public schoolteachers would get a raise and more planning time as part of a tentative agreement with the city on a new five-year union contract.

    D.C. public schoolteachers would get a raise and more planning time as part of a tentative agreement with the city on a new five-year union contract.

    The tentative agreement, which both the Washington Teachers’ Union and Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday night, comes after over a year of negotiations. It still has to be ratified by the union’s members.

    The union’s last contract took over three years, and the one that preceded it took about five, WTU president Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons said. She called the fact the most recent agreement took only about a year “something to celebrate.”

    The contract includes a raise for the union’s members, but Pogue-Lyons didn’t elaborate on the structure, because members haven’t yet had a chance to review the terms of the agreement, she said. But many other protections are tied to working conditions for teachers, which Pogue-Lyons said are essential to attracting and retaining educators.

    “There’s so much competition to get great and knowledgeable people,” Pogue Lyons said. “So we want to get them, but we also want to keep them. We don’t want a revolving door, because we feel the longer we keep our teachers, the better they become as educators.”

    She added that the deal includes a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on achieving and keeping diversity in schools and an MOA on climate, which is tied to ensuring classrooms have enough ventilation and that air quality is good.

    The agreement has details on controlling class size and will enable teachers to keep their vision and dental insurance, which they feared they might lose. It features more planning time, Pogue Lyons said, and the assurance that special education and other teachers won’t be pulled out of their classrooms to perform other duties.

    “When those things happen, we’re not able to meet the needs of the students that were tasked to teach, especially our most vulnerable population,” Pogue Lyons said.

    In a joint statement, Pogue-Lyons, Bowser and Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said the agreement “shows what can be achieved when we work together with a common goal of putting students first. With this agreement, we are reaffirming our commitment to investing in our young people and making D.C. the number one city for teachers.”

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Scott Gelman

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  • Police arrest Maryland teen after social media post threatens DC schools – WTOP News

    Police arrest Maryland teen after social media post threatens DC schools – WTOP News

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    The post, uploaded on social media platform Instagram, displayed “images of weapons” alongside a list of D.C. schools. Following its investigation, police arrested a 15-year-old boy from Brandywine and charged him with threats to kidnap or injure a person.

    Police in D.C. arrested a teenage boy Friday after they said he posted threats on social media directed at area schools.

    The post, uploaded on social media platform Instagram, displayed “images of weapons” alongside a list of D.C. schools. Police were alerted of the post on Thursdays evening and increased its presence at schools throughout the District.

    Following its investigation, police arrested a 15-year-old boy from Brandywine, Maryland, and charged him with threats to kidnap or injure a person.

    According to police, the teenager found the image online and “recirculated” it after editing the text with the names of schools in the District. The boy did not have a firearm at the time of his arrest.

    No incidents were reported. Police did not share the names of the schools named in the threat.

    Threats on schools have increased since a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4 that left two teachers and two students dead.

    Online threats in Maryland, Virginia, too

    Authorities throughout the D.C. region report seeing more online threats aimed at schools.

    On Friday, in Baltimore County, a 15-year-old student from Lansdowne High School was arrested after police said he posted threats on social media and made additional threats against the school over the phone. He was charged with disruption to school activities and making threats to the school, staff and students.

    Meanwhile, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, police arrested a 16-year-old student after officers were alerted to an apparent threat to “shoot up” Harrisonburg High School with detailed plans on how it would be carried out.

    A similar threat, which police believe began in Kansas City, Missouri, circulated on social media and was spotted by students in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The post included a close-up image of a handgun and warned area school, including Central and Crossland high schools, of an possible an event on Wednesday.

    Authorities in Prince George’s County told WTOP that they are seeing students repost the threats, and ask for families — regardless of where they live — to speak to their child on how to handle threats posted on social media.

    “Anytime there’s a horrendous incident like the one we had in Georgia, historically, we start seeing school threats go up after that,” said Snyder. “So, parents should talk to their kids about that. And the key thing now is: When they see this stuff, tell the school administrator, contact the police — but don’t repost, because that creates kind of panic and havoc.”

