District of Columbia Public School Superintendent Clifford Janey faced a combative D.C. Council during an oversight education hearing Tuesday, just hours after Mayor Adrian Fenty received a warm reception from the same panel on his school takeover bill.

Janey testified about the state of the systems progress at a time when Fenty is seeking to eliminate the power of the Board of Education.

“I am aware that neither the Council, nor some residents of this city believe the positive results are being realized quickly enough,” Janey told members of the Committee of the Whole. “Education experts know there is no quick fix to the myriad of problems that have plagued urban school districts for decades.”

An independent audit of the District’s finances released earlier this month indicated that the public schools’ finances could hurt the city’s bond ratings, affecting its ability to borrow money. In April, the U.S. Department of Education designated the public school system as a "high-risk" recipient of federal funds.

This story continues below
Advertisement

Council Member David Catania, I-at large, questioned Janey and school officials at length about Medicaid and the District’s high special-education costs. He asked Chair Vincent Gray for an additional round of questioning late Tuesday after expressing dissatisfaction with initial answers. School officials testified about confusing data-tracking systems that functioned improperly.

“It just seems to me that you should get to the bottom of how you should be financing these services,” Catania told Janey and school officials.

The Council’s reception of Janey could indicate an unfavorable reaction to the man who has led the District’s 142 public schools since 2004. Fenty has not said how or whether he plans to include Janey in his administration if his takeover succeeds as it is expected to.

Janey, who received a $250,000 annual salary, is the District’s top paid official. His contract with the Board of Education expires in 2009.

cmabeus@dcexaminer.com