January 13, 2000
Mayor Williams' School Reform Plan Picks Up Momentum And Supporters
Greater Washington Board of Trade Adds Support Of Business Community
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Mayor Anthony A. Williams welcomed the support of the Greater Washington Board of Trade for his bold plan to fix District of Columbia Public Schools and assure quality education for District students.
"Now that the Board of Trade has joined the D.C. Chamber of Commerce in endorsing the proposal, there's a real sense that the momentum is going our way," said Mayor Williams. "Parents, educators, activists, and other concerned citizens are coming together around an agenda of reform-reform that will stop the finger-pointing and make the mayor clearly accountable for improving our schools. If residents continue to voice their concerns to the Council, I'm optimistic that we will get legislation that brings accountability to our school system."
Of the Board of Trade endorsement, Williams said: "It's no accident this reform initiative is drawing support from the business community. Improving our school system is absolutely critical to continuing economic growth and making the District a business-friendly city. If there is one single thing we can do to prevent another exodus of businesses and families from the city, it's fix the schools."
Williams and others have criticized the existing system-under which seven separate entities share responsibility for schools-for lending itself to finger-pointing and buck-passing. This new system, modeled after successful efforts in Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and other cities, would make the Mayor and the Council clearly accountable for fixing the schools. If approved in a citywide referendum, the proposal would create an appointed school board and an appointed superintendent, who would serve as a member of the Mayor's Cabinet.
