School Improvement Team (SIT)

School Improvement Team (SIT)

Purpose of the SIT

A School Improvement Team (SIT) is established at every school where a major capital project (to include modernization, school replacement, addition, renovation or remodeling) is scheduled within the next 1-2 fiscal years.  One of the SIT’s main focuses is to provide feedback during the concept design phase and schematic design phase and to assist with disseminating information about the progress of the school improvement to their peers and constituencies represented on the School Improvement Team. The committee members are expected to continue through the end of construction and be available to receive updates, and consult on issues that arise during construction.

Composition of the SIT

The committee is selected by the central office SIT Coordinator in collaboration with the Principal/DSL/MSL (teachers, school staff, and occasional students), PTA/PTO (parents), and DCPS Community Action Team (external community). The size of the SIT will be limited (~10-15 member), but meetings are open to the public. Each SIT is expected to include the following:

1. Teachers

2. School staff

3. Parents

4. Neighborhood Organization Representatives (e.g. ANCs, Civic/Citizens Associations, MOCRS, City Council...)

5. Neighbors

6. DGS Project Manager

7. Students (when possible)

Role of the SIT Coordinator

1. Work with the Community Action Team to assemble the SIT

2. Explain the SIT Process to school leadership

3. Schedule and conduct all meetings

4. Support DGS staff and consultants throughout the process to include printing, mailings, tour coordination, etc.

5. Act as the liaison between the school, other DCPS Central Office teams, and the external community

6. Serve as the main public point of contact for the modernization project

SIT Process

Below is a high-level overview of the SIT Meetings, which will align with key project milestones. The following serves as a guideline for community engagement on DCPS modernization projects. The purpose of each meeting is included. This list is meant to serve as a guide for DCPS SIT Coordinators and DGS Project Managers for community engagement, not hard and fast requirements. DCPS SIT Coordinators reserve the right to be flexible in the planning, scheduling, and implementation of their engagement as unique conditions may require. 

SIT Meetings typically occur every ~6-8 weeks.

• Kick-off with Design Team

  • Purpose: understanding school culture and how it uniquely functions or hopes to function in a modernized space

• Concept Design Presentation & Concept Design Feedback (1 week later)

  • Purpose: to show the design team's initial attempt to solve the problems of the school site while optimizing for school culture and unique program functions

• Schematic Design Presentation & Schematic Design Feedback (1 week later) 

  • Purpose: to show the design team's refined design, taking concept design feedback into account

• Design Development Presentation

  • DD Feedback – launch survey for electronic feedback + other methods. No physical follow-up meeting.

• Purpose: To show the final design to the community

The following SIT topics outlined below will take place during projects where appropriate, but in no particular order:

• Site Design Overview

• Exterior Design Overview

• Interiors Concept Overview

• Construction Kick-off (possible to merge with a community Meeting)

• Playground Part 1

• Playground Part 2

• Furniture Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E)

Community Meetings

Community Meetings typically occur between once a quarter and once per semester, are based on larger project milestones, and occasionally overlap with SIT Meetings. Their purpose is for communicating out, but feedback tends to be inevitable and we're okay with that. We seek to accommodate large numbers for these meetings.

• Introduction of project

  • Purpose: To introduce the project to the community and hear their hopes and fears about the project; to communicate if/where the swing space will be

• Ground-breaking/construction start

  • Purpose: Once the General Contractor is on board a meeting is held with the community to introduce them, discuss project schedule ,and the impact construction may have on resident’s quality of life (parking, noise, project work hours, etc.).

• During Construction 

  • Purpose: To update the wider community on construction progress

How DC Public Schools Are Modernized

Credit: D.C. Department of General Services (DGS)