New Talk of D.C. Community College

Alice M. Rivlin of the Brookings Institution said that although various panels have proposed a separate community college in the past, she thinks this time could be different, because the city is better off financially than it has been and because Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has emphasized improving education in the District.

Fenty was not specific in his response to a question about whether he supports a community college proposal.

"Creating a world-class education system in the District of Columbia does not end at high school," he said in a statement. "We will continue to look for and support education initiatives that benefit the residents such as increased vocational education and greater opportunities for job training."

Walter Smith of D.C. Appleseed said a community college would bring tangible benefits to the city, including increased income tax revenue -- just a third of the city's jobs are held by District residents -- and lower costs in social services as people find jobs.

But some questioned whether the city should embark on an expensive new proposition rather than improving what is already in place.

Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity (Washington) University, which educates many District residents, including many working adults and people seeking job training, said, "UDC in many ways is not funded adequately to do what it's supposed to do. I don't know why we would take more money away from UDC to do something else when this kind of education is exactly what the state institution is supposed to be doing."

Wilmer Johnson, a UDC professor, was not impressed by a suggestion to use one of the elementary or high schools the city is closing as a home for the community college. "If you don't make it first-class, they won't come."