headcand.gif (1946 bytes)
hruler04.gif (5511 bytes)
DCWatch home  Archives home

Back to Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools questionnaireBack to Robert Hunter’s main page

Robert B. Hunter, Democratic Candidate for
Ward 7 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 the consent of the Council, what qualities will you look for when you approve appointed members?

Since I am not in favor with the composition of the new Board of Education and yet still having the right to approve four mayoral nominees to the School Board, I would look for these characteristics:

  1. Familiarity with public school education.
  2. Whether nominee is negative or positive as to the attending of nominees children to public schools.
  3. Nominee should discuss positive and negative factors as to the public Charter Schools.
  4. Nominees should reside as citizens in the District of Columbia.
  5. Two of the nominees must represent the majority of the African-American population in Washington, one nominee to represent the Hispanic-American the remaining nominee to represent the population that is American.

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?

a. The Board of Education is to provide the oversight of governance to the School Administration, it is not to over manage and operate a school system. Budgetary adjustments could be made to ensure the governance responsibilities of the Board.

b. The Superintendent is to be held accountable to the School Board only if we can rightly return to the prior composition of the School Board. The present arrangement makes the Superintendent accountable to the Mayor and toe new controlled Board of Education.

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 funding high quality occupational training/career opportunities that do not now exist.

a. With the presence of some thirty Public Charter Schools, ten thousand students have been removed from the D.C. Public School System. Close attention must be paid to the financial impact now occurring upon the school system's operating and capital budget.

b. The public Charter Schools are being supported by present powers associated with the Federal Government. These powers seek to provide "high quality educational programs" for children who greet and pass certain tests of acceptable cultural norms. I fear that the public schools will be forced to be daily detention centers for those students unable to crave the goals that are defined as "high quality".

c. The D.C. Council has used Industrial Revenue Bonds to finance new school construction and rehabilitation of Public Charter Schools by private architects and contractors. These schools receive millions of dollars to renovate and the buildings are made beautiful to receive and educate children. The Public Schools still have to depend on receiving moneys from a limited financial source and the ovation is presently being perforated by the U.S. Army Corps. These buildings still are unsightly and not conducive to motivating students to progress and excel in study. I would vote that the Council use Industrial Revenue Bonds to finance needed new construction and renovation in The D.C. Public School System.

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 not pass requirements and tests?

a. The School Administration should have the legislative authority to assign students to schools that meet certain achievement levels. There must be definite rules established of acceptable behavior conducive to study and to raise levels of achievement. When behavior rules are broken, then them must be a definite and conclusive dismissal policy.

b. I do not accept that children can learn the same curriculum We do worship too much sameness. I would accept a differentiated curriculum and diploma only if I am assured that both disciplines have a definite and conclusive dismissal policy. Such a policy would promote high achievement levels in both curriculums.

5. If you have children, do your children attend D.C. Public Schools? Which schools? For how long?

My spouse retired as a librarian in the D .C. Public School System. My two sons a»d one daughter are successful products of the system. The young men are graduates of Ballou High School, Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. The daughter is a graduate of Wilson High School, Hampton and Howard University.


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)