Sandy Allen, Democratic Candidate for
Ward 8 Councilmember in the
September 12, 2000, Primary
Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools Questionnaire
August 2000

The most important thing to me is the children. Who will put our children first when making decisions about our schools? Too many of our kids are not having their needs met by our schools. I want School Board Members who will work with me to assure our children are safe, nurtured, and receiving the quality education our children need to succeed in life.

Next, it is very important to me that we have School Board Members appointed from east of the river. It is not sufficient for someone to understand the issues facing our children and families; they must LIVE our issues. It is well known that we have the most children attending our public schools and we have the highest number of children struggling to succeed in our public schools.

Lastly, I believe we need to select School Board Members who will make it a priority to treat our parents second only to the children as the most important people served by our public schools. Someone can have all the degrees in the world and not understand that if we don't serve our parents well, they will look to educate their children elsewhere.

2. What is the difference between oversight end micro-management of the school system? What is the role of the Council with respect to public schools since some members of the School Board now have a relationship with the Council? How will you assure that the Superintendent is accountable to the School Board rather than pulled between the Mayor, Council and School Board?

As everyone knows, I opposed the recent referendum restructuring oar School Board for many of the reasons touched upon by the issues raised by these questions. But, it is now verb important for our city to move forward in supporting the new School Board as it performs the duties outlined in the new law. The School Board will hire and oversee the School Superintendent, not the Council or the Mayor. The Superintendent is clearly accountable to the School Board.

The Council will let its views be known about the performance of our entire school system in our annual budget process. The City Council is accountable to the citizens of the District of Columbia for seeing that our tax dollars are spent wisely.

As to individual School Board Members, the role of the Council is to evaluate the Mayor's appointments for the new School Board and then approve or reject their appointment based upon his or appropriateness for the position. Our relationship with the appointees should not extend beyond that except to work with the full School Board.

3. What steps would you take to see that the schools system's operating budget and capital budget are adequately funded to meet the student's needs for a high quality educational program? Please include comments on financing for new school construction and rehabilitation and funding high quality occupational training/career development opportunities which do not now exist.

The City Council just approved the largest school budget in the history of our city. I intend to continue to work to see that our school system has the funding needed for meeting the needs of our children.

The condition of our school buildings is a major problem facing our city. We must be creative and determined to see that all school facilities are highly conducive for learning for our children and a comfortable place to work for our school personnel. We must also plan for the future. I am committed to assuring that we have the funding necessary to meet our building needs and I will continue to advocate for our parents and community members remain a key part of the planning process.

As for occupational training/career development opportunities, we have allowed our vocational educational programs to fall from one of the best supported programs in the nation to one of the least. The energy focussed by our previous School Superintendent on standardized testing and implementation of the weighted student formula may have caused the school system to neglect these important programs.

4. Our older students have such low achievement levels that will not graduate with competitive skills unless they receive additional support. What are you willing to do to help the school system raise achievement at the high school level? Would you accept differentiated diplomas so that students who do not pass requirements and tests receive a diploma that is different from the diploma for students who do pass requirements and tests?

The School Board, the superintendent and the new state education agency (The City Council "May create a state education agency..." under the new Charter Amendment) should answer these questions. They are important questions that I share with you and say constituents of Ward 8. I pledge to work with Parents United to make sure that this remains a priority for our education leaders.

As a parent, mentor and Ward 8 citizen, it hurts me deeply to see a young person go through twelve years of school and not only miss the skills needed to get a good job but also not 6e allowed to cress the stage on graduation day. I support weekend and summer programs to improve students' performance and I will back any reasonable strategy proposed by our school system to address this problem, Families with children, who go to school and do what they are supposed to do, deserve to have the opportunity to celebrate and honor their child as a high school graduate.

5. If you have children, do (did) your children attend D.C. Public Schools?

Yes

Which School(s)? Hendley Elementary, Francis Junior High, & Bell Vocational High School.

For how long? My two sons attended D.C- Public Schools all their school lives.