July 10, 2008, 8 a.m. - D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray is planning on continuing a round of public forums held by the Committee of the Whole on the progress in modernizing and improving District of Columbia school facilities after firing off a  letter to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

“As you know, I am very troubled by the recent decision-making regarding expenditure of school modernization funds,' Gray wrote in a letter to Fenty. "I am sure everyone will be relieved to know that there has been no delay in work due to the Council’s appropriate oversight of these contracts…. 

"The public has demonstrated a high degree of interest in the substantial improvement of school facilities, and it is presently the highest priority for our capital program.  However, there is no plan or, even, agreed upon policy framework to guide the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Mr. Lew has testified that the OPEFM will have spent some $600 million by the end of this fiscal year on physical improvements to schools during his tenure. This work has occurred without a plan and with little public discussion…   

"These are not isolated concerns. The Council has been concerned about DCPS’ opaque FY09 budget, school restructuring, special education reform, career and technical education, the ongoing teachers’ contract negotiations, the management of Federal funds, not to mention the issues regarding the school closure process and the elimination of the Weighted Student Formula in favor of an inequitable alternative… 

"Some members of the media have speculated that there are problems between the two of us as reasons why the Council has begun to resist these actions.  I know that this is not the case, and I assume you feel similarly. Both of us share the view that the education of our children is at the highest priority level and, thus, I feel certain we continue to be committed to doing the best we can for our children, recognizing that, along the way, the Council has a legitimate oversight role it discharges on behalf of District residents…”

The roundtable continues to examine school modernization themes from a public roundtable on June 25, 2008, which could not be fully explored because key executive witnesses were unavailable.

The next roundtable is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber (Room 500) of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.