    WTOP’s John Domen contributed to this story.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Dan Ronan

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  • DC students get lay of the land before new year starts – WTOP News

    DC students get lay of the land before new year starts – WTOP News

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    Incoming students at middle and high schools in D.C. are on campus, getting the lay of the land ahead of their first day of classes.

    Incoming freshmen tour McKinley Technology High School in Northeast.(WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

    D.C.’s school year doesn’t start for another three weeks but students are already preparing for the big day.

    Incoming students at middle and high schools are already on campus, getting the lay of the land ahead of their first day of classes.

    “It’s always good to welcome our young people back to school,” said Lewis Ferebee, chancellor of D.C. Public Schools.

    Incoming freshmen toured McKinley Technology High School in Northeast on Monday, including Caleb Dawson.

    “We’re doing activities, learning the school and getting comfortable,” Dawson said. “I’m not really looking forward to all the work and all that, but I think I’ll be all right.”

    Dawson is heading to high school from Stuart-Hobson Middle School.

    “It’s an opportunity for them to get to know their peers, their staff, the building, the places where they’ll be learning and the people around them,” Ferebee said. “We think those relationships are so important.”

    According to Ferebee, one of the main challenges for the new year will be focusing on math scores and increasing the number of students who are proficient.

    “That’s one of the areas where we’ve seen a slower recovery since the pandemic,” Ferebee said.

    He said he would also like to see a rise in attendance: “We want students to be in each school and know that each day counts.”

    The first day of the new school year for D.C. students is Aug. 26.

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    Nick Iannelli

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  • Hundreds of DC kids get new wheels for graduating bike safety school – WTOP News

    Hundreds of DC kids get new wheels for graduating bike safety school – WTOP News

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    Two hundred lucky D.C. second graders got their very own new bikes, helmets and locks after spending the year studying about bike safety at school.

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    DC kids get new wheels for graduating bike safety school

    Two hundred lucky D.C. second graders got their very own new bikes, helmets and locks after spending the year studying about bike safety at school.

    While the D.C. Public Schools bike riding program has been around for nearly a decade, this year marks the first time graduating kids got their own cycling gear to take home.

    But before they did, DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee gave them a pop quiz on bike safety.

    “There’s an A, there’s a B and there’s a C, hopefully you know what each … I see hands up already,” Ferebee said.

    Sitting in rows on the floor of the Kenilworth Recreation Center in Northeast, the kids eagerly told him that “A” stands for air, “B” for brakes” and “C” for chains and cranks. The trick is meant to help kids make sure tires have enough air and that brakes, chains and cranks are operating properly.

    Mayor Muriel Bowser, also on hand for the Graduation on Wheels event, said biking is a great way for kids to get fresh air and sunshine.

    “Being outside is healthy for you, right? When you are outside you can play with your friends, right?” she asked the kids, who answered “Yes.”

    After the adults finished speaking, the students tested their new bikes at a pop-up traffic garden at nearby Kenilworth Park, navigating curves, stop signs and volunteers wearing yellow vests and waving black and white checkered flags.

    The bikes were donated courtesy of D.C. Bike Ride, the organization behind the annual 20-mile citywide cycling event. The helmets were donated by the Bell brand. Other partners include Care First, Events D.C. and JK Moving Services, which transported the bikes back to schools after the test ride.

    The children come from seven schools across Wards 7 and 8, including Patterson Elementary School, Hendley Elementary School and C.W. Harris Elementary School.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Shayna Estulin

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  • Limiting plea agreements, increasing consequences: How DC’s mayor wants to handle absenteeism – WTOP News

    Limiting plea agreements, increasing consequences: How DC’s mayor wants to handle absenteeism – WTOP News

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    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has unveiled a plan to address truancy and absenteeism and put in place more serious consequences for middle schoolers caught with drugs or guns on school grounds.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has unveiled a plan to address truancy and absenteeism and put in place more serious consequences for middle schoolers caught with drugs or guns on school grounds.

