Top Issue For D.C. Schools? Parents.

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A Year of Achievements, Challenges for New Mayor

During D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's first year he established the building blocks for his administration, while simultaneously responding to many unexpected challenges.

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"Many parents spend more time researching a new car than their school," said Bob Payne, a Capitol Hill computer consultant who plans to send his two young children to public school. "I also realize some of the economic realities where you've got some families with two parents working really hard to scrape by" with little free time.

Rhee said the school system cannot demand more of parents until it offers better services. "I have seen firsthand how parents are treated in our schools," said Rhee, whose two daughters attend Oyster Elementary in Ward 4. "I can't blame them if they do not jump to volunteer."

Crime and violence is what worries Ivana Williams, who lives in Ward 5's North Michigan Park neighborhood and has a 14-year-old son at Wilson High School in Ward 3. Her son's cellphone was stolen during gym class, she said.

Williams said she fears things could worsen with the school consolidation plan, which some activists have cautioned would bring together students from rival neighborhoods.

"I'm hopeful, but I've been hopeful for years," said Williams, who attended D.C. public schools through 11th grade in 1972. "I don't know what they can do to improve the schools and test scores and discipline. To me, it's not putting more kids together in one school."

Staff writers Robert E. Pierre, Nikita Stewart and V. Dion Haynes and polling director Jon Cohen contributed to this report.