Williams’ plan for schools rejected

The D.C. Council yesterday rejected Mayor Anthony A. Williams’ plan to assume governance of the city’s troubled public school system and approved legislation calling for the eventual return of an all-elected school board.

In a 9-4 vote after a 90-minute debate, the council killed a bill that would have required the superintendent to report directly to the mayor as a member of his Cabinet and reduced the school board’s role to that of an advisory panel.

“We cannot have accountability if we’re constantly blowing the system up and changing the people,” said council member Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat, who voted against the measure.

Joining Mr. Mendelson in rejecting the mayor’s plan were council Chairman Linda W. Cropp, at-large Democrat, and members Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat; Kathy Patterson, Ward 3 Democrat; Adrian M. Fenty, Ward 4 Democrat; Kevin P. Chavous, Ward 7 Democrat; Sandy Allen, Ward 8 Democrat; Harold Brazil, at-large Democrat; and Carol Schwartz, at-large Republican.

Members Jack Evans, Ward 2 Democrat; Vincent B. Orange, Ward 5 Democrat; Sharon Ambrose, Ward 6 Democrat; and David A. Catania, at-large Republican, voted for the plan.

Council members who voted against the mayor’s plan expressed a variety of opinions, saying it was calling for change for the sake of change, would limit input from residents and allow Mr. Williams to employ his “top-down approach to governing” on the schools.

“The approach tends to be, ’This is what’s best for you. Even though you may benefit from it, you shouldn’t be involved in the discussion,’ ” said Mr. Chavous, chairman of the Education Committee.

Mr. Williams yesterday said he thought criticism of his leadership during the debate was unnecessarily personal and that the vote was “not a great moment” for the District.

“We had an opportunity to really make a difference, and I think the council today in its vote missed out on that opportunity,” said the mayor, who had vowed to resign in a year if he could not improve the school system under his takeover plan.

In an 11-2 veto-proof vote, the council approved a first reading of legislation that would keep the current hybrid school board in place through 2006, with an all-elected panel to be established in 2007. Mr. Evans and Mr. Orange voted against the bill and a final vote is expected May 4.

Mr. Williams said he has no plans to ask Congress to intervene, but is considering vetoing the school board legislation, which Mr. Chavous proposed.

“I think it would be foolish to veto, and I think this newfound resolve won’t be sustained,” said Mr. Mendelson, an Education Committee member.

The hybrid school board, which was created after a referendum in 2000, resulted from Mr. Williams’ initial attempt to take control of the school system. Five of the board’s members are elected and four are appointed by the mayor.

The District’s school system, with its $1 billion budget, faces this month its second change in leadership since November, when former Superintendent Paul L. Vance abruptly quit after having served for about three years. He said he was reluctant to participate in upcoming battles over a federal school-voucher proposal, a looming budget deficit and Mr. Williams’ plan to take over the school system.

Mr. Vance was replaced by Interim Superintendent Elfreda Massie, who announced that she will resign this month because outside interference has made the job difficult. She will be replaced by acting Chief Academic Officer Robert Rice.

School board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz yesterday said a resolution to the debate over school governance will make the superintendent position more attractive to potential candidates.

“What we really need in this city now is an absence of chaos,” Mrs. Cafritz said, “and hopefully, given the vote today, the mayor will join with the board and the council to get behind our kids to push forward the reforms we have started and to get a really good superintendent to take control of the system.”

Friday is the filing deadline for submitting applications for superintendent, Mrs. Cafritz said. The school board will meet during the first week of next month to review the applications, she said, adding that city officials are “very much on target” to meet a June 18 deadline to announce a new superintendent.

The public schools’ student population has declined from about 85,000 two years ago to about 65,000. About 13,000 students have opted to attend one of the city’s 37 public charter schools, and an additional 1,700 low-income students will be eligible to enroll in private schools under a federal voucher program beginning in the fall.

According to a National Assessment of Educational Process report last year, D.C. public school children in all grades are falling behind their peers in other jurisdictions, even though the District spent $9,650 per pupil in 2001 — the second-highest per-pupil expenditure among the states. Only New Jersey spent more per student — $10,145. About 33 percent of D.C. public school students drop out before high school graduation.