Run Schools Together, Fenty Urges Council

Some Members Wary of Powers Offered

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty offered to make the D.C. Council a partner in his takeover of the struggling public school system yesterday, making his strongest public pitch yet to win council approval for his controversial proposal.

During weeks of private meetings before taking office this month, Fenty (D) had secured general acceptance of his proposal from a majority of the 11 council members. But in the first of six council hearings on the takeover, Fenty went further, declaring that the council would gain significant power over the school system's budget.

Fenty's actions were an attempt to persuade the council to support his first major legislative initiative, on one of the most critical issues facing the city. But his efforts to give the council a stronger role in the takeover alarmed some members, who said they were worried that they could become as fractious in implementing reforms as the school board that Fenty is seeking to marginalize.

At one point, some members asked whether giving the council so much authority could backfire by politicizing the process, encouraging members to micromanage the system by trying to influence such things as allocations for salaries and plans to close schools.

"We have the specter of council members . . . making decisions about individual schools and bartering on such things," said council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3). "The council is saying, 'Protect us from ourselves,' and you're saying, 'No, you'll do all right.' "

Fenty's promise to make the council a partner reflects its expanding role in shaping major initiatives of the executive branch. Under former mayor Anthony A. Williams, it demonstrated its power in key decisions, including imposing a spending cap on the new Washington Nationals stadium and increasing the size of the police force.

The takeover would give Fenty the power to hire, fire and oversee the school superintendent, a position that would be renamed school chancellor. An independent agency with a chief executive appointed by the mayor would implement the school system's $2.3 billion capital improvement plan. But the plan would also give broad powers to the council, including line-item control of the school system's operating budget. The nine-member school board's authority would be limited to areas usually handled by state education boards, including setting learning standards and student assessments.

"It's not just the mayor who will be more involved, but the council will be more involved," Fenty said during 2 1/2 hours of testimony. "Right now, it's just an exercise in futility when the school board comes [to testify]. You can get as upset as you want, but once they leave, you have no power. This changes that. All of a sudden, council hearings and budget reviews become more meaningful."

Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) welcomed the prospect of additional power. He has sought a significant role in Fenty's plan, and he said the council is justified in taking on the new role. "We appreciate the line-item power, and I'm not afraid to exercise that authority," Gray said. "I don't have to be saved from myself."

The move to take administrative control of the 58,000-student school system comes at a critical time, with Superintendent Clifford B. Janey beginning to implement curriculum changes and undertake a major plan to rebuild 100 schools and to close about 20 under-enrolled schools.

On Wednesday night, the school board voted to oppose Fenty's plan and develop its own proposal by next month. Yesterday, Fenty cast his legislation as a way to remove the school board from day-to-day decision-making and allow the superintendent to implement reform plans more quickly. He said the District's school system has moved slower than those in New York, Boston, Chicago and Miami, where mayors and superintendents have greater authority in the place of traditional school boards.

Fenty promised to give principals more autonomy to hire and fire teachers, end the practice of promoting students who do not meet basic standards, pay teachers more if they take on more challenging assignments, and reconstitute low-performing schools by closing them and forcing staff members to re-apply for their jobs.

"The sense of urgency and accountability I can bring -- that will be the biggest change," Fenty said.

In response to concerns about the council assuming too much power, Fenty played down potential problems, noting that the council already oversees the budgets of all city agencies, including the police, fire and public works departments.

But some members were not convinced. Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), who opposes Fenty's plan, argued that the council at times has "crossed the line" and micromanaged city agencies. He cited council legislation that detailed the locations where police officers must patrol their beats, a bill the council later rescinded.

"The council has gotten involved in the detailed level of operations, and we have sometimes made mistakes," Mendelson said. "Does the council have the authority to legislate [school] curriculum?"

Fenty, who was a council member for six years, responded: "No. I don't think the council will. The council respects the various roles."

Yet Fenty was not clear about whether the council, like the mayor, would have the power to override the school chancellor's decisions on curriculum, school construction or other matters.

Although a majority of council members have endorsed the general tenets of Fenty's proposal, many indicated yesterday that they might offer amendments before the council votes on the legislation, probably in April. School officials, parents and students will be allowed to testify at five more hearings through next month.