Effect of the mayoral race on DCPS

[Anonymous]

It's pretty clear that if Gray wins, then Rhee is gone (either on her own volition or with his "help"). I"m honestly terrified that this will happen. While I am no Rhee booster, I have largely supported her decisions (though not always the way change was brought about). I am honestly pretty fearful for what Gray win would mean for DCPS. I can't imagine starting over with a new Chancellor, or even with an entirely new system (I'm betting Gray won't give Chancellor as much power as Rhee has had).

Thoughts? Is this starting to make you worry about whether to leave DCPS if Gray wins and Rhee leaves?

[Anonymous]

You realize that Rhee is getting married to the Mayor of Sacramento in a week or two? Fenty has been asked, but there is no answer to the question of a Fenty win equating to 4 more years of Rhee.

The power in the Chancellor's office is granted by the City Council. This was something Gray worked hard to achieve, and fought har for while it was something Fenty voted against while he was the Ward 4 Councilmember.

This was not an issue that Fenty ran on, yet the day after the primary 4 years ago, he announced this new education plan. This upset a lot of people because they felt duped.

I am not going to say that some elements aren't better, but the school modernization plan and the funding for it was achieved during the Williams Administration - again something Gray always supported and fought for.

I wonder why he opposed it vociferously as a Councilmember?

I just don't think the magic of the office is in the person, and the person has not pledged another 4 years should Fenty win. She has only stated she wouldn't work for Gray. That is putting her interests over those of the city and the school system, and in my opinion, politicizes the school system in an inappropriate manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty clear that if Gray wins, then Rhee is gone (either on her own volition or with his "help"). I"m honestly terrified that this will happen. While I am no Rhee booster, I have largely supported her decisions (though not always the way change was brought about). I am honestly pretty fearful for what Gray win would mean for DCPS. I can't imagine starting over with a new Chancellor, or even with an entirely new system (I'm betting Gray won't give Chancellor as much power as Rhee has had).

Thoughts? Is this starting to make you worry about whether to leave DCPS if Gray wins and Rhee leaves?

NO, It does not worry me at all. Why do you put your faith in one person. The last time I checked, Rhee had not parted in waters, or anything comparable. I mean come on, she could get hit by a metro bus today or have a sudden heart attack and expire. The new chancellor will cherry pick the good low hanging fruit of Rhee's and use it for the betterment of the school system. That is exactly what Rhee did with former chancellor Janey's good ideas.

[Anonymous]

Gray has been consulting and meeting with Janey.

[Anonymous]

8:18, is this true? Wow, that would be wonderful to have Janey back.

Just a DCPS parent here, but teachers and administrators I respect in turn had a great deal of respect for Cliff Janey.

As for DCPS without Rhee, I think it's important to understand that test scores for elementary students DROPPED on Rhee's watch. While she takes credit for scores over 4 years, the test scores from 2007 were under Janey.

I think we need to keep Lew, as he has made great progress in the facilities of DCPS.

I'm ready for a real educator to run DCPS. Preferably someone with a degree or three in education, who has significant teaching experience, has run schools as a principal and a successful track record as a superintendent.

Rhee's policies destroyed the things that worked well at my child's school. I want her gone.

[Anonymous]

It's naive to worry about a Gray administration taking us backwards. Without us unwavering support as Council Chair and working lock-step with Fenty in taking mayoral control of the schools, and the unwavering support to remove facilities modernization from the wings of DCPS the imrovements we do see and feel have NOTHING TO DO WITH RHEE. As a pp said so well, the same is true of my own experience with two kids in DCPS -- Rhee's personnel blunders have worsened the climate, test scores, morale and support of families at my school. Had Dr. Janey had the same freedom awarded Rhee before he was even invited to a conversation with Fenty, and the same relief of not having to also account for broken HVAC in schools, nasty old carpets, peeling paint, etc...(because we assume whomever ran the DCPS would have been freed of the facilities, we'd see much of the same improvements without the loss of so manyh talented principals and teachers (not to say there weren't many who did need to be terminated as well).

[Anonymous]

