Save the Shuttles!

Dear Councilmember,

I understand that the District budget and the 2020-2021 school year situation is still in flux. It remains the case that the Capitol Hill Cluster believes access to high-quality education is a fundamental civil right for our students and all those attending DCPS schools. We also believe that all students should have access to safe, affordable, and reliable transportation to their neighborhood schools.

As you know, the Capitol Hill Cluster is a unique DCPS school that spans prek-3 through eighth grade at three different campuses, encouraging families to feel connected to a single community and remain connected to their DC Public School system. The Peabody Early Education campus and Watkins Elementary School operate as a single campus, beginning their school days at the same time as well as sharing staff and resourcing. However, they are located more than a mile apart with no viable public transportation option between them. It is difficult to get kids to both campuses on time, and virtually impossible for households with one parent or that don’t have a car.

Two shuttle buses currently transport nearly 200 students between the campuses daily. A small amount of funding operates the two shuttles and assists in three major ways:

    • Saving our neighborhood roadways from an additional 186 cars during busy drop-off/pick-up times, which keeps pedestrians safe and reduces emissions.

    • Ensuring safe transportation for 36% of Peabody students and 24% of Watkins students, helping families access their neighborhood schools.

    • Supporting two small woman-owned businesses that rely on students returning to Peabody in the afternoon for nearly half of their aftercare enrollment

It is our understanding that funding for the shuttle is not included in the year’s budget. We are asking that funding for the Capitol Hill Cluster Shuttle be included in the budget.

We are also aware that there have been issues making sure that homeless students living in the Days Inn and Quality Inn on New York Avenue, some of which are or were no doubt Cluster students, can get to school reliably. Just as our students should have a shuttle provided when there are access issues created by government created problems, these students should also have a shuttle provided to them. We also ask that funding for their shuttle be extended until the hotels close next year so that students living in these hotels can get to school in a safe and timely way.


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New York, New York