Voters Guide -- 04/2011

About the April 26 electionThe polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 26. You may also request an absen-

tee ballot by mail through April 19. Early voting will start April 11 at One Judiciary Square, 441 4thSt. NW, and will continue daily through April 25 except Sunday, April 24. Hours are from 8:30 a.m.to 8 p.m., except for April 25, when voting will end at 4:45 p.m., and April 17, when voting will takeplace from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Voters registered as of April 4 are eligible to vote; if you are not reg-istered to vote, you may register at an early voting location or on Election Day and cast a specialballot. More information can be obtained by visiting dcboee.org or calling 202-727-2525.

About the Voters GuideThe Current interviewed the major candidates in races within our coverage area in the April 26

election — the contests for an at-large D.C. Council seat and the State Board of Education seat forWard 4. The interviews provided the basis for profiles combining biographical information and a dis-cussion of candidates’ priorities, as well as charts offering brief positions on a host of specificissues. A version of this Voters Guide was published in The Current’s April 6 issue. This expanded ver-sion, available at issuu.com/currentnewspapers, includes additional questions and answers in chartform, as well as profiles of the Ward 4 board candidates not included in print due to space limitations.

Sekou BiddleSekou Biddle has been an interim at-large D.C.

Council member since January. The Democratic StateCommittee selected him to fill theseat temporarily when KwameBrown was elected council chair-man.

A former D.C. Board ofEducation member, Biddle previ-ously worked as a regional exec-utive director for Jumpstart forYoung Children and directedcommunity outreach for KIPP DC (Knowledge IsPower Program), which runs three city charter schools.

If elected, he said, he plans to concentrate most oneducation, employment and the city’s budget.

“Our ability to prepare young people for collegeand the world of work, as well as to support adults try-ing to get jobs, has to be our highest priority.”

He said the city needs to align its educationresources — from pre-k through the University of theDistrict of Columbia, as well as libraries and job-train-ing programs, “to support our residents’ success.”

To measure the progress of D.C.’s public schools,he said he would look at test scores, how many par-ents are enrolling their children, and whether teachersare leaving for charter or suburban schools.

AT-LARGE D.C. COUNCIL SEAT

See Biddle/Page VG5

VOTERS GUIDEAn Expanded Online Edition from The Current Newspapers ■ APRIL 26, 2011, SPECIAL ELECTION

Dorothy DouglasDorothy Douglas, a native Washingtonian, has rep-

resented Ward 7 on the D.C. State Board of Educationsince 2008. Previously, she served as an advisoryneighborhood commissioner inNortheast for 12 years, includingfour as chair.

Before retiring, she worked asa case manager for the D.C.Department of Corrections, andshe describes her job as havingbeen “similar to a social worker.”

If elected, Douglas said, shewould concentrate most on education, housing andemployment.

She said she would ensure that D.C. has “the best-quality teachers” in its public schools.

To judge teacher effectiveness, she said, “thereneeds to be an evaluation panel — not just the princi-pal, but also parents and other teachers. Many of ourteachers are unprepared.”

Student-teaching experience is essential for newteachers “so they will know how to service our chil-dren,” she said. “It is on-the-job training, so they willbe sure it is the kind of job they would like to continuewith.”

Experienced private school teachers should beSee Douglas/Page VG4

Joshua LopezJoshua Lopez, recently a project manager for a

Georgia Avenue community development nonprofitorganization, is a former advisory neighborhood com-missioner in Brightwood.

Lopez, also a former vice president of the Ward 4Democrats group, worked in various capacities forAdrian Fenty, including serving on the Commission onLatino Community Development.

If elected, Lopez said, hewould focus most on educationreform, public safety and govern-ment accountability.

“The education reform effortsstarted under Chancellor[Michelle] Rhee must continue,”Lopez said, and D.C. should con-tinue the IMPACT teacher-evaluation system.

“The system measures people on results,” he said.“Some may feel uncomfortable with it. You have peo-ple going into classrooms looking at how teachers areeducating young people.” But he said such a closelook is necessary in a system that was “graduating stu-dents who could not read or write.”