    The proposal, called the “Utilizing Partnerships, Local Interventions for Truancy and Safety Amendment Act of 2024,” addresses the city’s approach to accountability and intervention.

    The plan, which is subject to the D.C. Council’s approval, comes as schools districts across the region grapple with chronic absenteeism and truancy. Students who miss 10% or more of school days in an academic year, with or without an excuse, are considered chronically absent. Truancy applies to kids who miss school without an excuse.

    “We don’t need to have conversations about extended days or extended years,” said Paul Kihn, the city’s deputy mayor for education. “We need our students to be in schools, where they’re safe and where they’re learning.”

    The legislation calls on the city’s Department of Human Services to intervene before students and families are referred either to court or the city’s Child and Family Services Agency. Sometimes students miss school because of a lack of housing or food security, and Bowser’s office anticipates that DHS can address those obstacles.

    If a student is still absent after that intervention, the court would be required to take action.

    Laura Green Zeilinger, the city’s DHS director, said a team within the agency will be created to do the initial assessment of a family’s needs, but won’t necessarily be managing those cases on a long-term basis. The agency will also expand its teams for other programs to address what it expects to be increasing demands, Zeilinger said.

    Students who are 5 to 13 years old will be referred to DHS when they reach 10 unexcused absences, Kihn said, as will 14 to 17-year-old students who reach 15 unexcused absences.

    Once the younger group reaches 20 unexcused absences, students will have cases referred to the CFSA for an investigation into educational neglect, Kihn said.

    After 25 unexcused absences, older students will have their cases referred to the Office of the Attorney General.

    When the OAG gets the referral, it’s now required to take action. It can require participation in a program for truant students, mandate a family group conference with DHS or refer the student to court through a parent participation order.

    Currently, when cases are referred to either court or the OAG, Kihn said “nothing happens. And so this legislation is disallowing that.”

    “What we’re trying to do here is strengthen where we see gaps in the system right now,” Kihn said at a briefing with reporters this week.

    In a statement, a spokesman for Attorney General Brian Schwalb said the office received the proposed legislation Wednesday morning and is still reviewing it.

    To address accountability, Bowser’s proposal would limit diversion programs for students charged with a dangerous crime while armed or having a knife, pistol, firearm or imitation firearm.

    The OAG spokesman said last year, the office diverted 15 cases of violent crime out of 751.

    The proposed plans would also narrow the scope of young people charged with violent crimes who are eligible for plea agreements.

    If a child is charged with a violent crime, the bill would require parents or guardians to participate in a required family group conference and rehabilitative services with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

    “We haven’t shifted our feeling on diversion at all,” said Lindsey Appiah, deputy mayor for public safety and justice. “We believe in diversion. We believe that it’s appropriate for certain young people, but we are seeing an increase in young people who are involved in more serious crime, and dangerous, violent crime and gun crime in our city.”

    Eduardo Ferrer, policy director at Georgetown’s Juvenile Justice Initiative, said he has concerns “about the mayor’s attempts to limit the discretion of the Office of the Attorney General. I don’t think that’s appropriate, I don’t think that will be productive.”

    Mayor Bowser, at a news conference Wednesday, said the city is not “happy with young people who aren’t being held accountable. We’re also not happy with the level of transparency around what happens to them.”

    Some elements of the proposed legislation create stricter consequences for students of certain ages. Middle school leaders can now suspend students for drugs, weapons and sexual harassment. The current policy, Kihn said, “effectively treats elementary schools and middle schools in exactly the same way, and then treats high schools differently.”

    “Our goal is that every student is in school every day,” Ferrer said. “So as we’re making progress, or hopefully making progress on the chronic absentee pieces of the bill by involving DHS earlier, we shouldn’t be taking steps backwards on our approach to school discipline.”

    The proposal also creates a school campus option as an alternative to suspension, Bowser’s office said.

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    Scott Gelman

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