Logosm.gif (1927 bytes)
navlinks.gif (4688 bytes)
Hruler04.gif (5511 bytes)

Back to public schools main pageTo the Control Board's order

Control Board fails to address school governance issue
Statement by Wilma Harvey, President of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia
February 12, 1998

Home

Bibliography

Calendar

Columns
Dorothy Brizill
Bonnie Cain
Jim Dougherty
Gary Imhoff
Phil Mendelson
Mark David Richards
Sandra Seegars

DCPSWatch

DCWatch Archives
Council Period 12
Council Period 13
Council Period 14

Election 1998
Election 2000
Election 2002

Elections
Election 2004
Election 2006

Government and People
ANC's
Anacostia Waterfront Corporation
Auditor
Boards and Com
BusRegRefCom
Campaign Finance
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Management Officer
City Council
Congress
Control Board
Corporation Counsel
Courts
DC2000
DC Agenda
Elections and Ethics
Fire Department
FOI Officers
Inspector General
Health
Housing and Community Dev.
Human Services
Legislation
Mayor's Office
Mental Health
Motor Vehicles
Neighborhood Action
National Capital Revitalization Corp.
Planning and Econ. Dev.
Planning, Office of
Police Department
Property Management
Public Advocate
Public Libraries
Public Schools
Public Service Commission
Public Works
Regional Mobility Panel
Sports and Entertainment Com.
Taxi Commission
Telephone Directory
University of DC
Water and Sewer Administration
Youth Rehabilitation Services
Zoning Commission

Issues in DC Politics

Budget issues
DC Flag
DC General, PBC
Gun issues
Health issues
Housing initiatives
Mayor’s mansion
Public Benefit Corporation
Regional Mobility
Reservation 13
Tax Rev Comm
Term limits repeal
Voting rights, statehood
Williams’s Fundraising Scandals

Links

Organizations
Appleseed Center
Cardozo Shaw Neigh.Assoc.
Committee of 100
Fed of Citizens Assocs
League of Women Voters
Parents United
Shaw Coalition

Photos

Search

What Is DCWatch?

themail archives

Contact: Mary Bunn, 724-4289

I will not address the question of whether the Control Board's order today which reestablishes the Emergency Board of Trustees' direction of the DC public schools meets objections of the U.S. Appeals Court in its ruling in Shook, et al. v. Control Board. The plaintiffs in this case will respond later today.

Let me make it clear that [the] Control Board has not met with the Board of Education in official meetings nor has it communicated in writing to review options for increasing citizens' ability to be informed and involved in their public schools. We both have had time to reflect on the options and get advice from others whose counsel we value and we are prepared for a discussion that would serve the public good.

Again, let me make it clear that the Board of Education is ready and prepared to communicate with the Control Board regarding a process for effective oversight of our resources and critical involvement of citizens as policies are developed for their schools.

The current structure of the Board of Trustees is not working. I am the only member that has been elected and I am the only link between the Trustees and the elected Board of Education. Instead of benefiting from this connection to citizens, however, the Trustees have repeatedly failed to provide to me and past Board of Education president Don Reeves personal communications and courtesy copies of materials we should have received officially, both in our roles as president of the Board of Education and in our roles as official members of the Board of Trustees. The elected Board President is treated as a second-class "representative to" the Board of Trustees rather than as a full member with the right to participate in all meetings, to receive all relevant agenda matters in a timely manner and to have at least equal weight in consideration of Board of Trustees positions and recommendations.

The closed door policy of the Trustees serves only the Trustees. We are not under martial law and there is no other rationale as far as I am concerned for a public body to conduct public business in the dark.

Again, I want to be clear that until we have had a formal review of the options and the Board of Education has formally expressed its concurrence, any action taken by the Board of Trustees and the Control Board to unilaterally establish a new procedure, structure and mandate for the Board of Trustees does not have my support and does not represent my position, either as President of the elected Board of Education or as a full member of the Board of Trustees.

Back to top of page


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)