Parents, fellow teachers and students — even thosein elementary grades — should help with evaluations,he said. The District needs to “reach out to parents by

See Lopez/Page VG3

Patrick MaraPatrick Mara was recently elected the Ward 1

member of the D.C. State Board of Education. Mara heads his own political consulting group,

which deals with small businesses and political andnonprofit fundraising. In the past, he worked as a con-tractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,working on clean transportationtools and electricity restructuring.

If elected, he said, he wouldconcentrate most on education,fiscal responsibility and congres-sional relations.

Mara said he would “be ableto do far more to advance educa-tional reform as a member of thecouncil than I can from the school board.”

He said his major education goals are to ensure thatIMPACT, a teacher-evaluation tool, “is continued inthe way that was envisioned by former Chancellor[Michelle] Rhee”; to continue “building in-housecapacity for special education in the District”; and to“emphasize workforce development.”

He said the city government needs to “work withthe employer community to determine needed skillsets over the next several years,” and then help unem-ployed adults develop those skills. “Many of the

See Mara/Page VG3

Vincent OrangeVincent Orange, D.C. Democratic National

Commiteeman, served as the Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember from 1999 to 2007.

Most recently, he was vicepresident of public affairs forPepco. A lawyer, public accoun-tant and auditor, he was chieffinancial officer for the NationalChildren’s Center.

If elected, Orange said, hishighest priorities would be fiscalresponsibility, education reform and elimination offraud and abuse. “We must balance our budgets, keepour bond ratings and manage the cap on our debt ser-vice,” he said.

Orange said D.C. can produce new revenue withoutraising tax rates by encouraging tax-generating pro-jects like the convention center hotel and those at theWalter Reed Army Medical Center, St. ElizabethsHospital and the Anacostia and Southwest waterfronts.

He doesn’t think major cuts are necessary to closethe city’s $320 million deficit. Agencies must beordered, “pursuant to the law, to spend 50 percent oftheir budgets with our registered local businesses, aswe can then collect profits taxes and employmenttaxes that we would not otherwise collect.”

See Orange/Page VG3

Bryan WeaverBryan Weaver served on the Adams Morgan advi-

sory neighborhood commission from 2003 to 2010.He runs Hoops Sagrado, a nonprofit he founded in

1996 to take at-risk D.C. youth toGuatemala every summer for bas-ketball clinics, language and cul-tural exchange and communitybuilding. He previously worked asassistant press secretary for theDemocratic National Committee.

If elected, Weaver said, his toppriorities would be open govern-ment, youth issues and city solvency. “The Districtgovernment ... has been secretive for decades,” hesaid, creating a “feeling of backroom deals.”

Weaver said he would target the city’s extensiveuse of non-bid city contracts and earmarks. “Why arewe picking one group over another? Right now, anorganization with a connection gets the contracts.”

Those connections can include political campaigncontributions, said Weaver. Currently, companies withsubsidiaries and sister LLCs can contribute to cam-paigns, making it difficult for citizens to trace owner-ship, he said. “So in essence, it becomes blind checksfrom unnamed companies.” When the same compa-nies later win non-bid city contracts, it forms the

See Weaver/Page VG5

VG2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 THE CURRENT VOTERS GUIDE

An AlmquistAn Almquist is a visiting professor

at the University of the District ofColumbia’s National Center for UrbanEducation. She instructs on how tofacilitate literacy development inurban classrooms and presents casestudies in effective teaching and learn-ing.

If elected, she said, she would con-centrate most on higher academicachievement, teacher effectivenessand school safety.

“We need to set high rigorous stan-dards for all students,” Almquist said.“I believe all students can achieve,regardless of their social economicbackgrounds or any disabilities theymight have.”

Schools must be aware of students’interests, preferences and abilities andchallenge them to the peak of theirabilities, said Almquist. “We mustlook at test scores and other data tosee if this occurs.”

Almquist said the school systemshould offer a greater variety of pro-grams to meet students’ differingneeds, including more AdvancedPlacement courses, vocational pro-grams, life-skills classes and bilingualimmersion programs.

“For special-needs students, wemust ensure post-secondary-outcomegoals are in place to help them findemployment, independent living, self-advocacy or post-secondary training,”she explained.

