DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee Talks School Safety with ANC7D

DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee Talks School Safety with ANC7D

by Larry Janezich

Posted September 15, 2023

Last Tuesday night, Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor of DC Public Schools since 2018, visited ANC7D and answered questions from the commission on a wide ranging series of topics.  His opening remarks summarized DCPS programs and performance. 

ANC7D Chair Wendell Felder (7D03) posed a series of questions on behalf of the Commission to the Chancellor. Here are some of the questions and Ferebee’s responses, in some cases edited for brevity:

What sets us apart as a school system? 

• Universal Pre K 3 and Pre K 4.

What would you like the ANC to know about DCPS that they don’t know? 

• Families continue to choose DCPS as reflected in our growing enrollment.  We prioritize equity through student support and funding.

What are the biggest challenges facing DCPS?

• Recovering from the pandemic, lack of mastery in math, insuring equity is strong given we have some on the most significant socio-economic disparities in our city.

What unmet needs do you have? 

• We never have enough resources.

What other priorities other than equity do you have for the coming year?

• New strategic plans regarding ways to bolster academic achievement.
• Addressing students’ mental health issues including shortage of mental health staff.
• Rethinking high schools: some high schools are developing focused agendas such as entrepreneurship, Afro-futures, and international work.

What is being done regarding new school boundaries in Hill East?

• Boundaries have not been adjusted since 2014.  There is a new study being conducted and Hill East is part of that.  There will be town hall meetings on September 26 and 27.  For more info, go here:  https://dme.dc.gov/boundaries2023

Can you explain the current public safety resources being used to insure students and faculty security and safety inside our schools?  As MPD school resource officers are being phased out how are you coordinating with safety officers such as using safety advocates or other coordinators and how is DCPS police used and what is DCPS’ purview in this matter?

• “In summary, we all work together.  DCPS relies on contract security that we have in schools, then we have armed DCPS police officers that support our schools, then we have MPD police officers which support schools.  Within MPD we have our school resource officers assigned to schools based on need.  There’s training for contract officers who work independently and in partnership with school communities as well.  And training for DCPS police and MPD as well.   We meet regularly to be proactive on any issue that our school community is facing.  We also incorporate in those sessions – in add to MPD – we have Metro Transit Police, the Office of the Attorney General, and also the public safety team as well – and internal schools are also included in daily calls.  This is an opportunity to insure we are at the top of the landscape in any potential threat to schools – and the DCPS police team is also monitoring schools across the District on a 24/7 shift rotation.”

Two schools in our ANC – Eastern High Schools and Caesar Chavez Public Charter School – were listed as participating in the Deputy Mayor’s Education’s Safe Passage Program.  We regularly see the program  in the morning and afternoon around Eastern High.  Is this program having a positive impact?  Is funding and deployment adequate or is more support needed?

• “In general, I believe the Safe Passage strategy has served us well. From my view, when I talk with students they felt a sense of safety when were able to provide safe passage support to and from school.  Obviously, in some places students like to see that presence in their neighborhood so we’re working with the public safety team to insure we see those supports.   In terms of details and funding, I would have to defer to Deputy Mayor’s team.  From my point of view,  it’s a very strong resource for school communities.