THE REGION
More Resources Urged for Park Police
U.S. Park Police need a "substantial increase in resources" to operate effectively, according to a recent report issued on behalf of a congressional appropriations subcommittee.
"Given its heightened responsibilities after 9/11 for the protection of the nation's most important icons and urban national parks, [the Park Police] cannot be an effective guardian of urban national parks and also attempt to be a full-service urban police force without a substantial increase in resources," said the report by the National Academy of Public Administration, an independent organization chartered by Congress to help government agencies be more effective. The report also suggested using non-sworn officers for such duties as parking enforcement.
Teresa C. Chambers was placed on administrative leave in December and formally fired as Park Police chief in July for speaking out about the need for more resources. She is contesting her firing.
Sgt. Scott Fear, a spokesman for the Park Police, said Acting Chief Dwight Pettiford wanted to discuss the report with Congress before commenting publicly.
THE DISTRICT
Three Cited as 'Blue Ribbon Schools'
Three District elementary schools have been designated as high-performing "blue-ribbon schools," the Department of Education announced yesterday.
Langdon Elementary School in Northeast and Lafayette and Janney elementary schools in Northwest were among more than 250 schools across the country named 2004 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools.
Schools are selected because they have made significant progress in closing their achievement gaps or because their students consistently achieve at very high levels, the department said.
Under the federal law known as No Child Left Behind, schools must meet adequate yearly progress in reading/language arts and math. Each state sets its academic standards and benchmark goals.
Audit Says Mismanagement Cost Millions
The D.C. Department of Human Services and the Office of Early Childhood Development wasted millions of dollars in District and federal dollars because it mismanaged funds for a subsidized day-care and after-school program for low-income children, D.C. Auditor Deborah K. Nichols said in a report released yesterday.
Over a two-year period, in 2001 and 2002, city officials lost $6.4 million, including $4.8 million that was overpaid to child-care providers and $1 million that the D.C. schools could have generated if they had not opened the subsidized program to all students, regardless of whether their parents could afford to pay.
Nichols said she will conduct a follow-up audit in 90 days to see if city officials are now in compliance.
MARYLAND