For students interested in high-level science and technology courses,the system should explore partneringwith local universities, said Almquist.Younger students should be able totake high school courses if they havethe skills, she added.

About teacher effectiveness,Almquist said, “We need to use bestpractices in the process of recruiting,retaining, developing and rewardingour teachers. They must have theproper credentials.”

While charter and private schoolscan hire teachers without standard cre-dentials, she said, the public schoolsmust demand them. “Recruitmentmust be based on references, educa-tional background, accomplishments,professionalism and a proven abilityto adapt and lead,” she said.

She added, however, that privateschool teachers who want to work inpublic schools should be able to get

WARD 4 D.C. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

See Almquist/Page VG4

D. Kamili AndersonD. Kamili Anderson is a freelance

editor, writer and publications consul-tant whose work has involved educa-tion-related topics. She is also activein her neighborhood, having served aspresident of the BrightwoodCommunity Association for five yearsand now serving as chair of its busi-

ness improvement committee. She isalso a board member of theBrightwood Beacon BusinessAssociation.

If elected, Anderson said, shewould concentrate most on the teacherevaluation process, renovating andbuilding new facilities and improvingstudents’ workforce preparation.

Anderson said she approves of theIMPACT teacher-evaluation processbut sees areas that need improvement.“I agree with the way it was devel-oped and vetted,” she said.

Among the improvements she sug-gested is a greater emphasis on ateacher’s significance to a school “as awhole.” Teachers who are helpful out-side the classroom, she said, can be“very significant.”

She also said evaluations shouldnot include personal elements.“External evaluators in a subject mat-ter should be more important” thanevaluators within a school.

Anderson believes in the power oftesting, saying, “Test scores shouldhave more emphasis, as they are good,objective measures.” Still, she thinksNo Child Left Behind “was a stepbackward,” because of its rigidity inmandating a certain level of perfor-mance. She thinks teachers should berewarded for making strides, even ifstudents remain below grade level.

“We should argue the case for spe-cial recognition and rewards for teach-ers producing major improvements,”she said.

Anderson thinks teacher seniorityreceives far more weight than itshould, as student progress is far moreimportant. Parents’ views on teacherperformance should also be consid-ered, as “they are the consumers.”

On renovating and building facili-ties, Anderson said school structureshave a major impact on student per-formance and should therefore getmore attention than they do now.

Budget cuts might be made inother areas, with the savings chan-

See Anderson/Page VG4

Andrew MossAndrew Moss works for the U.S.

Department of the Treasury, where hemonitors and evaluates funds awardedby the Community DevelopmentFinancial Institutions Fund.

If elected to the school board,Moss said, he would concentrate moston continuing education reform, estab-lishing core curriculum and imple-menting “Race to the Top.”

“I’ve seen firsthand what is neces-sary to see that our students are com-petitive in higher education or in theworkforce,” Moss said.

He said parents are “the primarystakeholders” in their children’s edu-cation, and reform must be gearedmore toward involving them.

At one school where he worked, hesaid, there was 70 percent parentalinvolvement, and “parent appreciationevents” celebrated theircontributions. “This was a disadvan-taged community; 80 to 85 percent ofthe students were on the free lunchprogram,” he said.

Moss believes the school boardshould hold hearings on how toincrease parent involvement “wherethere are problems.”

He said his “only critique” of for-mer Schools Chancellor MichelleRhee was that “the communicationefforts of her reform could have beenpresented to all stakeholders in a bet-ter way.” He said “communities withaffluent minorities were given theopportunities to provide input andfeedback,” but not all communitieshad the same opportunity.

Moss also emphasized that theDistrict must “make sure we have amore rigorous curriculum to preparestudents for higher education oremployment.” Mastery of the funda-mentals is essential, he said: “As acarpenter, you have to know how tomeasure and to understand geometry.”

He believes schools must establishfirm grade-level standards that stu-dents are required to meet beforeadvancing to the next grade. “Thiswill make our students on par withthose in states with higher perfor-mance levels and make them morecompetitive when it comes to apply-ing for colleges.”

Currently the District has imple-mented standards for math andEnglish, but “science is an areawhere we need to have more of a

See Moss/Page VG4

Bill QuirkBill Quirk works as an attorney for

the Children’s National MedicalCenter. He has been an advisoryneighborhood commissioner inPetworth since 2008 and became chairof his commission this year.

