Barry Promoting 2 Charter Schools

In an interview, Barry initially said he did not intend to submit an application but was advocating for the schools on behalf of Amos.

Then he added: "Even I were to submit, it's legal. I'm not bound by any conflict of interest."

Asked whether he had consulted D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray or a lawyer about the matter, Barry said he did not need to.

"I know the law as well as anyone else in town," he said.

Barry has begun soliciting support, discussing the proposed schools with several top city officials, including D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D). A copy of his letter to Reinoso was sent to Gray.

"He has discussed it in very general terms," Fenty said. He said he got the impression that Barry might serve as chairman of the board of the two schools.

Josephine Baker, executive director of the D.C. Public Charter School Board, said Barry also mentioned the schools in a conversation with her.

Amos said that one avenue being explored is an affiliation of the two schools with the Community Academy. That would require approval of the charter school board but would not require a new charter.

Reinoso said it would be premature to say whether the administration supports Barry's request for public school buildings.

"The decision on whether or not these schools will open is up to the Public Charter School Board," he said.

Barry said he has long supported charter schools, which receive taxpayer funds but operate independently of the school system. He has said that parents need options beyond traditional public schools, which are generally low-performing in his ward.

"I believe in choice -- choice for the parents and choice for me to decide what I am going to do," he said.

Amos said Allied Health and Science would be named for Barry's ex-wife, Effi, who died in September of leukemia.

Sources who have been consulted on the plans say the other school could be named after Barry, and many call the two proposed schools "the Barry schools." Amos said he could not confirm or deny whether the former mayor's name would be attached.

One obstacle to doing that is D.C. law. Public spaces cannot be named after people who are alive.