Hundreds of parents and community members have signed a petition urging the D.C. Council to vote down a controversial mayoral proposal that would get rid of public hearings before the release of the annual schools budget.

The proposal, which goes before the full council today but isn’t scheduled for a vote until next month, has come under heavy fire by activists who argue that changing the timing of the hearing eliminates critically important input.

For the past 20 years the public has been able to weigh in on monetary decisions before the budget is sent to the council for approval. But under the provision, the time for comment wouldn’t come until after the proposed budget is released.

The petition also asks members of the council to force education leaders to release much more detailed budget documents.

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Since the letter began circulating on Web sites and e-mail lists on April 2, the tally of organizations and individuals signing on has steadily climbed. As of Thursday evening, there were 615 signatures. Petition supporters say the number of backers demonstrates the growing interest in gaining access to information on school finance issues.

“The petition is the manifestation of frustration that many, many people — both those with children in [D.C. Public Schools] and not — have with the lack of transparency and true community involvement that has been the norm since the mayor took office and then took over the schools,” said parent Gina Arlotto, co-founder of the group Save Our Schools. “What we have now is a police state that withholds information.”

Among those groups that have supported the petition are Empower D.C., D.C. VOICE and the Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators. Many individuals also have signed on.

Marc Borbely, activist and former teacher, told The Examiner he’s been meeting with council members all week to draw their attention to the petition. None has given their formal support yet.

Mayor Adrian Fenty’s spokeswoman has said that the purpose of the proposal is to treat D.C. Public Schools like any other government agency, whose budget hearings don’t begin until after their budgets are released.

That approach, though, troubles activists who say that the schools merit much more transparency.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com