With two kids in DCPS and over 10 years involvement in the system, I have yet to see the "loss of talented principals and teachers" beyond what could be expected in any large system through retirements, new job opportunities etc . . . What I have finally seen is a willingness to move beyond the belief that the majority of the DC student population is simply unteachable. If this means firing, excessing or simply making miserable teachers who disagree with this philosophy, then so be it. There are many wonderful teachers in the system and a growing number of good schools, but anyone involved in a school in DC can identify certain teachers every year that no one wants to be assigned to or who seem to keep their jobs despite a near unanimous lack of respect by the school community. For all her foibles, Rhee does not tolerate that continuing. And, the Gray talking point that the system is larger than any one person is just wrong. If Rhee leaves, and she will, should Gray win, it will be a setback for DCPS. Individuals do matter and in critical roles of governance are not interchangeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With two kids in DCPS and over 10 years involvement in the system, I have yet to see the "loss of talented principals and teachers" beyond what could be expected in any large system through retirements, new job opportunities etc . . . What I have finally seen is a willingness to move beyond the belief that the majority of the DC student population is simply unteachable. If this means firing, excessing or simply making miserable teachers who disagree with this philosophy, then so be it. There are many wonderful teachers in the system and a growing number of good schools, but anyone involved in a school in DC can identify certain teachers every year that no one wants to be assigned to or who seem to keep their jobs despite a near unanimous lack of respect by the school community. For all her foibles, Rhee does not tolerate that continuing. And, the Gray talking point that the system is larger than any one person is just wrong. If Rhee leaves, and she will, should Gray win, it will be a setback for DCPS. Individuals do matter and in critical roles of governance are not interchangeable.

You are ridiculous. The schools cannot and should not be about one person. Why do you and others insist on bestowing this God-like presence on Michelle Rhee, or anyone for that matter. It will not be a setback for DCPS. Things move forward. Heck, it was V. Gray who supported wrestling the schools from BOE Do you really think Fenty would have been given mayoral control of the schools if Gray had not also seen the wisdom in the move. If Gray had taken the position Fenty took when Fenty sat on the council regarding schools we would not be having this discussion. Why. . . because the schools would still be mired in the manure of BOE.

What will you say if Fenty prevails in September, it is a possibility much to my dismay, and Rhee decides to leave in June 2011 to be with her new husband. Oh, can she not be replaced. Puhleeze

[Anonymous]

But if Gray wins and Rhee leaves, whose to say the he won't replace her with someone even better qualified and outstanding for the job. See the thing I don't understand is why people are afraid the Michelle Rhee is all there is out there. Maybe Fenty felt she was the best (and who really knows what happened behind the scenes for him to feel that way.) But Gray really could appoint a top notch person who does wonders with the school system and/or continues with the changes Rhee has started and makes them even better. Gray's been around and he knows that the schools are an important area that he has to focus on. He's knows that in order to hold on to the middle class/upper middle class parents and children that are now flocking to some schools that he can't go back the bad days of DCPS.

[Anonymous]

"teachers and administrators I respect in turn had a great deal of respect for Cliff Janey."

That is scary given the crappy work he allowed to go on in the central office - the legal dept. not being able to deal with dismissals, the office not knowing who was on payroll, not getting textbooks in time or schools ready in time. Grey will mean the return of DCPS as another welfare employer for the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"teachers and administrators I respect in turn had a great deal of respect for Cliff Janey."

That is scary given the crappy work he allowed to go on in the central office - the legal dept. not being able to deal with dismissals, the office not knowing who was on payroll, not getting textbooks in time or schools ready in time. Grey will mean the return of DCPS as another welfare employer for the city.

There you go again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"teachers and administrators I respect in turn had a great deal of respect for Cliff Janey."

That is scary given the crappy work he allowed to go on in the central office - the legal dept. not being able to deal with dismissals, the office not knowing who was on payroll, not getting textbooks in time or schools ready in time. Grey will mean the return of DCPS as another welfare employer for the city.

Now that's funny, considering you don't know what the crap you are talking about. Rhee, Janey, and many of those who came before have no control over DCPS' legal department. DCPS attorneys are attorneys from the Office of Attorney General who are assigned to DCPS. The attorneys at DCPS report to Peter Nickles. You know, the attorney for the District of Columbia who actually resides in a big ass beautiful spread in McLean Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Wow, for a bunch of presumably education women, there is a lot of Rhee Kool-Aid being consumed.

Please, get beyond the self-interested Washington Post to get your information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rhee's policies destroyed the things that worked well at my child's school. I want her gone.

Ditto.

And nowhere that I've seen has Rhee commit to stay if Fenty is re-elected... only that she'll leave if Gray is elected.

[Anonymous]

Please oh! please don't bring Janey back. Does anyone realize that Rhee had a contract with Janey...and he was so awful in enacting that contract that when she complained....those with money LISTENED. Also, Janey was not the primary choice of DCPS elite when they could select a Superintendent...so for us to go back in the cubbard....is to show that what we asked for is not what we want. How fickle are the DC residents?

My 2-cents if the schools open up error free...the chances are that Fenty will squeak by... Yes, Rhee will be a newlywed and her transition will be a swan-song and therefore the transition will be smooth and uneventful. But if Grays win... there will be a lot grandstanding and flexing of muscle...and the months of uncertainty will not be pretty.

Can you imagine the power will reign if the Janey regime come back...remember people many of those were holdovers from the Vance administration...and the vengeance they will put upon people will be ruthless?

If I had my druthers....I would either like to see Rudy Crew....or Meria Carstarphen at the helm only if Rhee leaves. My long shot would be for Dr. Wilma Bonner assume the helm.