Fenty, Janey and Bobb Pledge United Effort to Address Issues

"It's time for him to come clean and say whether he plans on keeping Dr. Janey, yes or no," said Whiting, whose son is a junior at McKinley Technology High School. "If not, who do you plan on replacing him with? Who are your candidates? And what part will the public play?"

Evans said a priority is getting quick approval from Congress for a bill permitting the new arrangement. He said he also would like Fenty's administration to begin evaluating the school budget, "given the state of what [Chief Financial Officer Natwar M.] Gandhi could only describe as chaos."

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) said he expects Fenty, Janey and Bobb to modernize schools so students are not faced with "broken bathrooms and peeling paint" when they return in the fall.

"From the perspective of parents and students, they want to know that schools are going to open on time," Gray said.

Donna Power Stowe, executive director of the nonprofit DC Education Compact, said she didn't expect to hear specific plans or a timetable for addressing issues. But she said she was glad that after months of often-contentious debate, it seemed that the men had exchanged olive branches.

"It's not always easy to get to that point [of cooperation] when you've been looking critically at an issue, but they all agree that this is the most important issue in the city," Stowe said. "It will probably sound a little sappy, but I think that's good."

Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said the news conference showed cooperation between the mayor and school board. "It's a hopeful sign," he said.

Fenty said the three men plan to meet next week with Gandhi to discuss the school system's finances.

Staff writer Nikita Stewart contributed to this report.