A Congressional hearing dealt with issues related to the repair program and facilities master plan of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). Opening remarks by Representative Thomas M. Davis outlined his concern over the delayed opening of the DCPS in the fall of 1997 because of uncompleted roof repairs, and the results from a performance audit of the DCPS under contract to the D.C. Control Board. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton followed, stating her position on the issue of the D.C. Control Board coming to Congress for a legislative solution. The first panel to testify consisted of Mary Filardo, Director, 21st Century School Fund; William R. Lawson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration; and Jonathan Miller, Project Manager, Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall Architects. The second panel to testify consisted of auditors that conducted a performance audit of the District school system: Andrew Brimmer, Chairman, D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority; David Cotton, Cotton & Company; Ed Fritts, Senior Manager, Cotton & Company; and Marvin Allmond, Managing Partner, Allmond & Company. The final panel to testify included Anthony Williams, D.C, Chief Financial Officer; Ed Stephenson, Chief Financial Officer, DCPS; Dr. Bruce MacLaury, Chairman, DCPS Emergency Trustee Board; General Julius Becton, Chief Executive Officer, DCPS; and General Charles E. Williams, Chief Operating Officer, DCPS. The transcribed comments and prepared statements are supplemented by letters, statements, and other documents submitted for the record. (JM)

The focus of this hearing was on lessons learned in the District of Columbia public schools in the year preceding the hearing. In his opening remarks, Senator Brownback (Kansas) remarked that one of the first lessons is that the academic quality of the schools is not good enough and is in dire need of improvement. A second set of lessons focuses on discipline and school safety. The first hearing witness was Gloria L. Jarmon, of the U.S. General Accounting Office, who spoke about the funding of school repairs in the District of Columbia. Delays in school repairs hindered the operation of the District schools in the preceding year. The second speaker, David L. Cotton, accompanied by Ed Fritts and Marvin Allmond who were members of a firm that audited the District of Columbia schools procurement process. Irregularities in the procurement process and the need for further investigation were pointed out. The statement of Joyce Ladner of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority discussed the steps taken to improve the poor condition of the District's schools and instructional effectiveness. Accomplishments that began to put into place the foundations of better learning, including administrative changes, were outlined. The testimony of Julius W. Becton, Jr., the Superintendent of Schools, reviewed the progress made in the relatively short time in which the newly appointed administration has operated. Improvements to facilities and personnel and financial management were outlined. The final panelist was Taalib-Din Uqdah, businessman and custodial parent of D.C. public school students, who spoke about the expectations and experiences of parents for their children's schools. An appendix contains supporting material from the Government Accounting Office and the school system, as well as prepared statements of some of the speakers. (SLD)