Effect of the mayoral race on DCPS

[Anonymous]

I say make Cathy Lanier...the new leader of DCPS....her approval rate is surpassing all the candidates.

[Anonymous]

Janey couldn't do much with the Central Ofc. mess because he had to deal with the BOE, had he been dealing directly with the Counsel and a supportive Mayor he, too, would have streamlined Central Ofc. MAYORAL CONTROL MEANS MAYORAL CONTROL, a BRAND NEW CONCEPT SUPPORTED BY ALL ON THE COUNSEL NOW AND THE CURRENT MAYORAL RIVALS. Half of the Central Office MESS was THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, and we all know that the new Chancellor or Super. wouldn't have had to deal with that mess. Do your research, Rhee Fanatics. Play the last video of her mocking poor children, the incidents may have been 18 years back but her lack of polish and professionalism is evident right now.

[Anonymous]

Rhee is accountable to no one. A great deal of her budget actually sits in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, which means that Charter school parents are not getting their fair share of the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula. Charter School parents should be trying to push Rhee out of the door as quickly as possible. In addition, 38% of the students in DC attend Charters. Where is the Mayor's leadership on that?

Anyone could succeed if they did not have to be accountable to anyone. Why has Rhee not addressed the huge special education problems in the city. It is costing city taxpayers more than $300MM, yet her office has done nothing to deal with that. Why do so many special education students attend very expensive private schools instead of DCPS? Why doesn't she understand her budget? She says that the CFO neglected to give her information, but I can assure you that that is not true.

Education in DC includes more people than Michelle Rhee. What has Kerri Briggs done as Superintendent of Education - nothing. What has Victor Rheinoso done as Deputy Mayor of Education - nothing.

The reality is that schools west of the park and in Capitol Hill have always been good. Where is the progress in other parts of the City?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Janey couldn't do much with the Central Ofc. mess because he had to deal with the BOE, had he been dealing directly with the Counsel and a supportive Mayor he, too, would have streamlined Central Ofc. MAYORAL CONTROL MEANS MAYORAL CONTROL, a BRAND NEW CONCEPT SUPPORTED BY ALL ON THE COUNSEL NOW AND THE CURRENT MAYORAL RIVALS. Half of the Central Office MESS was THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, and we all know that the new Chancellor or Super. wouldn't have had to deal with that mess. Do your research, Rhee Fanatics. Play the last video of her mocking poor children, the incidents may have been 18 years back but her lack of polish and professionalism is evident right now.

I was very upset with Fenty that he called for the mayoral takeover after he won the Democratic primary and I felt that he didn't do a good job of convincing me why it would be a good thing. But I have to say that while I am appalled by Rhee and want her to go, I can now see why a mayoral takeover has the potential for improving the school system. But Fenty has to realize -- mayoral takeover means mayoral responsibility. The buck stops with him now and he has to take the consequences and/or reap the rewards.

At any rate, it would be interesting to see what a more experienced educational leader would do in the Chancellor's position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Janey couldn't do much with the Central Ofc. mess because he had to deal with the BOE, had he been dealing directly with the Counsel and a supportive Mayor he, too, would have streamlined Central Ofc. MAYORAL CONTROL MEANS MAYORAL CONTROL, a BRAND NEW CONCEPT SUPPORTED BY ALL ON THE COUNSEL NOW AND THE CURRENT MAYORAL RIVALS. Half of the Central Office MESS was THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, and we all know that the new Chancellor or Super. wouldn't have had to deal with that mess. Do your research, Rhee Fanatics. Play the last video of her mocking poor children, the incidents may have been 18 years back but her lack of polish and professionalism is evident right now.

Now that's a laugh. Most of the people on DCUM could care less for poor children. As long as their school is not affected, thus their children, who gives a flying hoot about these children. That's the irony of these rabid Rhee supporters.

[Anonymous]

17:30, I hope you are under-estimating the people who blog on to this site. Most parents I've met over the last 8 or so years in DCPS have, like me, cherished the opportunity to blend our own into a true melting pot of humanity. We adults may have baggage and imprints forced upon us since our own childhood, but sending your own off with love to an equal playing field, public education, is the dream and why some of us who have choices stay in the fight. It's worth it. I'm sure you're wrong to laugh that all DCUM posters are in the gutter, morally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I have finally seen is a willingness to move beyond the belief that the majority of the DC student population is simply unteachable.

