Commissioner Brian Pate

Friends and Neighbors,

As many of you may already know, the special election for At-Large City Councilmember is coming up in just a few short weeks (April 23rd).  I am enthusiastically endorsing Elissa Silverman, and encourage you to consider her when you vote on the 23^rd.

Over the past few weeks, I participated in a group of about 30 friends and acquaintances that interviewed all 8 of the candidates running for the At-Large Council seat (Brown and Settles were still in the race at the time). We spent about 15 hours together interviewing the candidates and debating their relative strengths and weaknesses as candidates and potential Councilmembers. Our goal was to identify a candidate of high intelligence, personal integrity, and knowledge of the District’s needs; and who would make the strongest candidate and Councilmember. After much discussion and debate, the majority of the group decided to support Elissa Silverman.

Those of you who know me closely may recognize that Elissa is somewhat left of me on the political spectrum, but I can state with absolute confidence that Elissa Silverman is the best candidate for Council.  Elissa has a history of service to the District as both a reporter and an advocate. She is detail oriented and has a deep understanding of the District’s budget and programs.  I am confident that she will continue ethics reform on the Council, and will be a keen overseer and steward of our tax dollars, bringing greater accountability to the District’s agencies and programs.  She is also committed to economic development through investment in human capital, job training, and education; and affordable housing preservation and development.   The Council, and our City, is in dire need of the energy, competence, transparency and intellectual capacity that Elissa offers.  We would be well served with her as an At-Large Councilmember.

I hope that you will join me in supporting Elissa Silverman for At-Large-Council and look forward to seeing you on the 23rd!

Regards,

Brian

If you’d just like to learn more about Elissa’s positions, or other ways you can get involved, her website is www.elissa2013.com.

Humbled to speaking tonight at the United Through Reading Story Book Ball (@UnitedTReading).  Talking about the power of reading and its ability to keep separated military families connected.  Somehow I can’t help but think about our DC Public School Librarians and the out-sized influence they have on young minds. Gotta’ get them back in the schools!

Thank you to the residents of ANC6B05–I am honored and humbled to serve two more years as your Commissioner.  Thanks to my opponent, Steve Holtzman, who ran an energetic and vigorous race.  I am hopeful he will stay deeply involved in the issues that effect our SMD and Cap Hill.  Thank you to the many friends who stuffed envelopes, put up a sign, passed out literature and offered encouragement throughout the campaign–I appreciate your advice and counsel.  And, of course, thank you to my wife and family–they have been incredibly patient, understanding and supportive over the past two years!

The ANC possesses limited ability to influence  District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), but that does not mean that the ANC should shy away from addressing educational issues as they arise.  At a minimum, an ANC Commissioner should understand public, private and charter school issues in the community, and should respect the important role that the Hill’s elementary school renaissance plays in keeping families on the Hill.

Prior to 2010, the ANC rarely addressed educational issues.  That changed with the election of two DC Public School parents to the Commission.   Over the past two years, Commissioner Ivan Frishberg and I have used the ANC’s “great weight” to highlight and  influence public school issues in our neighborhood.   Actions included:

• Passing a resolution endorsing use of Van Ness Elementary, currently mothballed at 5th & M St SE, to address over subscription issues on Capitol Hill.  The City committed to assessing reopening of the school in 2014. Van Ness presents an opportunity to create an entirely new school, relocate an existing school to an adequate facility (e.g. the Regio Emilia program using temporary facilities in the Logan parking lot).
• Testifying before City Council to support middle school improvement initiatives, including implementation of an International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Elliot-Hine Junior High School and full funding for the Facilities Improvement Program.
• Advocating for the restoration of funding for school librarians (DCPS cut 60 school librarian positions this year) through passage of a resolution and community activism.
• Passing a resolution and coordinating with City officials to assess the adequacy of lead safe paint removal practices at a local elementary school.

Over the next two years, the ANC needs to work with important community stakeholders, such as the Capitol Hill Public School Parent’s organization, to lend its great weight to continued improvement of schools on the Hill.  Key objectives and issues include:

• Holding the City accountable for improving middle schools, to include implementation of the IB program at Elliot-Hine, facilities upgrades at Stuart Hobson and creation of the Jefferson Academy at Jefferson Middle School.

• Encouraging the City to leverage the success of Hill elementary schools.  In the past two budget cycles, the City focussed on spreading resources equally across all schools in the City.  In principle, I agree with this intent.  However, hewing strictly to this approach ignores the fact that  Hill elementary schools are doing well, and that there is significant demand for spots in these schools.  A more nuanced and balanced City strategy would build on the success of top performing schools while also spreading resources more equally across all schools.  Such an approach would entrench Hill success and reduce over subscription.

• Encourage the City to reward top performing Principals.  Principals currently work at will, on year-to-year contracts.  This seems appropriate for unproven or under performing Principals, but DCPS should consider modifications that allow for 2 or 3-year contract extensions for high performing Principals.  Not only would this reward top performing Principals, it would allow them to focus more fully on their day jobs by reducing contract renewal anxiety.

• Hold the City accountable for assessing Van Ness in 2014.

As a parent of a 5-year old Maury student and a 2-year old future student, I understand the importance of ensuring Hill families have a range of viable educational options from which to choose.  When reelected, I will continue to use my position on the ANC to further this objective.