Fenty Wants Businesses to Pitch In

Mayor's Request for Assistance in Transition Gets a Positive Response

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said yesterday that he plans to tap the brainpower and the bank accounts of local businesses and developers to assist with the transition to mayoral control of District schools.

Fenty (D) discussed the strategy of pursuing private donations and in-kind contributions during a news conference to announce priorities while he awaits congressional approval of his school plan, a process that could delay formal takeover of the schools a month or more.

With just four months remaining before the first day of the 2007-08 school year, Fenty is under pressure to release details about his plan.

He announced that the consulting firm KPMG will look into accounting problems with the school system's internal controls over payroll, procurement, federal grants and Medicaid services, which could harm the city's overall fiscal health. And to get feedback from parents and teachers, Fenty plans to send out letters asking for their support and to hold education town hall meetings across the city.

When asked for specifics, Fenty did not offer deadlines for completing his transition activities, but he said he is aware that the first day of school is Aug. 27.

"In general, we wanted these to be the guiding principles of our transition," Fenty said. "You should expect us to roll these out as quickly as possible."

Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi said the comprehensive audit of the school system must be completed by early August so he will have time to review the findings.

Fenty did not offer specifics on how he plans to raise private funds, but in a four-page document titled "Education Transition Strategy" released yesterday, Fenty said resources beyond the city's budget may be needed to support his education changes.

"The intent is to build a pool of resources that can be used for strategic investments, maximizing the reach of the District's reform efforts," the mayor said.

Fenty said he plans to convene a "Developers' Education Roundtable" to adopt schools, maintain facilities and provide school supplies.

John Hill, chief executive of the Federal City Council, a group of business leaders, said Fenty attended the organization's spring luncheon Monday and briefed about 200 people on his fundraising plans. Although the business community has long tried to help the schools, Hill said, its efforts have not been embraced by the school system.

For example, Hill said a plan proposed several years ago to help Ballou Senior High pay for repairs and teachers was stifled by the Board of Education.

"A lot of businesses prior to the mayor getting involved were concerned whether or not their efforts would be successful," Hill said. At Ballou, he added, "we were stopped at every point."

But Barbara B. Lang, president of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, said that 900 projects are underway involving businesses and the public schools. The real issue, Lang said, was that no single person or group was in charge of coordinating public-private partnerships between schools and businesses.

The business community is willing to pitch in even more, Lang said, but will be eager to see the results of the audit.

"I'd be reticent to ask my members for something until I know exactly what it's going to be used for," said Lang, who said she would support handling private contributions for the schools through a foundation.

It is not clear when Congress will act on Fenty's plan. The process includes the drafting of a formal bill, which is now being written in the office of Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). It will then be assigned to committee, probably the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Passage by the full House requires a two-thirds vote, and officials said that could come by mid-May.

The bill would then go to the Senate, where the timing for a vote is not clear, officials said. Fenty's top legislative aide, former school board member JoAnne Ginsberg, met with Senate staffers Thursday. Officials said the bill could pass the Senate by unanimous consent, but they did not know when that might happen. After Senate approval, the bill would go to President Bush to sign. District officials said they anticipate bureaucratic delays but do not think the takeover would encounter opposition in Congress or from the president.