PCSB Eagle PCS Closing, Process, Possible Friendship Takeover

I am Valerie Jablow, a DC resident. For years, I and other residents have documented for DC officials Eagle’s numerous fiscal and other violations, such as

--A CEO paid more than the mayor for a school with less than 500 students; staff members loaning the school money with interest; and less than 2 weeks of cash on hand for 6 of the last 8 years;

--Not paying contractors and property taxes; and

--Building without appropriate permits while damaging properties and creating environmental hazards.

But Eagle isn’t the only problem here. The notice for this hearing was posted less than 2 weeks ago, after the boards of Friendship and Eagle discussed Friendship’s takeover of Eagle in closed meetings (July 12 (also see here) and July 18, respectively; BTW the charter board application on p. 2 asks for the minutes from Friendship’s board meeting, but none were given). Two days ago, you also discussed it in a closed meeting.

Now we have a mere hour and a half of public discussion, five days after which you will vote.This quick effort to exclude the public comes after the first and ONLY public alarm around Eagle’s finances was raised last month, at the July 10 charter board hearing. We learned then that Eagle families were told nothing until early June. In fact, in January 2023, you approved Eagle’s renewed contract--and cited NO fiscal or other mismanagement. The idea that only Friendship can help now is incredible. What kind of inquiry was made—and by whom—to determine that Friendship is the best option to help families at Eagle? Is Friendship the choice of Eagle—after it literally betrayed the public trust?

This rush cannot be about Eagle families, who have been repeatedly left behind. As it is, Eagle families have an option for school--DCPS.

So it seems the rush now is about withholding public scrutiny and keeping the city-owned school building that Eagle leased (McGogney). But DCPS has a right to McGogney per that lease AND DGS has to sign off on this plan.

So: has DGS signed off?

By contrast, Nevada’s charter authority investigated Eagle’s 1-year-old school there for months for similar fiscal issues. After dozens of hours of public hearings, Nevada managed to close that school without aiding the bottom line of another charter LEA. All DC taxpayers have the right to know if there was malfeasance by Eagle and by the charter board in its oversight. And this quick and private wrapping up by the charter board entirely precludes that.

You can do better for DC—the question is whether you will. Thank you.