June 18, 2008
22 DCPS Assistant Principals Shown the Door
Last month, D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee drew some heat for not renewing the contracts of 24 principals, including the principal of Oyster Adams Bilingual Elementary, where her daughters attend. This afternoon, she continued her crack down on administrators, firing 22 assistant principals, who like principals, work on year to year contracts. No specific reasons have been given for the terminations, which is consistent with DCPS's policy of not disclosing personnel details.
DCPS spokesperson Mafara Hobson wrote in an email, "Both principals and assistant principals serve at the will of the chancellor. The decisions were made based on the chancellor's consultation with principals and instructional superintendents."
D.C. Wire has more, including intentions from the Council of School Officers to ask the D.C. Council to investigate the firings. Such an investigation would largely be a protest gesture, as the positions are under Rhee's authority, not the council's, but considering the ire Rhee drew for the last round of terminations, it's not surprising that some are crying foul.
Photo by terecico




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"Serve at the will of the chancellor [!]"
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@16th Street Line: Totally, "Paging Senator Palpatine..."
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I would love to see a list of who was let go, so that we could start a betting pool on who ends up getting rehired in August because DCPS couldn't get enough warm bodies to apply. Betting pool, anyone?
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They won't get rehired...you can't fire admins during the school session so what choice does she have?
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There's always the chance that they could be (re)hired by the MPD. Stranger things have happened there.
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why should rhee attempt to attack the root causes of continued school failure? that's too hard so i can see why she's focusing on superficial solutions.
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In happier DCPS related news, Thursday is the last day Michael Patrei's documentary about the Ballou Marching Band will be playing at the Landmark E Street Cinema. Check it out if you can!
http://www.balloumovie.com/
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Ok, i'll ask. So what's the root causes she needs to be attacking, Soulquarian84?
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Ballou Marching Band: Heartwarming story. Great choreography and uniforms. Nice film. Sigh. If only the band sounded good. Get music education back into DCPS now.
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hey mike, they're kids, not professional musicians. have you seen the film? it's terrifically uplifting and makes you feel damn good about the city, and the kids at ballou specifically. i'd cut them a little slack.
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Good ol' Oyster Adams. He was a drunk and a dirty ol' cuss, but he sure liked drivin' that ol' school bus.