Principals Maneuver Over D.C. Closings

But Christine Clawson, a member of the local school restructuring team at Wheatley, whose principal died recently, said staff and parents were not involved in any discussions with Webb on the proposal.

Even though Wheatley is underenrolled, Clawson said, she is opposed to consolidating with Webb. Wheatley students, she said, have been bused to another school for about three years waiting for their building to be renovated.

The renovation work at Wheatley "should be done," Clawson said. "A lot of children want to go to their school and not Webb."

George Parker, president of the Washington Teachers' Union, said Janey needs to outline as soon as possible a plan for transferring displaced students and teachers.

He also said he is concerned that a plan to hire teachers to replace several hundred uncertified ones who might be laid off in June could adversely affect teachers displaced from closed schools. "They have to understand that teachers already employed have to be placed before they hire new teachers," he said.

Janey and four of his deputies said existing plans governing the transfer of students and teachers will be used for the school reassignments.

They said they are also studying a range of issues -- including how much money would be saved by closing schools; how the consolidated schools would be set up; and how staff would be deployed -- and will develop a plan soon.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions that we probably have not yet anticipated. That's why it's important for us to have a conversation both ways," said Board of Education Vice President Carolyn N. Graham.

"The school board is confident Dr. Janey will be able to fulfill the requirement" of eliminating the space, she said. "It's important for this community to invest faith and confidence in Dr. Janey and his administration."

Staff writer Valerie Strauss contributed to this report.