If elected to serve on the schoolboard, he said, he would concentrate

most on implementing grade-levelstandards, coordinating the city’s edu-cational services and encouragingcommunity participation.

Quirk said the goal of establishingcore educational standards for D.C.students “is to prevent children fromdropping out of high school due to alack of earlier preparation.”

The city “should pick a date atwhich every child … should be at orabove grade level,” he said. “I thinkit’s practical. … You could do it withbenchmarks for different years.”

He said schools must “implementthe pre-established standards at anever-younger age so that when ourchildren reach middle school, theyhave mastered the material containedin the standards.”

But for children younger than pre-k, core standards would “be too diffi-cult to implement,” since parents havedifferent goals for the development oftheir young children. “All pre-k pro-grams should be educational, but Idon’t think you can quantify educa-tional standards at that young age,” hesaid.

A key to implementing standards,Quirk said, is ensuring teachers “donot promote kids who have not mas-tered the material in the standards”even if they stay in a grade for severalyears. Students from other areas whoenter into the D.C. school system“should be admitted to their old gradelevel, but should not be promoteduntil they have mastered the stan-dards,” he said.

Quirk said the school systemshould be responsible for remedialmeasures for students who aren’tmeeting goals. If students are heldback for several consecutive years,they should enter a special-educationprogram and then be “held to a differ-ent standard,” he said.

To coordinate city educational ser-vices, Quirk said, school board mem-bers “should work with the deputymayor for education’s office and ward

See Quirk/Page VG4

THE CURRENT VOTERS GUIDE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 VG3

unemployed are ex-offenders, orhave never graduated high schoolor earned a General EquivalencyDiploma,” he said.

For D.C. schools, Mara believesmore arts, music and extracurricu-lar programs could help decreasetruancy and dropout rates. He saidonce a universal pre-kindergartensystem is implemented fully, the

city must “make sure our data sys-tems are in place to properly identi-fy areas for improvements amongchildren — where we can improvelearning and curb any behavioralproblems.”

To put the city on a path towardfiscal responsibility, Mara said, theDistrict needs to “look for ways toreduce spending, rather than look-ing at individual taxpayers andsmall businesses as a revenue-raiserlike the council currently does.”

“During the Fenty years, we

overspent, with council approval,”he said. The council “consistentlyhas approved increased spendingbudgets to the point now that wehave almost a $10 billion budget.”

Mara said the city must alsoreduce its government workforce ofmore than 30,000, “over half ofwhom live outside the District.” Hesuggested more furloughs andreducing salaries of legislators andpolitical appointees who are paidmore than $100,000 per year.

Mara stressed the importance of

more carefully tracking the use ofDistrict-funded credit cards, whichhe said are not monitored if thecharges are below $20,000.

Mara, who would be the soleRepublican council member ifelected, said this distinction wouldimprove the District’s relationshipwith the U.S. Congress.

He said he has been meetingwith congressional Republicans.“My message has been clear:Leave us alone,” Mara said. “OurDistrict Democratic leaders are not

effectively communicating thismessage.”

Mara said he would meet with86 members of the House andSenate during his term, one mem-ber per week, to advocate for D.C.

Mara, 36, was born in NewYork and grew up in Rhode Island.He earned a bachelor’s degree inenvironmental and political sciencefrom Marist College and a master’sin business administration fromBabson College. He has worked forSen. John Chafee, R-R.I.

MARAFrom Page VG1

funding the parental involvement office,”Lopez said. “Employees should knock onnon-participating parents’ doors to tell themwhat support is available.”

He said schools need a standardized cur-riculum, which the council can help developalong with the chancellor and school board.

The school system also needs more voca-tional education programs, Lopez said.“Some unions,” he said, referring to a D.C.electrical association, “are willing for free …

to provide training courses … .”To improve public safety, he said, the city

must do more to engage ex-offenders. “Wemust help ex-offenders with adult educationif they are illiterate. There is a program pay-ing the unemployed to go to training pro-grams. Most are not looking for high-leveljobs. They just want to support themselves.”

