Norton Asks Unknown Senator Reviewing School Plan to Indicate Any Concerns Now (5/18/07)

Washington, DC--Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called on the Senator who is still reviewing the District's new school plan to call Mayor Adrian Fenty as soon as possible for clarification on any issues that may concern him or her. Norton gave 202-727-6300 as a number that might be used. No senator has put a "hold" on the bill since Senator Ben Cardin released his hold several days ago. However, as soon as the House passed the bill, Norton requested that the Senate pass the bill by "unanimous consent" to avoid the more lengthy and cumbersome committee process, to respect the home rule process that involved many hearings. However, any senator may anonymously request time to review the bill when unanimous consent has been requested. Norton got the bill quickly through the House on a similar procedure, avoiding committee hearings and using the House suspension calendar for non-controversial matters. Members of the House and Senate have been urging the city to overhaul its school system for years.

The Congresswoman believes that the Senator or staff reviewing the bill may be unaware of the urgency and burden on a new city administration that must now for the first time assume full and direct control and responsibility of an entire school system, from book orders, curriculum and personnel to immunizations, building construction, and maintenance. "The schools in the District are about to close," Norton said, "The Fenty Administration will have its hands full to do the serious work required before school opens." Although work has been proceeding for months, the city needs to know if any senator has a problem with the bill now "or the children and their parents could be caught in the middle," Norton said. "I urge the Senator reviewing the bill to either release it immediately or to call Mayor Adrian Fenty for any clarification that may be needed."

Norton has expressed no view on the Fenty proposal. She believes that, however, before any member of Congress may view the plan, it is city officials, who have direct knowledge of the details, who must take full responsibility, and therefore, home rule should be respected.