Chairman Backs Reinoso for Schools Post

Victor A. Reinoso, who has been waiting nearly three months for the D.C. Council to confirm him as the city's deputy mayor for education, now has the backing of Chairman Vincent C. Gray, who said he plans to urge his colleagues to support the confirmation next week.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) selected Reinoso as a deputy in January as Fenty prepared to take control of the public school system. But council members questioned Reinoso's role in producing a plagiarized schools report, the Fenty administration's 31-page blueprint of plans to improve academic performance. Reinoso accepted blame, but during a council hearing, he refused to say whether he wrote the report.

In July, the council unanimously approved the appointments of Michelle A. Rhee as schools chancellor and Allen Y. Lew as executive director of facilities modernization, but it delayed a vote on Reinoso.

"I wanted to use additional time to watch performance," Gray said of Reinoso.

Gray (D) said that he has talked to Reinoso several times and that he is being included in the selection of an ombudsman for the school system. Gray said he has also been satisfied with the opening of schools and progress in renovating and improving buildings and athletic fields.

Gray said that Reinoso deserves the council's approval and that he will put the confirmation on the agenda of the council meeting Tuesday.

"I appreciate the chairman's support," said Reinoso, a former member of the D.C. Board of Education. "I've enjoyed developing a working relationship with him over the summer."

The postponement of Reinoso's confirmation has underscored tension between Gray and Fenty over this year's schools takeover. Gray criticized Fenty for failing to include the council in certain decisions. Fenty introduced Rhee to Gray as his nominee for chancellor less than 12 hours before he announced his selection to the public.

Although council members were critical of the report that copied parts of a North Carolina school system's strategic plan, Gray does not expect the report to continue to be a factor.

"Things that happened were troublesome," Gray said. "I don't have any reason to think that [plagiarism] would happen again."

Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), a former school board member, has been a vocal supporter of Reinoso. "For me, I still see Victor as low-key, very thoughtful and the mayor's choice," he said. "If the chair needed more time, I respect that."

Reinoso has continued to work as deputy mayor and could remain in the position without a council vote. He would be passively approved if the council does not vote by Nov. 22.

"In fairness to him, I want to give him a chance to do the job and to do the job without passive approval," Gray said.