FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MERIDIAN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL RE-OPENS HISTORIC HARRISON SCHOOLHOUSE IN HEART OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

S U STREET Washington, D.C., September 17, 2012 Contact: Dr. Robinette Breedlove, Principal Tel: (202) 387-9830; E-mail: rbreedlove@meridian-dc.org Christopher Siddall, Board of Directors Tel: (202) 607-6442; E-mail: christopher.siddall@gmail.org The 1890s-era Harrison school building in Washingtons U Street neighborhood has been redeveloped into state-of-the-art instructional spaces, a new playground, and a 12,000 square-foot addition with a cafeteria, gym, and media room near the Lincoln Theater at 13th and V Streets, N.W. The $16 million project culminates in Meridian Public Charter Schools grand opening on Wednesday, September 19 at 11:00 A.M. with Washington, D.C. education, business, community, and political leaders. In its thirteenth year, Meridian serves hundreds of families and 530 children from early childhood through eighth grade. Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray commented today, With children from nearly every ward, Meridians increasingly successful academic program and new facility exemplify the One City we are creating together, where every child in every neighborhood has an opportunity to get a high-quality education. D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham added his appreciation, "This is a great new step in the long history of Harrison School. Meridian has worked hard and successfully to bring this building back to life!" Meridian Chairman Ron Ridker highlighted the independent, non-profit schools long commitment to providing quality education near U Street for families all across the

District. We could have found a good building for Meridian in other parts of the city, but waited until an appropriate building close to home came along, so we could continue serving the community we grew up with. The new structure allows us to bolster our program for children of every background and circumstance. A fifty-year lease including options was signed with the District of Columbia last fall. Meridian now plans to earn a Silver LEED Certification based on energy savings, water efficiency, air quality, land use, and stewardship of natural resources. Primary funding for the 13th Street project was provided under very favorable terms through The Reinvestment Fund Chase New Markets Tax Credit Charter School Fund. Chase created this fund to help charter schools across the country access financing to continue to expand academic opportunities for students during difficult financial times, said Priscilla Almodovar, Managing Director and Head of Chase Community Development Banking. The Chase Fund has allowed TRF to provide the school with long-term equity that will serve it well for many graduating classes to come, explained Don Hinkle-Brown, CEO of The Reinvestment Fund. City Build Washington, D.C.s joint education and neighborhood development initiative joined private donors to award Meridian $1 million early in the project. In addition to its financing partners, the school worked with Building Hope to assemble a top team: Forrester Construction, Bowie Gridley Architects, and Brailsford & Dunlavey. Building Hopes President S. Joseph Bruno said, Yesterday, I visited Meridian at the Harrison school for the first time since its completion. Its a gift that Building Hope was able to lead the team that helped to transform the building into a vibrant learning environment. The smiles and positive energy of the children reminded me why we do this work. By providing a safe and secure learning environment, Meridian is truly transforming the lives of students in D.C. said Scott Forrester, executive vice president of Forrester Construction Company. Forrester is proud to have provided pre-construction and construction services for such a critical institution. We are very pleased to be an integral part of this exciting project. Meridian School will have a new state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the city. A beautiful, historic building is coming back online with a new life in a great neighborhood. said Bill Gridley, Principal, Bowie Gridley Architects. It is always rewarding to help an institution transform its vision into reality, said Paul Brailsford, CEO, Brailsford & Dunlavey. It has been particularly gratifying to empower Meridian Public Charter School to advance their mission within our local community.
Accredited by Commission on Elementary Schools Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

2120 13th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 T: 202.387.9830 F: 202.387.7605 www.meridian-dc.org

About the Meridian Team: Founded in 1981, Bowie Gridley Architects specializes in work for institutions of community significanceschools, performing arts centers, libraries, athletic and recreational facilities, museums, and cultural centers. The architecture, planning, and interior design firm is based in historic Georgetown and works with independent schools throughout the U.S. and overseas. Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) is a nationally recognized program management firm that provides planning through implementation services and is dedicated to serving educational institutions, municipalities, public agencies, and non-profit clients. With a focus on PreK-12 education, B&D has served as the program manager on over 25 charter schools and large school districts, including DC public schools and Detroit public schools. This work has enriched communities with over $8 billion in completed facilities. B&D is currently serving, along with Building Hope, as Meridian Public Charter Schools owners representative for this Meridian project. Their role includes managing the design and construction contracts, generating and tracking the project budget and schedule, and ensuring that the school can make well-informed and timely decisions. Building Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting high quality public charter schools by providing technical and financial assistance for educational facilities. The organization also supports the expansion of academically successful schools with the capacity to grow their enrollments in order to promote change across their local public education systems. Building Hope advocates school-centered community revitalization and believes that excellent charter school programs and facilities serve as a catalyst for places where children will thrive. Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase Community Development Banking is a leader in providing financing solutions that benefit low-income communities across the nation. For more information on Chase Community Development Banking, visit: chase.com/cdb. Established in 1988, Forrester Construction Company is an award-winning Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 150 Contractor and Top 50 Green Contractor, offering clients preconstruction, general contracting, construction management and design-build services. As one of the top five locally-owned general contractors in Metro DC, Forrester has a proven track record of client satisfaction, construction excellence and efficient project delivery. Specialized in the commercial, public sector, healthcare, science and technology, education and cultural markets, Forrester has worked on such landmark projects as the Supreme Court, the Washington Convention Center and the
Accredited by Commission on Elementary Schools Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

2120 13th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 T: 202.387.9830 F: 202.387.7605 www.meridian-dc.org

National Institutes of Health. Forrester has been recognized with more than 120 construction industry awards in its 25 years in business, a milestone it will be celebrating in 2013. The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) is a national leader in rebuilding Americas distressed towns and cities through the innovative use of capital and information. TRF has invested over $1 billion in Mid-Atlantic communities since 1985. A Community Development Financial Institution, TRF has financed $243 million in support of 75 charter schools and more than 33,000 students. About Meridian Public Charter School: Meridian is an independent, non-profit co-educational elementary and middle school starting at early childhood and continuing to the eighth grade. We instill within our students a passion for learning and build self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. It is our goal to ensure each student achieves the highest possible level in Reading and Mathematics. The love of learning and the foundation of knowledge and skills that our students acquire will serve them throughout their lifetime! ###

Accredited by Commission on Elementary Schools

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

2120 13th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 T: 202.387.9830 F: 202.387.7605 www.meridian-dc.org