Councilmember Marion Barry 
Comments on school closing plan
November 28, 2007

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Dear Mayor Fenty:

As some members of the Council said at our breakfast this morning, we support the rapid transformation of our public school system and making it one of the best school systems in the world. As you are aware, we started this educational journey as a true partnership; however, as the Chairman Gray pointed out this morning, the Council has been repeatedly put into a reactive mode rather than a collaborative and cooperative one.

It is disrespectful and wrong to brief the Council on school closings after this story appeared in the Washington Post. I later found out that some members of the business communities were briefed several weeks ago. Moreover, the principals at the affected schools were only briefed this morning, November 28, 2007. The parents and students don’t know what to expect next. It is unfair, wrong, and disrespectful as it relates to this group of citizens.

In looking at the plan (given to us this morning) there does not seem to be much logic, analysis, or the consequences of some of the proposed closings. You should make it very clear to the public that members of the City Council were not in on the planning and had no discussions with you or the Chancellor about these proposals. As a result of your actions, you now have parents, teachers, council members, and other parts of the community in an uproar.

Many parents are now more worried about where their children will be attending school rather than participating in helping their children with their homework and other activities. Teachers and other staff are worried more about whether or not they will have a job than teaching and encouraging children to be the best they can be.

I urge you to fully involve the Council and the community in a true partnership so that we can all keep our focus on the children in being the best they can be. 

Sincerely,

Marion Barry
Councilmember Ward Eight

Cc: Chairman Vincent Gray
Members of the Council of the District of Columbia