By jonetta rose barras Examiner Columnist
Don’t bring out that Dom Perignon just yet. It’s true Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi has certified the availability of funds for the $140 million, five-year contract between the D.C. Public Schools and the Washington Teachers’ Union.
“We aren’t to the finish line. [But] this is a major step in the right direction,” said DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee, adding that she believes WTU members will ratify the agreement and hopes “the council will approve it. This is a really good contract, not just for teachers but for kids and schools.”
That’s all true.
But, in the District, past is prologue. That means the path to WTU and council approvals will be filled with high-volume political drama.
Consider the 2004 squabble over financing for the baseball stadium as an example of what could happen: The city was poised after more than 30 years to get a baseball team; a new stadium was a prerequisite. Gandhi certified a public-private finance package. The council was divided in its support. Hoping to upend the deal, some legislators repeatedly and aggressively challenged his forecasts and accounting.
Council Chairwoman Linda Cropp initially favored the funding proposal. But, at the 11th hour, she voted against it. There was pandemonium: She and then-Mayor Anthony A. Williams fought in public; there were dozens of closed-door meetings; and fingers were seen checking wind direction. Cropp eventually voted to approve the deal. Oddly, she wasn’t even running for re-election.
But six current council members have started their campaigns. An at-large member is bidding to become the next chairman. The present chairman, Vincent C. Gray, wants to be mayor.
But six current council members have started their campaigns. An at-large member is bidding to become the next chairman. The present chairman, Vincent C. Gray, wants to be mayor.
“Certification by the CFO means a great deal, of course, and will be strongly weighed as we conduct our review,” Gray told me Tuesday. Earlier that day, his Committee of the Whole approved the mayor’s proposed 2011 budget for DCPS without reductions — although Gray said he continues to have “major concerns,” which likely will be raised each time he makes a public appearance.
Gray has built his campaign platform on education reform. Fenty has called himself the “Education Mayor.” The two politicos have been duking it out for months over who is the best reformer. The teachers union contract is the next arena for that battle.
They’re also fighting over at the WTU. President George Parker, up for re-election, faces a tough challenger — Nathan Saunders — who has called the agreement woefully inadequate and criticized Parker’s handling of teacher terminations that occurred last year.
Meanwhile, charter schools have promised to file a lawsuit if they don’t get additional money for their teachers. Court action could stall council approval.
All of this could be made moot by a fourth player: the economy. Last year, after the legislature passed the financial plan, revenue projections took a dive. The council was forced to make additional cuts to the budget. If that happens again, kiss the contract goodbye.
