Mayor Williams on Outcome of School Governance Charter Amendment
July 7, 2000

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GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

STATEMENT OF MAYOR ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS ON OUTCOME OF REFERENDUM

"Today we learned the final results of the special election on school governance. Ultimately this election is not about who won or lost, it is not about whether people are elected or appointed to the school board, it is not about the division of class and race in our city.

"This election is about a small group of very committed, passionate individuals who went to the polls and spoke on behalf of our children and their education. As I look at the results of this election, I am troubled that almost 90 percent of our citizens did not feel compelled to exercise their vote. To achieve our city's vision for a school system that works for every student, we must garner the energy of the people who spoke with their vote to energize the majority that did not. Our challenge is to build a strong foundation for our young people.

"We have the building blocks: full funding for our schools; a reform agenda led by an experienced and committed superintendent; and a promising partnership with the business and faith communities. To turn these building blocks into a strong institution of learning for our children will require a unity of purpose from across all parts of this community: parents, teachers and principals, neighborhood and faith leaders, business people, elected officials, colleges and universities, and our young people themselves.

"To fix our city, we must fix our schools. To attract neighborhood economic development we must have an education system that works. To support our families we must give parents and students schools that are safe and nurturing. To achieve full democracy we must provide a good education to our young people. And if we are asking teachers, principals and parents to work so hard to improve schools we must provide the leadership worthy of their efforts.

"So today I am calling upon Mary Levy and Linda Moody; Phil Pannell and Bill Lightfoot; the City Council and PTA; Larry Gray and Principal Erma Fields; and all involved in this referendum to come together and work together to bring our entire city together on behalf of our youth. Our children can't wait."