SIT Advocacy Timeline

Since the beginning of 2024, the advocacy committee of Brent's Site Improvement Team (SIT) has engaged with DC councilmembers, ANC commissioners, DCHA, DCPS, the Deputy Mayor of Education, neighboring elementary schools, members of the Brent community, and others regarding the swing space for our upcoming modernization project. Below is a timeline synopsis of those efforts through mid-September. For more details on the SIT's advocacy work, please contact sitbrentelementary@gmail.com.

January

• January 24 - Brent community meeting (including modernization update)

February

• First SIT meeting

March

• March 21 - In-person meeting with Ward 6 DC Councilmember Charles Allen to request his support in locating and advocating for alternate swing space locations

April

• April 3 - SIT advocacy committee outreach to DC Council Chairman Mendelson and Councilmember Allen regarding swing space concerns

• April 5 - DCPS letter assigning Meyer as Brent’s swing space

• April 9 - SIT Advocacy Committee connected with parent leaders at Amidon-Bowen Elementary School. (Amidon-Bowen is scheduled for modernization after Brent and is facing similar concerns with an expected swing to Meyer.)

• April 10 - Brent community meeting (including modernization focus)

• April 12 - Explored Amidon-Bowen grounds to assess feasibility of modular campus on its field

May

• May 8 - Brent SIT meeting

• May 14 - SIT Advocacy Committee meeting with Amidon-Bowen parent leaders

• May 18 (through mid June) - Outreach from Brent community members, including suggestions of alternate swing space locations; one communication identified Square 739, which the SIT Advocacy Committee ultimately pursued seriously (see below)

• May 22 - SIT update letter to Brent community

• May 23 - Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District connected Brent and Amidon-Bowen advocacy teams to the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) regarding the potential use of “Square 739” (Grass plot at 2nd/NJ Ave/I and K Streets SE) for a modular campus

• May 29 - Amidon-Bowen parent leaders sent email (on behalf of Amidon-Bowen and Brent) to Mayor Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn, DCPS Chancellor Ferebee, DC Council Chairman Mendelson, and Ward 6 DC Councilmember Charles Allen requesting in person meeting

Across April and May - explored on foot and using public records of land ownership to identify and research potential alternative swing spaces. Those researched and rejected due to DCPS requirements as we understand them to be: RFK, Garfield Park, Providence ('X') Park, Nats Park Lands, OneLife Fitness, Leased Office Buildings, Winston Education Campus, Reservation 13, DC Office of Chief Technology Officer, 501 1st St SE, and the fields at Amidon-Bowen, Chisholm (Tyler), and Payne Elementary.

June

• June 7 - Meeting with DCHA, Councilmember Allen, Amidon-Bowen parent leaders on Canal Park Square 739

• June 20 - SIT advocacy committee meeting

• June 24 - Meeting with DC Council Chairman Mendelson, Councilmember Allen, Deputy Mayor for Education Kihn, and Amidon-Bowen parent leaders regarding Canal Park Square 739

July

• Week of July 8 - SIT advocacy committee meeting, SIT advocacy committee meeting with Amidon-Bowen parent leaders

• July 16 - Email to DCPS community engagement team, Chancellor Ferebee, DC Council Chairman Mendelson, and Councilmember Allen requesting meeting with DCPS (no response)

• July 19 - First follow up email to the July 16 email (no response)

• July 28 - Second follow up email to the July 16 email (ultimately received letter on August 5, see below)

August

• August 5 - Response from Chancellor Ferebee and Deputy Mayor Kihn regarding alternate swing space at Square 739 or elsewhere

• August 9 - SIT advocacy committee meeting

• August 16 - SIT advocacy committee response to Chancellor Ferebee and Deputy Mayor Kihn reflecting pivot to ensuring Meyer is adequately situated for Brent occupancy, with related requests

September

• September 3 - Response from Deputy Chancellor Patrick Ashley

• September 6 - SIT advocacy committee meeting

• September 10 - SIT advocacy committee response to Deputy Chancellor Ashley’s letter