In all my years in DC, I never heard of that "belief" until Rhee got here - saying that that's what other people believed.

I can't believe so many people have fallen for this. It's disheartening.

What heard in the past is that much has to change in the lives of some of our neediest children in order for them to be able to achieve adequately. Now Rhee says all that's needed is effective teachers.

Three years later and elementary scores are down and many of the teachers she's hired are completely inexperienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janey couldn't do much with the Central Ofc. mess because he had to deal with the BOE, had he been dealing directly with the Counsel and a supportive Mayor he, too, would have streamlined Central Ofc. MAYORAL CONTROL MEANS MAYORAL CONTROL, a BRAND NEW CONCEPT SUPPORTED BY ALL ON THE COUNSEL NOW AND THE CURRENT MAYORAL RIVALS. Half of the Central Office MESS was THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, and we all know that the new Chancellor or Super. wouldn't have had to deal with that mess. Do your research, Rhee Fanatics. Play the last video of her mocking poor children, the incidents may have been 18 years back but her lack of polish and professionalism is evident right now.

Now that's a laugh. Most of the people on DCUM could care less for poor children. As long as their school is not affected, thus their children, who gives a flying hoot about these children. That's the irony of these rabid Rhee supporters.

Well, it's a laugh, but not quite in the way you seem to think. Sorry, but only the most deranged Rhee-haters could listen to that audio and hear anything but self-deprecation and love for the kids she served.

More ALL CAPS please, it seems that's the only support your argument has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[
More ALL CAPS please, it seems that's the only support your argument has.

Calling anyone who criticizes Rhee a deranged Rhee hater seems to go a long way too.

[Anonymous]

Case in point....Eastern High School is getting ready to open to 192 students this Monday and have you heard about any ribbon-cutting??? Grand-opening or whatso-ever? This is the first comprehensive high-school to be completed renovated...this is a coup in itself. See, just 10 years ago...Eastern High School was not even on the radar to be renovated so quickly. Yet...the phase out and phase in project is working relatively nice. But I think it is an appaling shame that opening day of school will be marked with a little excitement. Why heck, it was just years ago...when the news media, DCPS and everyone was out front when the school was in chaos on the first day of school. Now, here we are and no one is seeing that it is worthy to celebrate. Yes, that should effect the mayoral race.

[Anonymous]

But it was on the radar because of the very news events you cite, which is why Tony Williams instituted a plan to modernize the schools, starting with places like Eastern.

Now you have a shiny new school building while others schools are in mid repair, or just starting (like Wilson High School).

But, this was all started long before Fenty was a Council member, much less Mayor.

Thanks Tony Williams!

[Anonymous]

Everything that Fenty tries to take credit for was initially generated by the Williams administration. If he wins reelection, I think that people will start to realize over the next four years that there is no planning or real organization to his administration---it's all cronyism and knee-jerk responses. Criticizing unions does not equal being competent to run a government.

[Anonymous]

Whatever happened to Fenty's "bull pen", the open office plan a la his real boss, Bloomberg of NYC? Remember all that transparency stuff?? Does anyone know if he's still in the bull pen? Or just smarting in his SmartCar with a bad mood on as spotted around DC recently...

[Anonymous]

Honest Question for Fenty (and Rhee) Supporters:

Do you KNOW that Rhee will be here for the next four years? Has this been stated or pledged anywhere?

I haven't seen it stated, promised or pledged, but given that she is marrying the mayor of Sacramento in September, I have a hard time believing Rhee is going to be in DC over the long term.

Please provide a link or an article that states this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Case in point....Eastern High School is getting ready to open to 192 students this Monday and have you heard about any ribbon-cutting??? Grand-opening or whatso-ever? This is the first comprehensive high-school to be completed renovated...this is a coup in itself. See, just 10 years ago...Eastern High School was not even on the radar to be renovated so quickly. Yet...the phase out and phase in project is working relatively nice. But I think it is an appaling shame that opening day of school will be marked with a little excitement. Why heck, it was just years ago...when the news media, DCPS and everyone was out front when the school was in chaos on the first day of school. Now, here we are and no one is seeing that it is worthy to celebrate. Yes, that should effect the mayoral race.

The decision to renovate Eastern was made under Janey, not Rhee.