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Evans proposes autonomy, taxing authority for elected school board
(Published November 17, 2003)

Acknowledging his frustration over current proposals to revamp public school governance in the District, Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans says he will propose legislation to give an elected D.C. Board of Education taxing authority and total control over the city’s schools.

Evans, speaking live Nov. 14 on WAMU’s weekly "D.C. Politics Hour" radio show, noted that his proposal "is the way it’s done in 70 percent of the school districts in the country" but a change in the District’s "home rule" charter would be required.

A charter change approved by D.C. voters in June 2000, which created the current "hybrid" elected-appointed school board, empowers the city council to determine the future governance structure for D.C. Public Schools after June 2004 without further voter approval.

"It’s time to stop the charade some elected officials play of saying we want an elected school board but just don’t give them the power of an elected body," Evans said today in his weekly constituent newsletter. "That’s ludicrous. If you really want to have an elected board, then do the right thing and give them full budget authority."

Evans said he will propose that an elected school board be independent of the mayor and the city council, which now are required to give final approval of the school system’s budget. In practice, the current system often results in the mayor and the council significantly reducing the amount of money that the school board says it needs to operate the schools in an effective manner.

Evans, who chairs the council’s finance committee, also said his proposal would allow the school board to tax residential property in the District to fund the schools’ budget needs. He estimated the revenue produced annually now by residential property taxes at $650 million and acknowledged that his plan would require an increase in taxes to fund the school system’s current spending levels.

Evans noted that he prefers to abolish the school board entirely and place the mayor in charge of schools, but he said he does not believe enough support exists to make that fundamental change. He said many of his council colleagues continue to support the existence of an elected school board.

"We treat the school board like Congress treats us," Evans said during the radio broadcast. "We always yell that Congress shouldn’t be interfering with our stuff. ‘They’re controlling our money.’ … The school board can say the same thing to the council."

Evans said it "doesn’t make sense" to continue the current situation.

"Either you have confidence in them and you give them the authority, or you don’t and you get rid of them," he said.