The irresponsible school-fix-it bill

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The D.C. Council Finance and Revenue Committee recently approved a preliminary plan that would, among other things, authorize $1 billion in bonds to modernize schools and earmark lottery revenues to back the debt. The proposal, the School Modernization Financing Act, is an irresponsible piece of legislation that threatens the District's standing on Wall Street.

The bill now moves to the Education Committee, whose chairman, Kathy Patterson, promised a "responsible" compromise. We urge Mrs. Patterson to delay her committee's vote on the legislation until after the Board of Education delivers a definitive plan on Superintendent Clifford Janey's proposal to sell, lease or consolidate underused schools.

Much of the superintendent's plan already is in the hands of the board, and while we do not believe it goes far enough toward saving money, it is a start. Charter schools and social-service organizations, including those administered by the government, are in need of more space. The school system is wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to "maintain" closed and underused buildings, and the money generated by selling or leasing surplus space could be used to modernize schools that remain open. As Board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz said months ago, "We are now paying light bills and maintenance bills for tens of thousands of square feet not in use. I think the council will look more favorably on us if they perceive us to be responsible on this co-location issue."

It's worth noting again that the District's chief financial officer, Natwar Gandhi, warned the lawmakers and school authorities a few weeks ago that the school-bond legislation is a risky financial proposal that could pose a substantial threat to the city's creditworthiness.

The legislation also is a political risk. Three lawmakers, including mayoral candidate Vincent Orange, failed last week to approve the legislation, while another Democratic candidate, Council member Adrian Fenty, reportedly said Mayor Tony Williams would make a "great mistake" if he did not support the bill.

Fortunately, the vote by Education Committee won't occur until after the summer recess, giving City Hall and school leaders time to deliver a "responsible" compromise. To be sure, the need to modernize schools is now urgent because elected officials continue to use education as a political springboard. We urge Mrs. Patterson and three of her committee colleagues -- Marion Barry, Vincent Gray and Carol Schwartz -- to diligently deliver a "responsible" compromise that benefits not just schoolchildren but the very taxpayers who will ultimately shoulder the financial burden of paying for that "responsible" modernization plan.