D.C. Council Set for 'Big Risk' on Fenty's Takeover Proposal

The Board of Education has proposed a separate plan for running the schools, but Gray said he would not consider it as long as Fenty's plan is on the table.

Opponents say Fenty and the council are rushing the plan without a referendum and while two council seats are vacant. Gray and Fenty left the council in January when they assumed their current positions. Gray represented Ward 7 and Fenty represented Ward 4.

Gray rejects calls by some critics to postpone the vote until after the May 1 special election to fill the unexpired terms so a full 13-member council could vote on the proposal. "You can't stop the government. You can't stop the process," he said.

In any case, Gray said, most council members want a change in the status quo of the school system.

An independent audit of the D.C. government released in January found that the system has poorly managed contracts, Medicaid services, payroll and federal grants, putting the city's credit rating at risk.

On Tuesday, the council held an oversight hearing of the superintendent's office and the Board of Education. Council members expressed disappointment in the performance of Superintendent Clifford B. Janey and other school officials.

Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who was a school board member until he took his council post in January, said, "Janey has a good plan to improve academic achievement . . . but there is growing concern about his team's ability to improve and operate the business systems that are needed to support educational reform."

Gray said he hoped that critics would be satisfied by amendments to Fenty's 48-page proposal.

Opponents include Council 20 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- the largest union representing city employees, with 8,000 members. The union issued a position paper last week that calls for a "consensus plan."

"We do not believe the mayor's Lone Ranger approach ('Put it on my shoulders') will work, not without other pressing needs being neglected," according to a news release issued by the union.

Although the Washington Teachers' Union endorsed the plan last week, some members said they were not given the chance to vote on it. The union's executive board -- 24 members who are elected citywide by union members -- voted to endorse Fenty's proposal, he said. Nathan A. Saunders, general vice president, said the vote was taken after 62 percent of members surveyed said they favored Fenty's proposal.

Gray said he plans to meet with all council members individually to discuss their views on the amendments. He said some council members want to impose a deadline on Fenty's plan. In New York, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (R) was given eight years to improve schools. In Cleveland and Boston, the mayoral takeovers were put before voters after the efforts were underway.

Gray said his idea of a five-year deadline is designed to separate the issue from the mayor's four-year term and reelection bid. "I really don't want to politicize it," he said.

But Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) said she has doubts about the sunset provision because the council would have to decide what to do next. "Do we go back to what we have?" she said. "My instinct tells me it's problematic."

Staff writer Theola Labbé contributed to this report.