$1 Billion More Voted For Schools
$100 Million a Year Would Go to Renovations

By Eric M. Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 8, 2006

The D.C. Council yesterday approved an unprecedented $1 billion-plus effort to rebuild crumbling school buildings, which city leaders see as a key to drawing families into the city and keeping them there.

The plan, adopted unanimously, sets aside $100 million a year, for at least a decade, of city sales tax revenue to repair public schools. The money would be in addition to the city's regular yearly spending and borrowing for education -- roughly doubling, for now at least, the dollars going for school modernization.

"If we fixed everything in the city and didn't fix the schools, it would all be for naught," said council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), who first proposed a major renovation plan last year.

With the school board planning to close underpopulated schools and Superintendent Clifford B. Janey working on a comprehensive school facilities plan, council members say there is a window of opportunity for dramatic improvement in the chronically underperforming system.

"Providing the funding is actually the easiest part of it," said council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), an author of the bill. It will be up to Janey and the Board of Education to translate the new money into achievement.

Janey said yesterday that the new funds will "turbocharge" his renovation plans. "It's been a long time coming; we'll make good use of this lift," he said.

Last week, the Board of Education approved nearly $600 million in spending to modernize seven high schools and improve other schools over the next six years. But that plan now will be changed to incorporate the new money.

During the summer, Janey said, he will submit to the board a revised capital budget proposal reflecting the extra money as well as the board's expected decision in the spring to consolidate and close several underenrolled schools.

Despite loosening the purse strings, council members remained skeptical of the school system's ability to get the job done. Much debate was focused on crafting a plan of accountability. The bill created an 11-member advisory board to oversee spending and warn of any problems.

Council member Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) said only an independent panel could ensure that the money is not squandered. He referred to the long and sorry history of previous efforts to improve the city's crumbling school buildings. Many construction projects have come in well beyond budgets.

Gray pushed for an amendment, passed by the council, that requires the superintendent to issue yearly benchmarks on rebuilding progress. If fewer than 90 percent of the benchmarks are achieved by the end of a fiscal year, an independent authority will be created to manage the rebuilding effort.

"It's a carrot-and-stick approach," Gray said.

Others warned against having the council micromanage a school building plan.

"I don't think we're the only 13 people on earth who care about our children," said council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), referring to the Board of Education. "I don't think of them as the enemy."

The modernization plan uses sales tax revenue that now is dedicated to pay for other programs in the city's budget. To make up for this hole, the city plans to tap into past and future budget surpluses, said Evans and co-author Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3). If the surpluses did not appear, the bill would raise the city's deed and recordation tax on commercial and retail properties to make up any difference.

Also yesterday, the D.C. Council gave final approval to a "living wage," $11.75 an hour, which would be paid by the District government and private employers who benefit from government tax breaks, incentives or other assistance. The bill would give raises to roughly 4,000 workers, said Mackenzie Baris, organizer with D.C. Jobs With Justice, which pushed the effort.

Entities that receive a city contract of more than $100,000 would be required to pay a living wage to employees working on that contract.

More than 130 communities nationwide have passed similar living-wage legislation, including Alexandria and Arlington, Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

Staff writer V. Dion Haynes contributed to this report.