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Back to Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools questionnaireBack to Jack Evans’s home page

Jack Evans, Democratic Candidate for
Ward 2 Councilmember in the September 12, 2000, Primary
Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools Questionnaire
August 2000

1) Since the Mayor appoints four School Board members with consent of the Council, what qualities will you look for when you approve appointed members?

We must recruit individuals who are:

  • experts in finance and/or management;
  • highly knowledgeable of education policy and reform;
  • able to devote the considerable time and energy this position will require; and
  • well versed in the issues and challenges of the District's many distinct neighborhoods

2) What is the difference between oversight and 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?

When I ran for mayor in 1998 there was one question which was asked at each of the 79 candidate forums: if elected Mayor, what will you do to repair the DC school system? As I run for re-election to the DC Council, I am again hearing the same question. Clearly, residents want all of their elected officials to help improve our schools. That was one of the reasons I actively supported the June referendum to restructure the school board.

However, there is a fine line between vigorous oversight and micro-management. Crossing this line results in confusion and delays which ultimately harm the students. The Council and Mayor must be an aggressive steward of the funds appropriated to the school system and thoroughly examine how money is being spent and if it is being spent well. The Council and Mayor should also comment on broad policy issues. But, the Council and the Mayor should not be involved in the day-to-day decisions of the Superintendent, nor should we second guess the superintendent on routine matters. This oversight is the responsibility of the School Board. The most effective way to ensure the Superintendent is accountable to the School Board on most decisions and to the Mayor/Council on policy and budget issues is to simply respect these boundaries.

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

I voted in this year's budget to provide full funding for the DC school system. I will continue to vote for full funding under the weighted student formula. However, I must note the weighted student formula can harm small schools and create the perverse incentive to close small schools. We must recognize this dynamic and provide safeguards which will allow small schools to continue to function without fear of being shut down.

I do support financing new school construction and rehabilitation and I look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the school planning area committee which should be the basis of these decisions. I also support funding high quality occupational training/career development opportunities. Much of the work I have done with the construction of the new convention center has focused on providing such opportunities to area residents. As such, I would welcome additional resources in this area. Finally, while on the subject of the school budget, let me note I support the concept of changing the school system's fiscal year budget cycle to begin in the summer and not in October once the school year has started.

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?

As discussed in the second question, the role of the Council is to appropriate funds (ideally full funding) and ensure this money is effectively spent. In regard to a differentiated diploma, I do not support this concept. I feel this is a band-aid approach to "fixing" the current problem of the many children in the DC school system who are not prepared to graduate. I am concerned a differentiated diploma will enable the many dysfunctional problems of the DC school system to continue. Instead, we must address
the issues which have led to the high rate of students not being able to meet the basic graduation requirements.

5) If you have children, do (did) your children attend DC Public Schools?

My wife, Noel, and I have triplets: Katherine, John and Christine. Since they are three years old, then are not old enough to attend school.


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