Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested the reprogramming of $339,200 in FY 2025 Capital Funds from the Department of General Services (DGS) to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). This funding is essential for the design phase of construction services aimed at separating the shared HVAC/MEP systems between the Charles Sumner School and an adjacent privately managed building. The objective is to prepare the Charles Sumner School for management by DGS by June 2026, transitioning it from private management to a District-maintained facility.

The funds will be reallocated from the Critical System Replacement project within DGS to a new project specifically for the Charles Sumner School. The reprogramming is deemed necessary to ensure a successful handoff of the facility, which has been historically managed by Boston Properties. Both the Office of Budget and Planning and the Chief Financial Officer have confirmed that this reprogramming will not negatively impact the budgets of DGS or OSSE, underscoring the project's importance for the future operation of the Charles Sumner School.