Labor & Employment Law

D.C. School Chief?s Actions Hurting School Children

By James Parks

The latest controversy over the Washington, D.C., school budget is another example of schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s “penchant to act without crossing all of her ‘t’s,’” writes Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post’s Answer Sheet blog.

The current budget flap came after Rhee agreed to give teachers raises without first checking with the city’s top financial officer, who now is refusing to certify the deal with the Washington Teachers’ Union/AFT. The union also is suing Rhee over the firing of 266 teachers last October after it was revealed the system had a $34 million surplus, more than enough to keep the teachers on board.

Strauss says Rhee’s attitude and missteps are hurting her credibility, but in the end, hurt D.C. school children:

She can make bold pronouncements and she can start all kinds of new programs. But if she keeps damaging her own credibility, it is not likely that she will be in the city for the very long term to see that the reforms are put in place. And yet again, D.C. school kids will be left behind.

Check out the entire post here.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on May 03, 2010 (boomark / email).