Lopez said the D.C. Council couldincrease efficiency and trim funds at theMetropolitan Police Department by moreclosely monitoring officer deployment and“wasteful” overtime spending. “High-crimeareas should have more officers assigned. Wehave to look where there is a need,” he said.

He said communities that can afford itshould be able to tax themselves to fundadditional private security.

The police and fire departments shouldtry to hire more D.C. residents, he said.

On government accountability, Lopez saidhe has always “admired city councils in thepast for asking tough questions.”

“The last thing we need,” he said, “is acouncil that won’t challenge the executiveand government agencies.”

He said the city must be cautious about itshires, making sure to avoid nepotism.

“The mayor has the freedom to put peopleinto jobs that he wants, but they should be

qualified,” Lopez said.Lopez, 27, is a native Washingtonian who

attended Maya Angelou Public CharterSchool. He earned a world-history degreefrom the University of the District ofColumbia. During college he started attend-ing public safety meetings, which led towork with then-Ward 4 Council memberAdrian Fenty and then Fenty’s first mayoralcampaign. Lopez also worked on Fenty’s2010 re-election bid; after the primary loss,he helped a write-in campaign that drewmore than 30,000 votes. Recently he workedfor the Gateway Georgia Avenue CommunityDevelopment Corp.

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He said the city can increaserevenue by managing its real prop-erty tax lien portfolio, investing inMedicaid reimbursement systems,and “marketing our state-of-the-artcommunications system to the fed-eral government and others.”

On education, he said the cityneeds to continue “adequate fund-ing, investing in quality teachers,upgrading facilities, and [provid-ing] opportunities for principals to

create environments for learning.”With the IMPACT teacher eval-

uation, the city must “secure buy-infrom the teachers union, teachersthemselves, parents, students, andthe legislative and executivebranches,” said Orange, advocatingfor hearings on the system.

Parents should play a role in theteacher-evaluation process, he said,and, as the Washington Teachers’Union has suggested, teachers’peers should be included.

Teachers should be rewarded, hesaid, for keeping students at gradelevel when they come to them at

grade level and for advancing stu-dents who come to them more thana year below grade level.

Above all, said Orange, theremust be “professional developmentfor minimally effective teachers”and “clear criteria for dismissal ofunsatisfactory teachers.”

He said the city needs moreAdvanced Placement courses, morevocational training and more localfacilities for special education.

To prevent fraud and abuse,Orange believes the D.C. Councilshould establish an ethics commit-tee. “We have to lead by example.”

If elected, he said, he wouldfocus on internal controls. “Ourindependent auditors have reportedthat our internal controls are inade-quate to prevent another round ofstealing at the Office of Tax andRevenue, where a low-levelemployee stole $50 million.”

He detailed other abuses:“Individual refunds have beenstolen. Department of MotorVehicles tickets have been takencare of through bribery.”

The city should make better useof its inspector general and auditor,he said.

Orange, 53, grew up inOakland, Calif., before attending aColorado boarding school on “ABetter Chance” scholarship. Heearned bachelor’s degrees in busi-ness administration and communi-cations from the University of thePacific and a law degree fromHoward University. He received amaster’s of laws in taxation fromGeorgetown University.

Orange is a certified publicaccountant and attended two execu-tive programs at Harvard. He ranfor mayor in 2006 and for councilchairman in 2010.

ORANGEFrom Page VG1


three-year provisional licenses.During this time they should berequired to enroll in a full certifica-tion program, she said.

Almquist said the school systemis continually studying its IMPACTevaluation system to look forimprovements, but overall, she sup-ports the program. “IMPACT isdoing its job, but we should listento the union to see if we can nego-tiate some changes to produce a

win-win situation,” she said. “If theunion will not come to a reasonableagreement, we should keep it.”

She noted, however, that teach-ers’ evaluations shouldn’t be sodependent on test outcomes.

“In grades where students takethe District’s comprehensiveassessment tests, 50 percent of ateacher’s effectiveness scores arebased on test outcomes,” she said.“It should be much lower, between25 and 30 percent. Teachers shouldnot be held so accountable for stu-dents who take these high-stakestests, because other factors affect

scores that are not a result of theteacher’s ability to teach.”

