DCPS Press Release
District of Columbia, D.C. Public Schools, and Plaintiffs’ Class Counsel Agree to Resolve a Receivership Motion
June 25, 2003

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District of Columbia Public Schools • Office of Communications and public Information
825 North Capitol Street, NE • 7th Floor • Washington, DC 20002 • Tel, (202) 442-5635 • Fax: (202) 442-5418 • www.kl2.dc.us

Dr. Paul L. Vance, Superintendent

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND PLAINTIFFS' CLASS COUNSEL AGREE TO RESOLVE A RECEIVERSHIP MOTION
"Transportation Administrator Proposed to Implement Long-Term Improvements"

Washington, DC - The federal court has approved a recommendation of the Special Master in the Petties, et al. v. D.C., et al. class action lawsuit supporting an agreement reached among the parties with facilitation by the Special Master. The agreement resolves the issues in the Petition for Receivership filed by class counsel in January 2003.

The order appoints an independent Transportation Administrator for the D.C. Public Schools. The independent administrator, specifically David Gilmore, Gilmore Kean, LLC, will be responsible for implementing necessary longterm institutional improvements to DCPS' transportation system to ensure the safe, timely and appropriate provision of transportation services to students with disabilities. The parties agreed that Mr. Gilmore possesses the required management qualifications and experience to assume the role of transportation administrator. David Gilmore served the District of Columbia most recently as the receiver for the Housing Authority, and successfully moved that agency forward. Mr. Gilmore is charged with the management and supervision of the operations of DCPS's transportation services,.

The Petties case was filed in 1995, and has resulted in a number of orders seeking to remedy allegations related to the transportation of D.C. students with disabilities. Although DCPS notes that some progress has been made since the case was filed, the parties agree that the appointment of an independent administrator at this time will serve the best interests of students with transportation needs. The District of Columbia and DCPS will remain intimately involved with, and responsible for, providing those services in a safe, timely and appropriate manner as required under applicable law, through a collaborative, cooperative relationship with the administrator under the terms of the agreement.

"Our clients have waited a long time for this," said Kelly Bagby of University Legal Services, one of the lawyers representing those students with special needs who rely upon the DCPS transportation system to get to and from school each day.

"We have improved transportation since my arrival at DCPS," said Dr. Paul Vance. "However, we still face challenges that an experienced executive like David Gilmore will be able to help us resolve."

The court filed the order this afternoon.