Rhee Vows to Alter Governance Culture

Focus on Student Achievement Stressed

Schools chief Michelle A. Rhee spoke at a forum in Northeast. (Dayna Smith - Dayna Smith/ftwp)

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee said last night that one of her first priorities is to bring a "wholesale culture shift" to the central-office bureaucracy of the school system so it is more student-focused and parent-friendly.

Speaking to more than 100 parents and Ward 7 residents at a town hall meeting, Rhee said she has encountered employees who spend the workday largely pushing papers and workers who cannot explain their job duties.

"This is one of our fundamental flaws," Rhee told the audience at Kelly Miller Middle School in Northeast Washington. "We have to have every single person who's working in the District understand exactly what they're going to be held accountable for -- and not only what they're going to be held accountable for, but also how that links to student achievement."

Rhee also said she has seen employees get irritated when interacting with members of the public.

"I'm coming in and I'm asking a lot of questions and I've watched them operate," she said. "And for the most part, not all, but many of them consider the requests coming from parents and teachers -- they think it's a nuisance."

Rhee's observations from her first month on the job drew sustained applause. After the meeting, several parents said they agreed with her comments.

"I hate to see people lose their jobs, but if she can streamline and put the money to use in a better place, then that will be good for the kids," said William Long, 46, whose son Kevin, 17, is in 10th grade at H.D. Woodson High School.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, who nominated Rhee for the post, commended Rhee in introductory comments for reaching out the community. D.C. Council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large), who was at the meeting, said he attended because "I want to hear directly from Michelle Rhee what her plans are."

Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) said she organized the forum so Rhee could answer questions from concerned parents. Rhee sat on the school stage while the three moderators -- former school board members Nathaniel Bush, Tom Kelly and Carrie Thornhill -- asked questions.

Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) plans a similar meeting for his constituents next month.

When asked last night whether she was qualified for the chancellor's job, Rhee said she has a single-minded focus on children and had learned from her three years of teaching in Baltimore that every child is capable of succeeding in school.

She noted that on a visit to Oak Hill Youth Center several weeks ago, she met a student who said he wanted to be a teacher. Rhee said the visit left her with the hope that she and others can work with young people "to turn their lives around."

The condition of the city's school buildings was a recurring theme during the meeting. Rhee said she met yesterday with Allen Y. Lew, the recently appointed schools construction czar, to discuss a plan for fixing crumbling buildings and constructing new ones.

In a letter last week, Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) asked Lew to explain how he planned to address those issues.

Lew, who attended last night's meeting, said he and Rhee had met to discuss whether his department also would be responsible for routine maintenance.

The school system's maintenance office has a backlog of work orders dating back several years.

Lew said that he and Rhee hadn't decided whether he also would be responsible for maintenance but that "I think we're heading in that direction." Lew said.

Gray said in his July 17 letter that Lew was never supposed to be responsible for maintenance.

"Maintenance and custodial personnel should be deployed by the [school system], not by a separate agency whose principal purpose is construction and modernization," he said.