Tardy Again

WHAT PROMISED to be a challenging new school year in the District just became even more difficult. The D.C. Council's failure to approve school construction contracts makes it unlikely that the buildings will be ready for the start of school. Council members intent on scoring political points against Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) need to recognize that the people they are hurting are schoolchildren.

Schools are set to open in just 52 days, but that didn't deter the council from holding up some $50 million in repairs at 29 buildings. The work is critical because of the decision this year to close 23 schools and the need to retrofit buildings for new student populations. The consequences could be dire: delay of school for some students, teachers not being able to get supplies or get their classrooms ready, shoddy classroom environments, no recreational facilities. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) said that another hearing is needed and held out the promise of action at the next council meeting on July 15. School officials had wanted work completed by Aug. 15, and anyone who has ever had renovation work done knows the folly of cutting the time so close.

Mr. Gray's actions are mystifying. A true believer in education and a strong supporter of a mayoral takeover of the schools, the chairman has -- of late -- seemed more interested in second-guessing Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee than in giving her the support she needs. One reason nothing got done under the old system of school governance was the meddling of a school board that wouldn't let officials do their jobs. In Allen Y. Lew, the District has a very capable manager of school modernization; why not give him the unfettered backing in fixing schools that he had in bringing about the successful completion of the baseball stadium? By the same token, is it really the place of the council to revisit Ms. Rhee's plans for pre-K-8 schools?

Part of the problem can be traced to tension between Mr. Fenty and Mr. Gray. They approach government differently, and, clearly, there is a personal rivalry between them. It doesn't help that Mr. Fenty has made little effort to accommodate the chairman's legitimate concerns. It's not unreasonable, for instance, for the chairman to want to know how this spending will affect the overall capital program for school construction. Still, what matters are 45,000 children and their expectation that adults will put their educational needs ahead of petty politics.