Board of Ed Presents Alternative to Takeover

Improvement Plan, Fenty Proposal Go Head-to-Head for Council Votes

School board President Robert C. Bobb spent yesterday briefing several council members and said he will continue to sell his plan at a previously scheduled council hearing today on the mayor's proposal. (By Robert A. Reeder For The Washington Post)

The D.C. Board of Education countered Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's school takeover plan yesterday with a proposal outlining specific academic targets to improve the city's low-performing school system within two years.

Led by board President Robert C. Bobb, the school board unanimously passed the "Emergency Student Achievement Act of 2007." The legislation, which requires council approval, would be in effect for the next 18 months. It would allow the school board to retain power over its budget and the construction and renovation of school buildings and give a new State Department of Education the ability to open charter schools.

In contrast to the mayor's plan, which does not deal directly with academics, Bobb promised to increase services for special education students in D.C. classrooms and to increase the number of students who test at the proficient or advanced level by 10 percent. Additionally, Bobb said the board's proposal would not require a change to city's Home Rule Charter, which Fenty is seeking by going to Congress.

"This is not a bill on restructuring," Bobb said. "This is a bill that is focused on improving student outcomes."

School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey was at the board meeting but declined to say which proposal he supports.

"You're not going to get me into that," Janey said. "The Board of Education, the duly elected body, will take on that particular issue."

Yesterday's vote by the six board members creates a showdown between Fenty and Bobb and sets off a renewed flurry of political activity for council member votes. Bobb spent yesterday briefing several council members and said he will continue to sell his plan at a previously scheduled council hearing today on the mayor's proposal. Either plan would need council approval.

Bobb said he briefed Fenty on the plan yesterday morning. The mayor scheduled a news conference on public safety at the same time as the school board announcement. Afterward, Fenty reasserted his intent to proceed with a mayoral takeover.

"If we are going to fix our school system, we need streamlined accountability," Fenty said in a statement. "In order to effectuate measurable change, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, must be held directly accountable for our public schools. Accordingly, I plan to continue to move forward with the legislation my administration has put before the D.C. Council."

The council plans to vote on school legislation by April. It was not clear how yesterday's board action would affect that timetable. Bobb was scheduled to meet with council Chairman Vincent C. Gray last night to discuss the board's proposal.

Bobb faces an uphill battle for council votes. No council members attended the board's announcement. By contrast, Fenty had nine council members with him when he announced his proposal. The only council members who have publicly criticized Fenty's proposal are Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) and Phil Mendelson (D-At Large).

Board member William Lockridge (District 4) urged residents yesterday to weigh both plans and use their power to persuade public officials.

"It's going to be the will of the citizens, at the end of the day, who decide this," Lockridge said.

Like the mayor's plan, the board proposal would look to create a State Department of Education, which would be headed by a deputy mayor of education appointed by Fenty. The current State Education Office would be abolished, and its functions would fall to the new education agency.

The board plan would also give the school system the power to negotiate its own contracts under $1 million, which now go through the city's contracting agency.

Five schools that are low-performing would be assigned new staff and teachers, according to the board plan. Those schools would be announced May 31.

Also, the superintendent would have more flexibility to negotiate collective bargaining agreements. George Parker, president of the Washington Teachers' Union, said he had to study the plan more closely to determine how it might affect teachers.

Staff writer David Nakamura contributed to this report.