Absenteeism, safe transportation to schools and principal retention are the “top of mind” priorities for new DC Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, he told members of the State Board of Education at their working session this month.
Ferebee, confirmed last month by the DC Council in an unanimous vote, suggested that he and other DC officials need to “sink their teeth into” attendance issues in early childhood programs, given that some pre-K students are missing up to 80 days per school year. Later acknowledging that absenteeism is also a problem in upper grades, Ferebee said he’ll be sending official letters with his signature to high school students and their parents noting chronic absences.
Regarding transportation, Ferebee wants to ensure that all students have a safe ride to and from school — an issue raised by students and parents during many of his initial visits to campuses across the District.
He is also focusing on the issue of principal turnover and exploring ways to increase retention. When asked by at-large board member Ashley MacLeay what mechanisms he’s considering, Ferebee suggested he might look to switch to multi-year contracts, instead of the one-year contracts currently in place. He is also considering more peer support, using a model similar to the “LEarning together to Advance our Practice” (LEAP) program for teachers.
“I see a lot of value in replicating what we see in the LEAP program, where we focus on peer-to-peer learning,” said Ferebee.
The chancellor told State Board of Education (SBOE) members at their April 4 working session that he and his team are working on ways to improve transparency in the school budget process and to ensure that principals are included in those discussions. On some occasions, he noted, there’s a disconnect between the efforts of local education advocates and the needs put forth by principals. Although he sees local advocacy on behalf of schools as a strength, he added that sometimes the advocates aren’t fully informed about what the school needs, which Ferebee hopes to change by better involving principals.
Ferebee, 44, served as acting chancellor for two months while the council reviewed his nomination, a process that included three public hearings. Named late last year by Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ferebee previously served as superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools and as chief of staff of Durham Public Schools in North Carolina.
At the April 4 meeting, Ward 8 representative Markus Batchelor, the board’s vice president, asked Ferebee about the relationship between DCPS and the Department of General Services (DGS), the agency responsible for school maintenance. Batchelor cited maintenance concerns that often take a long time to fix, and other board members echoed his line of inquiry. “There shouldn’t be any student going to a school in DCPS where there are insects and rodents and disrepair and it looks like nobody cares about it,” said Ward 4 representative Frazier O’Leary.
Ferebee said the present moment — as both DCPS and DGS experience changes in leadership — is an opportune time to ensure that the two offices collaborate more effectively. He later referenced the investments the District has made in modernizing facilities citywide, saying, “We have some of the best facilities that I’ve ever seen in a public school system.” He added, in reference to the condition of the schools, “I think it’s one of those situations that when you’re in your yard, your yard is not the greenest.”
O’Leary and other board members responded by clarifying that although many school buildings are modern and updated, they remain poorly maintained.
At the meeting, Ferebee congratulated Ballou High School’s Tatiana Robinson, one of the SBOE’s two student representatives, on her school’s Academy of Hospital & Tourism receiving a “Distinguished Status” award from the National Academy Foundation (NAF). The group’s academies in the District focus on career themes — engineering, hospitality and information technology — and offer partnerships, hands-on experiences and curriculum that foster critical skills and enable students to earn industry certification.
“We have a model of NAF academies that is serving our students well,” Ferebee said, noting that students enrolled in the programs generally have better attendance, higher course completion rates, and stronger post-secondary outcomes.
Robinson shared with the crowd that Ballou students appreciated Ferebee’s casual appearance — wearing jeans and Jordans — at a student lunch she organized. “They still talk about it,” she said.
When Robinson asked Ferebee about his approach to high school education, the chancellor shared his plan to distribute personalized “college and career readiness guides” to all juniors and seniors. The packets would include their transcripts, status updates on course completion, and information on how prepared they are for post-high school education or careers, he said.
The SBOE’s next public meeting will be held Wednesday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the Old Council Chambers at 441 4th St. NW. Those wishing to comment can submit written testimony up to 48 hours in advance.
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