Council members accuse Rhee of breaking law in teacher showdown
By: Leah Fabel
Examiner Staff Writer
October 30, 2009
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| D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee argued that disregarding the city council’s decision to cut more than $9 million from summer school was legally defensible. (Andrew Harnik/Examiner) |
D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray accused Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee in a daylong showdown Thursday of breaking a law that led to the firing of nearly 400 teachers and school staff earlier this month.
Rhee argued that her decision to blatantly disregard the city council's July decision to cut more than $9 million from summer school was both legally defensible and made with the interest of students in mind.
The battle is part of a two-year struggle for control of the direction of the school system. The recent round of firings led to an explosion of anger among teachers, union officials and council members who felt they were left in the dark as Rhee made her decisions.
"I was unwilling to make that cut [to summer school], and I decided that as unfortunate as it was, I'd rather see [cuts] happen to adults than to children," Rhee said.
The $9 million was part of an approximately $40 million shortfall cited by the schools as reason for the firings, which were determined by principals according to teacher merit and not in the traditional "last in, first out" fashion preferred by the unions.
Rhee cited the importance of summer school in boosting the District's dismal graduation rates and allowing lagging students to regain lost credits.
"Are you aware you're not under the authority to [reallocate funds]?" Gray asked, before adding, "Why bother to have a legislative body at all?"
Councilman David Catania led the schools chancellor's defense, saying council approval for the funds transfer would not legally be required until June, when summer school begins.
Murmurs and occasional applause both from Rhee's supporters and detractors could be heard throughout the hearing, which lasted nearly nine hours and included city finance officials.
D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi faced ire from the council for not knowing ahead of time about the impending budget problems and the potential for a mass layoff.
"This is an extremely complicated and complex system," Gandhi said.
Even so, he conceded that a lack of communication between himself and schools CFO Noah Wepman contributed to the council's confusion.
Councilman Jack Evans, typically a reliable Rhee supporter, demanded better communication from her for reforms to move forward.
"We cannot have this craziness. We need to pull together behind some process," he said. "We're better poised for success than we've been in my 18 years on the council, and yet we're sitting in a chamber where tension couldn't be higher."
