The D.C. Council is meeting for the final day of its summer session as we speak, and as we mentioned in this morning’s roundup, a confirmation vote for deputy mayor for education Victor Reinoso has been postponed until at least September. But other key Fenty school takeover appointments are expected to be confirmed today, including Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Allen Lew, acting director of the new Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization.
Yesterday, Lew testified before the Council that the so-called $100 million “School Repair Blitz” announced by then-Superintendent Clifford Janey and School Board President Robert Bobb in February is, predictably, seriously behind schedule. Both the Post and the Examiner have stories about the hearing, in which Lew describes inadequate work orders and miscommunication associated with the “Blitz,” such as a repair order for a leaking roof that did not include funding to fix gutters to prevent the leak from coming back.
Mayor Fenty himself promised the repairs associated with the “Blitz” would be completed by the time school starts in the fall, but Lew is now saying that won’t happen. Backlogged repairs will now take up to six months longer, according to Lew. The Council does seem to still be drawing a distinct line between school initiatives spearheaded by Janey and Bobb and those that are part of the Fenty plan, however — Fenty may have put his word behind Janey and Bobb’s “Blitz,” but Council members such as Marion Barry were quoted yesterday as being grateful that the city has “a change coming” and are expected to confirm Lew with full confidence.
UPDATE: As expected, the D.C. Council has confirmed both Michelle Rhee as Schools Chancellor and Allen Lew as director of the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization.
Photo by andertho
