Charles K. Barber, District of Columbia Building Industry Association
Testimony on the District of Columbia Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007, Bill 17-001
February 20, 2007

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Testimony of

Charles K. Barber, President
District of Columbia Building Industry Association

On Bill 17-0001, the "District of Columbia Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007"

Before the Committee of the Whole
Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 1:00 PM

Good Afternoon Chairman Gray and distinguished members of the Council. I am Charles Barber, senior counsel of The George Washington University. Today, I am testifying on Bill 17-0001, the "District of Columbia Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007," as president of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA), an organization representing nearly 450 member firms engaged in all aspects of the real estate development business in the District of Columbia.

Let me begin by commending the Council for moving public education as a priority issue directly to the Committee of the Whole and for promptly undertaking its deliberations on the Mayor's proposed legislation.

DCBIA recognizes the urgency of dealing with the poor performance of our public schools. Many of the students graduating from our public schools are ill equipped to face the demands of a global economy fueled by the accelerating pace of technological change. Yet, as things stand now, only a reported 43% of District ninth graders will go on to be graduated from high school, and only 9% from college. The District must and can do better.

With that clearly in mind, DCBIA applauds Mayor Fenty's plan to tackle this pressing issue. We understand that changing the governance of DCPS - a key element in the Mayor's plan - will not, in itself, cure all the ills of our public schools. We regard systemic change, however, as necessary to effectively respond to the challenges before us. Other cities facing similar circumstances have also concluded that reform of under performing school districts requires more than business as usual.

We understand that the extensive re-organization of functions and responsibilities called for in the Mayor's legislation raises a number of complex issues that have attracted serious debate. We further commend the Council for providing an appropriately extended series of public hearings to address those issues. They deserve thorough and constructive discussion.

As members of the building industry, we have taken a special interest in one such issue - how to most effectively implement school modernization in the District. DCBIA believes it can make a particular and important contribution to this issue. Our members have worked on an Ad Hoc Task Force, for example, to advise DCPS in the preparation of a Facilities Management Organizational Strategy that would reflect contemporary industry practice in both property development and management. Based upon our professional experience - and our collaborative efforts with DCPS, we strongly support the Mayor's proposal to establish an independent Facilities Management and Construction Authority.

In our judgment, the scale and complexity of the school modernization program are sufficiently challenging to warrant a separate organization with appropriate authority and staff capacity to carry through its extensive responsibilities. Most importantly, spinning off the facilities function is a crucial step because it allows the management of DCPS to focus efforts more exclusively where it belongs: on improving the academic performance of District of Columbia students.

In our view, in implementing its mission, a construction authority must observe certain key principles, such as the following:

• Utilize private contractors in a managed, competitive system that rewards efficiency, quality and timeliness. The task of maintaining, repairing, and renovating old facilities - and building new ones - is too complex for in-house staff;
• Bring private sector expertise to both asset management - the determination of how to effectively use DCPS' physical assets - as well as facilities management - the maintenance and repair of existing schools and the construction of new facilities. Both jobs, asset management and facilities management, need to function more efficiently in a cooperative manner. While asset management will be guided by the Master Facilities Plan and will require regular dialogue with those responsible for DCPS programs, the construction authority must play a critical role in managing that process.
• Allow the construction authority to operate independently of cumbersome District regulations governing procurement and construction. If the authority is to deliver on its promise of greater efficiency, it cannot be saddled with bureaucratic structures that will impede its work.

DCBIA stands ready to offer the experience and expertise of its members in meeting that challenge. We feel it is urgent to promptly get school modernization up and moving with visible results as a vital element of education reform in the District. Crucial to doing that is a properly organized and staffed Facilities Management and Construction Authority.

Thank you for your attention.