(Washington, DC) — The Office of Property Management announced on Friday it will negotiate with four charter school organizations to lease space in two excess DC Public School buildings.

The E.L. Haynes Public Charter School would occupy Clark Elementary School in Petworth and three other organizations in a partnership -- Washington Math Science Technology Public Charter School, AppleTree Public Charter School and Building Hope non-profit organization -- would use the Taft Center in the Brookland/Michigan Park neighborhood.

 “We really want to ensure these buildings continue to be contributing assets in our communities,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, director of the Office of Property Management (OPM). “These organizations submitted sound redevelopment proposals.”

OPM issued a Request for Offers ("RFO") in September calling on charter schools to make proposals to reuse several excess school properties. The proposals were evaluated based on several criteria including the organization’s educational vision and past experience with similar project(s) as well as the project’s financial viability.

“These organizations have a demonstrated record of success,” said Victor Reinoso, Deputy Mayor for Education.
"I look forward to having these buildings put to good use while at the same time expanding quality public education services to our children and youth."

The E. L. Haynes school plans to serve 520 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade at Clark. The Washington Math Science Technology school will serve as many as 750 middle and high school students at Taft, while the AppleTree school plans to enroll about 120 children for pre-K education.