Janey Pledges to Fix Glitches In Textbook Ordering Process

D.C. School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey apologized yesterday for delays in getting new math and English textbooks to students and promised to take steps to prevent another textbook shortage next school year.

In his first public comments about the issue since it erupted two weeks ago, Janey told the D.C. Council's education committee that some schools had too few books because of inaccurate enrollment projections and that the central office was slow to recognize the problem.

Janey said 99 percent of the 450,000 new textbooks are now in the hands of students, although he has yet to complete an audit the school board ordered Dec. 1 after parents and teachers complained that some classrooms were still without books.

"I want to apologize to our parents, students, teachers and administrators, and to acknowledge the commitment of our teachers in learning and teaching the new [math and English] standards in spite of the inconvenience and frustration of not having all the necessary resources," Janey said in his testimony.

"I want to assure the public that I will conduct a full investigation of this year's events to determine where the weaknesses were and take corrective actions as necessary," he said.

The school board had asked Janey to finish the audit by last Friday, but he said it will take him until January to do a thorough review.

His comments yesterday contrasted with statements he made earlier this fall, when he insisted that the delivery of the new books had gone smoothly.

Council members grilled Janey and other school officials for two hours about the textbook shortage, a problem that also has plagued previous D.C. school administrations. Several members demanded that Janey take swift action against administrators found to be responsible for the delays.

"I'm just outraged by this," said council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8). "Our young people have enough problems already."

"I want somebody fired for this," Barry told Janey. "If somebody doesn't get fired for this, you're not doing your job."

Janey said that after the textbook audit is completed, he will act on recommendations "for disciplinary action, where warranted, and additional training, where needed."

Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) said, "If we can't get the simplest thing right, like putting textbooks in children's hands, how are we going to handle the tough challenges ahead?"

School board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz told council members that the school system was unable to project an enrollment increase at some senior high schools, including Anacostia and Ballou, both in Southeast Washington. "Since I've been on the board, we have not had a competent demographer on the staff," she said. "If we don't get it right, we will be here with textbook problems every year."

Noting that she was embarrassed by the textbook problem, Cafritz added, "As one staff member told me, 'The whole system has to be overhauled,' and that will be done."

Janey said he will shift textbook management duties from the chief academic officer to the chief business operations officer, who will "thoroughly review the way we procure, receive, ship, replace, track and dispose of textbooks." He also said the schools will purchase a computerized textbook management system that can track ordering and inventory.

Council member Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5) said he was dismayed that the school system failed to comply with a law he introduced in 2001 that requires the superintendent to certify by the 30th day of school that all students have textbooks. Cafritz acknowledged that Janey did not file the certification by that deadline because he had preliminary indications that only about 90 percent of the ordered textbooks were in schools.

After the committee hearing, Orange said he did not feel he heard adequate answers. "This is not a thorough investigation of this issue," he said. "We still don't know what is going on."

School officials ordered new math and English books for every grade level in the summer as part of an academic overhaul that Janey initiated. The books are aligned with new learning standards and curricula in the two subjects, and students will be tested on the standards when they take a new exam in the spring.

School officials plan to adopt new standards for science and social studies as well, which will result in a large order of textbooks for those subjects for next school year.