D.C. special ed chief ousted

Washington, D.C. (Map, News) - Marla Oakes, the director of the District of Columbia's troubled special education system, has been relieved of her duties and transferred to another department, The Examiner has learned.

Oakes will now run a "student support team" in the nearly $1 billion school system, said Peter Nickles, top adviser to Mayor Adrian Fenty.

City officials downplayed the significance of the transfer, but Oakes presided over a system in meltdown.

Oakes didn't respond to requests for comment.

But Nickles said despite the transfer, Oakes was not being punished for failing.

"In my mind, she was the person who was leading the special ed charge back in the pre-Fenty government," Nickles told The Examiner.

She was recruited from St. Louis to run the $210 million-plus special education system by then-Superintendent Clifford Janey. She quickly won a reputation for an abrasive manner but never gained traction in the system, critics said.

"I think it's great they're moving her out," said Theresa Bollech, a parent of special education children and an activist. "Hopefully, they're going to get special education up and running now."

In the last year, the special education program has been repeatedly embarrassed by revelations of abuse, mismanagement and waste. Employees continued receiving paychecks months after they left the schools, and critics said millions of dollars went out the door to private schools and vendors without regard for the safety or welfare of the children.

Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee publicly claimed to support Oakes even after Rhee paid nearly $200,000 to hire Oakland schools official Phyllis Harris as what Rhee called a "special education czar." Oakes slowly faded from the scene: Last month, when the schools were back in court to announce a new agreement that they hope will help them dig their way out of the special education crisis, Oakes was nowhere to be seen.

The next day, Rhee was asked whether she had confidence in Oakes to carry out the necessary reforms.

"I have confidence in Phyllis Harris," Rhee said.

Rhee's spokeswoman, Mafara Hobson, declined comment for this story. bmyers@dcexaminer.com.

Got a tip on D.C.'s special education system? Call Bill Myers at 202-459-4956 or e-mail

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