About school environment andsafety, Almquist said violence hasincreased and truancy risen. “Theschool environment must be moreconducive to learning,” she said.“We must have more engagingmaterials that promote learning.”

School classrooms are becom-ing more diverse in terms of lan-guage, culture and sexual orienta-tion, she said, and classes shouldrespond to those differences.

“There are curricula to teachstudents about tolerance. A student

at Rutgers University committedsuicide after two other studentsfilmed him engaging in homosexu-al activity. His suicide could havebeen prevented if the other studentshad been taught to tolerate andrespect diversity. We need moreteacher- and student-training pro-grams about diversity.”

Almquist said a D.C. publicschool student with 10 unexcusedabsences gets an F. She advocatesreducing that number to five unex-cused absences, “although thereshould be flexibility for the princi-pal and the teachers for extenuating

circumstances.” Almquist, 31, was born in

Malaysia and grew up inPennsylvania, where she attendedpublic schools. She has studied inMexico, Spain, France andAustralia. She majored in manage-ment and minored in Spanish, eco-nomics and the visual arts atGettysburg College inPennsylvania.

She holds a master’s degree inteaching from American Universityand a master’s in special educationfrom George Washington. She ispursuing a doctoral degree in

ALMQUISTFrom Page VG2

neled into buildings, she said, suggestingpossible reductions in the school bus fleet asan example.

She pointed to Coolidge High School asan example of an unwelcoming — andunsafe — school building.

“The low attendance at Coolidge is beinginvited by poor facilities,” she said.

Yet she said schools with declining popu-lations should be closed only if there’s noway to turn them around.

“The idea of neighborhood schools isimportant,” but sometimes “combiningschools can make sense if residentsapprove,” she said. “People move to areasbased on the quality of the local schools. Ifyou start closing a number of schools, peo-ple have every right to be concerned. Theymake a longtime commitment to a neigh-borhood.”

Anderson also thinks that school build-ings should provide social services andother resources such as hosting night cours-es for adults.

She thinks the system isn’t doing enoughto prepare students to hold jobs.

“Not enough education is tied to tangible

workforce and career success when studentsget out of school,” she said. “For those whodon’t opt to pursue college, the schoolsneed to provide sufficient avenues to pre-pare students to go directly into the work-force — not just for dead-end jobs, but sothey can continue their training and educa-tion. … It’s a serious issue in this area.”

She advocates programs within schoolsto help students see that their high schooldiploma is not an end-all to their education.She advocates establishing relationshipswith unions and various trade groups.

Anderson said the school board shouldencourage the D.C. Council to alter its lawsfor giving preference on city contracts so

that graduates of D.C. schools “rather thanjust D.C. residents,” are favored, “as peoplecan easily move their residency.”

Anderson, 55, was born in SouthCarolina and spent part of her childhoodoutside of Denver. She came to Washingtonin 1973 to attend Howard University, whereshe majored as a pre-med student in humannutrition and biochemistry and received herdegree magna cum laude.

She served as an associate editor of TheJournal of Negro Education, published byHoward, and as director of the HowardUniversity Press, as well as the director ofpublications for the American Associationof Colleges for Teacher Education.

ANDERSONFrom Page VG2

focus,” Moss said. “The fields oftechnology and medicine areadvancing more than any otherprofession. Our students need tohave the training and instruction toprepare them for these fields.”

He suggested that D.C. coordi-nate with the National ScienceFoundation to “try to establish ourstandards in the sciences,” as wellas create public/private partner-ships with companies engaged in

computer science.Moss said it would be “very

tough” to compare the foreign lan-guage knowledge of D.C. studentswith those from other states.“There’s too wide an array of lan-guages. … We have to ensure ourchildren are skilled in Englishbefore they take written tests inforeign languages.”

Given the city’s fiscal situation,he said, “we cannot afford tointroduce expensive special pro-grams.” The city should continuethe program at Duke EllingtonSchool for the Arts, “but must wait

to introduce new ones,” he said.With federal “Race to the Top”

funds committed to D.C., Mosssaid, “we have over $60 millionfrom the federal government toimplement education reform overthe next four years.” The schoolboard’s role will be “to have over-sight” and ensure that use of thefunding “is in compliance with thefederal guidelines,” he said.

