Rhee Hesitates on Requests for List of Fired Workers

"In the end it didn't change anything," Levy said. "If they don't have the judgment and knowledge, you're likely to replace the people you had before with new people who are about the same."

Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5), who voted against personnel legislation, said he will meet today with council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), also a dissenter, to discuss what action to take. They have both requested a list of terminated employees through the chairman, he said.

Thomas stressed that he voted against the measure to avoid firing people who may not have deserved to be dismissed. "Now, we've opened Pandora's box and there are repercussions," he said. "Some of these people are parents. They have families."

He said he wants more information about contracts made under former Superintendent Clifford B. Janey that appear to have been abandoned for new ones under Rhee, possibly costing the city millions of dollars.

Dawn Slonneger, Gray's chief of staff, said she had received four phone calls and one e-mail from five information technology employees who said they were unfairly fired.

Staff writer Theola Labb¿ contributed to this report.