Councilmember
David A. Catania
Councilmember Sandra Allen
Councilmember Kevin Chavous
Councilmember Kathy Patterson
Chairman Linda W. Cropp
Councilmember Sharon Ambrose
Councilmember Jack Evans
Councilmember Carol Schwartz
A PROPOSED
RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Councilmember David A. Catania, Chairman Linda
Cropp, and Councilmembers Sandra Allen, Sharon Ambrose, Kevin Chavous, Jack Evans, Kathy
Patterson, and Carol Schwartz introduced the following resolution, which was referred to
the Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation.
To encourage the Board of Trustees of the
University of the District of Columbia ("University") and the Mayor to create
and fund the Frederick Douglass School of Technology at the University.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Creation of the Frederick
Douglass School of Technology Resolution of 2000".
Sec. 2. The Council finds that:
(a) A technological revolution is well
underway, which is transforming economies around the world and providing dramatic economic
growth and personal wealth in communities already involved in this new economy across the
United States.
(b) The internet economy has grown 127% since
January of 1998 and is projected to reach $507 billion this year. Such activity will come
to include most if not all existing sectors of the national economy.
(c) There exists a "digital divide"
between ethnic groups, education levels, and income. The percentage of urban residents who
own computers is less than the national average. In addition, while almost half of white
households own home computers, only 23 percent of African-American and 25 percent of
Latino homes have such equipment. Moreover, in the United States, Hispanics and African
Americans are nearly three times less likely than Caucasians to have internet access in
their home.
(d) The Washington Metropolitan Region is a
leader in this new technologically driven economy and is projected to be one of the top
three national centers of this new economy in the 21st Century. Almost all of this growth,
however, is being driven by — and is associated with — pre-existing activity in Northern
Virginia with such companies as America Online, Micro Strategies, and Network Solutions.
Currently, the District of Columbia accounts for only 13.8% of high-tech jobs in the
region while the remaining 86.2% of these position are found in the suburbs.
(e) The District of Columbia lacks a
comprehensive educational or economic infrastructure focused on technology training and
high tech business development for District citizens.
(f) In order to participate in this new
technological economy, the District of Columbia must invest in its citizens to secure
opportunities for economic development and wealth accumulation. Among other things, our
citizens must have access to — and training in — the necessarily skills and technology.
(g) The legacy of Frederick Douglass in
elevating the consciousness of our nation regarding the savage existence of slavery is
unmatched. Perhaps more than any other American of the 19th Century, Frederick Douglass is
responsible for securing freedom and voting rights for African-Americans. Moreover,
Frederick Douglass understood that true freedom meant access to economic opportunities. As
we begin the 21st Century, given the importance of technology in determining our access to
opportunity and knowledge, conquering the "digital divide" is essential to
continuing the crusade which Frederick Douglass championed.
Sec. 3. The Council calls for the formation of
the Frederick Douglass School of Technology to be located within the University of the
District of Columbia, whose focus should be to, among other things:
(a) Establish the University as the center for
technology education in the region;
(b) Integrate the University’s existing
science and technology faculty and curricula into this effort;
(c) Train and retool District residents to
become technology-ready workers in mechanical, scientific, and business fields so as to
enhance the growth of the technology sector of the District economy;
(d) Integrate its technology education with
the District’s public schools;
(e) Make an effort to designate low-cost
office space for start-up technology companies at the Frederick Douglass School of
Technology to the extent that space is available;
(f) Explore and expand opportunities for
public/private partnerships in education, technology training, innovative technology
development, and technology business incubation; and
(g) Provide a cutting edge forum and
supportive environment for additional initiatives in education and training as the high
technology economy evolves.
Sec. 4. The Council further calls upon the
Mayor of the District of Columbia to direct that part of the $3,000,000 reserve fund
committed to FY2000 technology spending at the University of the District of Columbia be
utilized to facilitate the creation of the Frederick Douglass School of Technology.
Sec. 5. Once established, the Council calls on
the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia to initiate a
fund-raising effort encouraging the technology industry to support the Frederick Douglass
School of Technology.
Sec. 6. The Secretary to the Council of the
District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the
Office of the Mayor.
Sec. 7. This resolution shall take effect
immediately.