Moss said he has extensiveexperience in this area; he current-ly oversees the community devel-opment funding for small businesslending and other initiatives for

disadvantaged communities. “Iunderstand the requirements of thefederal government and how toensure that the public schools fol-low its guidelines,” he said.

Moss, 40, is a fourth-genera-tion Washingtonian who attendedDeMatha Catholic High School.After graduating from NorthCarolina Central University, Mossworked for Dun & Bradstreet as afinancial analyst. He later taughtat Burrville Elementary School inD.C., which he attended as achild.

He holds a Master of Education

Administration degree fromGeorge Mason University and alaw degree from the University ofBaltimore School of Law. Heattended Dartmouth College TuckSchool of Business’ executiveeducation program for minoritybusiness development.

He has worked for the FederalDeposit Insurance Corp., wherehe designed and implementedtraining strategies; for theNational CommunityReinvestment Coalition; and forAmerica Scores, a national after-school program.

MOSSFrom Page VG2

council members to ensure that children mostin need receive the wrap-around services toallow them to learn.”

Quirk said all schools should be requiredto have a full-time social worker or schooltherapist.

When students are unable to meet grade-level standards, “we need to determine thewhy through social workers in the schoolsand school therapists,” he said. “The boardshould not be determining the evaluationstandards for the social workers,” he said, but

“as we begin to ascertain if it is somethingbesides the educational system that is pre-venting learning, we can be sure children getthe services they need.”

He also advocates more encouragementof physical activity and nutritional educationfor students, and equality of sports facilitiesfor both genders. “There is a role for theboard to advise the chancellor and the publicwhen physical fitness facilities or nutritionalprograms are inadequate or unequal by gen-der.”

As for encouraging community participa-tion in both public and charter schools, Quirksaid, “the state board ought to play a promi-nent role.” Board members “should involve

advisory neighborhood commissions, parents… and the general public.”

Quirk cited a need for community discus-sion to help people understand the connec-tion between economic and educational suc-cess. “Better education will reduce ourunemployment levels and help uplift ourneighborhoods.”

The message to families should “under-score the importance of college education,”he said, which would help “get our childrenmore invested in their education early on.”

Quirk advocates following the KIPP(Knowledge Is Power Program) approach ofdisplaying teachers’ college banners in class-rooms.

He also said the board can help “raiseawareness by pointing out that the charterschool system has grown exponentially inthe past 14 years and now represents 38percent of all District public school chil-dren.” That pace, he said “is unsustainable,”and many more people should know aboutit.

Quirk, 33, was born in Wellesley, Mass.,and attended public schools until he went toVillanova University near Philadelphia,majoring in Spanish language and literatureas well as political science.

He received his law degree at CatholicUniversity and has lived in the District for 12years.

QUIRKFrom Page VG2

allowed to teach in public schools if theyseek full certification, she said. “Title I hasthe funds available at no expense to them.”

Parental involvement is essential forimproving schools. “If you service the entirefamily, you will service the child,” saidDouglas. “Schools should have monthly par-ent meetings like Cesar Chavez does, withlight refreshment.” She advocated partneringwith businesses on such events.

Lack of proper housing, Douglas said, is aproblem that “exists all over the city for both

the elderly and younger people, especiallyfor those with disabilities.”

To improve housing opportunities, thecity needs to make better use of unused prop-erties, she said. “We have all these vacantbuildings. We need to utilize them.”

She said she would encourage partner-ships with other housing groups. “Get themto donate empty buildings as a tax write-off.”

The city also needs to “see what serviceswe could cut back to finance more housing,”she said.

In terms of employment, Douglas saidthere’s a “hole” in the “First Source” agree-ment, which requires city contractors to hireD.C. residents for at least half their new

employees for contract work. She said she needed to review it in more

detail, but the agreement is “not a good” oneand the city “needs to have someone in placeto enforce” its provisions.

She also called for more vocational edu-cation programs and on-the-job training.Besides community college workforce train-ing, “we should use mentors to help” prepareresidents for jobs, she said.

Douglas believes welfare recipientsshould be required to take vocational trainingand literacy courses. She said job-trainingservices must be available for ex-offenders,who should be monitored by probation offi-cers to make sure they fulfill responsibilities.

