Is Fenty Courting New Schools Chief?
As Mayor Adrian Fenty testified before the council about details of his school governance restructuring proposal Thursday, he couldn't help refering repeatedly to Miami schools chief Rudolph F. "Rudy" Crew. It's no secret Fenty has long been an admirer of Crew, who had been the District's top choice for school superintendent in 2004 before pulling out of the running to take the Miami job.
Fenty first visited Crew in Miami last Memorial Day weekend, asking Crew why he didn't take the D.C. job and seeking his advice to help inform his own school improvement platform. Crew, who reportedly turned down the D.C. superintendent job in part because he did not like the city's multi-headed school governance system, told Fenty that no superintendent could succeed until the Board of Education was sidelined.
Although Fenty never proposed a mayoral takeover of the D.C. system during the campaign, he admits now to quietly formulating his plan during the Miami trip and a similar one to New York City, where he met Mayor Michael Bloomberg and school Chancellor Joel Klein.
Fenty believes Crew has moved much more quickly than D.C. school Superintendent Clifford B. Janey to enact reform plans. Even though Crew operates under a traditional school board, Fenty said the board and mayor in Miami are so weak that Crew essentially has consolidated all authority and is able to do what he wants. Fenty called on Crew again last month and set up a visit for council Chairman Vincent Gray with Crew as well.
At Thursday's hearing, Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), who opposes Fenty's plan, demanded to know whether Fenty intends to replace Janey with Crew.
"Are we going through all this because you do not want the superintendent any more?" Schwartz asked. "Is it going to be Rudy Crew? Are we going to recruit Rudy Crew?"
Fenty declined to address Janey's future, saying he will not make any decisions until he wins control.
"I don't manage like that," Fenty said. "That would be like taking the city council for granted. I will not make that decision until you give me the power to do so."
By David Nakamura |
January 19, 2007; 8:00 AM ET
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Posted by: oknow101 | January 19, 2007 04:11 PM
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The guy was smart enough to bow out of consideration long before folks realized the mess that was unfolding with DCPS and city politics. Fenty needs to be challenged on the broad question of not moving fast enough. Janey implemented a new curriculumn in a year. Mybe Fenty did not know DCPS did not have a standard curriculum. some other improvements could have been implemented if not for City interference and failures. Janey has to establish a base in the system. I am quite sure no one realized how none existent it was. Fenty would be well advised to keep this ball moving swiftly, to resolve the issue. If it is like the last time under Williams, DCPS is again in a state of flux. In the course of daily responsibilities, it is only logical for workers to look for more secure opportunities outside the agency. i for one did and have no regrets. This situation creates additional turnover, and the system loses more historical knowledge and talent. Janey may not be great, but you put others in the same situation and I would not expect it to be markedly better. None of this acknowledges the true state of our school system.