Board fires Ballou principal

The D.C. school board announced yesterday morning that Ballou High School Principal Art Bridges had been terminated. Ballou’s 1,097 students learned during a special afternoon assembly that their popular principal would not be returning from administrative leave.

“We’ve been lied to — first Dr. Bridges was out on sick leave, then he was out on administrative leave and now he’s been fired,” said Maria Booker, a senior, who joined in the nonstop “We Want Doc” chant that resonated through the auditorium.

After hearing Interim Superintendent Elfreda W. Massie’s announcement, nearly the entire student body walked out of the assembly before school administrators gave the go-ahead.

“I feel hurt, upset and lied to as a Ballou student. I deserve better,” said Tatiana Clark, 16, who resented Miss Massie’s failure to respond to their questions.

“Doc meant a lot to me personally. He was like a father in terms of offering support. And, everything that you asked of him, if he could do it, he would give you all he had,” said Brittany Foushee, 15.

Mr. Bridges’ firing follows a series of troubling incidents at the school, including the Oct. 2 fatal shooting of football player James Richards during a fight in hallway. Police have charged fellow student Thomas Boykin, 18, with second-degree murder.

Other incidents include a mercury spill, which resulted in students having to attend classes in two downtown facilities for at least a month while the school and several homes were decontaminated. A melee in the cafeteria a month later involving six girls resulted in criminal charges.

Yesterday, the school board also approved Robert Rice as the next interim superintendent to replace Miss Massie, who steps down April 21.

“Dr. Rice has a wealth of experience that will benefit our school system,” said D.C. Board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz. “In this critical time before the appointment of a permanent superintendent, Dr. Rice will keep the school system focused on its main priority — the improvement of student achievement.”

Mr. Rice, who has been acting chief academic officer, joined the D.C. public school system in May 2003 as assistant superintendent for standards and curriculum. Before that he was senior vice president and chief operating officer for the Council for Basic Education, served as superintendent for three public school districts, and worked for the Maryland State Board of Education. Mr. Rice will serve in the interim capacity until the school board names a permanent superintendent.

Yesterday, the school board also voted 5-1 to approve a plan developed by D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp to have a new committee search for the next D.C. schools superintendent. Members of the council, the school board and representatives from the mayor’s office will be named to the committee.

Miss Massie, who was named interim superintendent when Paul L. Vance resigned in December, was joined at Ballou by Ralph Neal, assistant superintendent, and school board member William Lockridge at the 2:30 p.m. assembly in addressing students at the beleaguered high school on Fourth Street SE. Mr. Lockridge was able to calm the students, but the booing did not stop entirely.

“I will miss Dr. Bridges. I’ve been here since ninth grade and he helped me by showing me how to be a man, how to take responsibility. He taught me to take off my hat when I’m indoors, to pull up my pants and to not tease the girls,” said Delonte Bush, 16 who just shook his head in disbelief.

Delonte said without Mr. Bridges’ leadership and his constant concern for all the students at Ballou, it is possible the school will erupt.

“Right now, students are being threatened with police [intervention] and told they will be sent to the 7th District police station. The school system doesn’t care about Ballou or Southeast,” he said.

Some students say school officials underestimate their intelligence. They saw the writing on the wall.

“We’ve been lied to,” said Dalianeiss Yant, after students walked out. She said she knew Mr. Bridges wouldn’t have resigned because he “loves us too much to quit.”

Mr. Bridges was placed on administrative leave March 5, two weeks after he took emergency sick leave, while D.C. public schools officials completed an investigation into a personnel issue.