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April 4, 2007
The not so takeoverThe Washington Post reports that that the D.C. Council (the district’s legislative body, er, along with big papa Congress) voted yesterday to support Mayor Adrian Fenty’s takeover of the Washington, D.C. public schools. That is unless it all doesn’t work out, in which case the Council can take back the schools from hizzoner if there isn’t “sufficient progress in education” in five years. Well, well, it seems the Council has learned its federal lesson well and crafted its very own No D.C. Child Left Behind.
But, all of this leaves BoardBuzz wondering, if the Mayor’s plan is terrific enough to justify uprooting the first elected body in this last remaining federal colony, why will it take five years to show even “sufficient progress?” That means BoardBuzz’s hypothetical kindergartener would be ready (or not) for middle school before the Council decides whether the Mayor’s plan is working.
Sounds like a heavy burden for the ersatz school board and Mayor cum-chief-state-school-officer must also contend with building roads, running the jails, making sure the city’s bond rating isn’t junked, getting the trash picked up on time, creating housing opportunities, providing quality after school programs, improving fire and police services, and well, running the nation’s capital. BoardBuzz may be dripping with skepticism here, but in the light of so much to do, we can’t help but wonder whether the Mayor can pull it all off, especially since one of his supporters on the DC Council says he can be “single-minded.” Er, Councilmember, didn’t you mean to say, “multi-tasking?”
Aligning with BoardBuzz's past speculations, the Post article notes that, "As part of the new structure, the council would have line-item budget control, and the school board would set academic standards." It looks like the almighty budget monster rears its ugly head again.
And, as they take this monumental first step it seems city government oberservers are waking up to the fact that the Council is happy to make fundamental changes to D.C.’s “constitution” without full representation on the D.C. Council. You can read more coverage here.
Yep, you get it. BoardBuzz is not too happy with this latest vote. We aren’t happy with the Mayor’s proposal either. So, there, we said it.
Posted April 4, 2007 5:00 PM | Advocacy & Legislation
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