Opening With Optimism

Thousands of District students returned to class yesterday as the schools opened for the first time under the control of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, who proclaimed that a new era of leadership would transform the low-performing school system.

Enthusiasm ran high as students and parents walked into school buildings and gushed over newly painted hallways, air-conditioned classrooms and floors so shiny they seemed to sparkle. Close to 50,000 students were expected for opening day.

"I'm excited and a little teary-eyed," said parent Quelle Severance, who brought her 5-year-old son, Zachary, in his pressed blue slacks and white short-sleeved shirt to Meyer Elementary in Columbia Heights. "I have faith in the mayor. I think he'll do an excellent job of turning things around."

But a scattering of problems at some schools brought home the continuing challenges. At Ballou Senior High School in Anacostia, dozens of parents and students sat in a hot basement room as administrators waded through the restless crowd to get last-minute students registered and fix problems with schedules -- mostly those of incoming ninth-graders, whose records had not been transferred, parents said.

"It should be better organized than what it is because first impressions are what count," said Helen Craig, 53, who waited two hours with her ninth-grade daughter for her schedule. Rhee toured classrooms at Ballou but did not speak with parents or the principal.

Despite the hiccups, the day was a milestone for Fenty (D), who, with D.C. Council approval, took direct control of the system -- projected to have about 49,300 students -- in June. Improving the schools is a critical test of his administration.

Fenty and Rhee, who toured schools in all eight wards, began the day with a 7 a.m. news conference at River Terrace Elementary School in Ward 7. In a system with low test scores and poor facilities, they said concrete changes are being made. The District spent $80 million on school repairs this summer, and more are slated for this fall.

"We will not rest until we have moved all of our schools into the category of 'excellent,' " Fenty said.

After the news conference, Rhee jumped into a black sport-utility vehicle to take her two daughters to their new school, Oyster-Adams Bilingual, a public school in Northwest. The son of Victor Reinoso, deputy mayor for education, is also attending the school for the first time. Fenty's twin sons attend private school.

Principals said the start of school this year was unlike any other, with fully stocked textbook rooms, few teaching vacancies and work orders dating back a decade finally filled.

"When I see the fire department pulling up to deliver copy paper, I know we're on to something," said River Terrace Principal Richard L. Patterson. A fire department spokesman said a single department van traveled to schools Friday and Saturday delivering supplies.

Change was evident at more than two dozen schools visited by The Washington Post. Coolidge Senior High School and Ballou had new uniform policies, and 1,200 ninth-graders reported to high schools instead of junior highs.