If ex-offenders in such a program “do notparticipate, return them to prison,” she said.

“We should network with private pro-grams and nonprofit organizations” to pro-vide such opportunities, she said, adding thatmany businesses and churches already “havea lot of services available.”

Douglas, 62, attended local public schoolsbefore attending the University of the Districtof Columbia, where she majored in elemen-tary education and psychology. She is adirector of Marshal Heights CommunityDevelopment Organization, a member of theCommittee of 100 on the Federal City and aboard member of Sewall-Belmont House andMuseum.

DOUGLASFrom Page VG1

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D.C. should be a place, he said,where all residents are competitivein the job market, businesses wantto locate to access a talentedemployee pool, and residents wantto raise their families because ofstrong schools. He said the cityshould view career training andbusiness development as a joinedgoal. “We must integrate economicdevelopment policy with workforcedevelopment to simultaneouslyattract industries while preparingresidents with needed skills.”

A fundamental “piece of theemployment puzzle,” he said, is tocreate a workforce of “skilled resi-dents who get to work on time andget along with fellow workers.”

Addressing the city’s budgetdeficit, Biddle said he opposes taxincreases. “If we raise taxes, wewon’t make the savings that willreally solve the problem.”

He said D.C. needs to trim 10percent of its operating budget, notincluding debt service. “We mustask government employees to domore with less and consolidate

functions and even agencies.” For economic improvement,

spending priority should focus onsolving problems rather than justtreating them, he said. “Failing tosupport a family struggling to carefor a child at a cost of $15,000annually can result in childrengoing into foster care at a cost of$46,000 annually.” There are about2,000 children in the city’s fostercare system. “If we could reducethat number by 10 percent, wewould save about $6 million.”

Biddle suggested increasingspecial-education resources in D.C.to save funds that are now goingoutside the city. He also said hewould give serious consideration tomerging underenrolled highschools, such as Ward 4’sRoosevelt and Coolidge, which arein “terrible physical condition.”

Biddle, 39, grew up inColumbia Heights and attendedD.C. public schools. He earned abusiness administration degreefrom Morehouse College and amaster’s degree in early childhoodeducation from Georgia StateUniversity. He taught school in theBronx, Atlanta and D.C. He alsoworked for Teach for America.

BIDDLEFrom Page VG1

impression of a “‘pay-to-play’ system.” Weaver said the District “fails young peo-

ple at every level.” He argued for strongercareer programs for “kids who fall off theeducational treadmill” and for an improvedjuvenile court system.

He praised the administration of MayorAdrian Fenty for “great efforts on educationreform,” but criticized former SchoolsChancellor Michelle Rhee for poor commu-

nication skills.“The ultimate goal is to close the achieve-

ment gap between black/Latino students andwhite and Asian students,” he said, and theanswer is putting “the best teachers in thepoorest or underachieving schools.”

Weaver favors temporarily increasing taxrates for some income levels. The top per-sonal income tax, now 8.5 percent, could riseto “perhaps 8.75 percent” for those makingmore than $150,000; 9 percent for more than$350,000; and 9.5 percent for over $1.5 mil-lion. The change should be only temporary,he said, so affected residents would be

unlikely to relocate their legal residences tostates with no income tax.

Welfare spending should be “reducedafter five years and eliminated after eight”except under “special circumstances.”

The city could cut costs by closing a $20million to $30 million corporate tax loop-hole, said Weaver. He said “national compa-nies charge local stores for their names,thereby shifting profits … to Delaware,which has no corporate profits tax.”

He said D.C. spends “too much on capitalprograms, even though they might be won-derful.” For example, Roosevelt and Cardozo

high schools both need renovations, but it’simportant to keep in mind that “the schools’population has dwindled dramatically.”

Meanwhile, he said, there’s a need forstronger penalties for firms that fail to fulfilltheir contracts with the city.

Weaver, 40, came to the District twodecades ago from Oregon to attend HowardUniversity, where he majored in political sci-ence. He previously worked as an organizerfor the Service Employees InternationalUnion.

Weaver ran against incumbent JimGraham last year for the Ward 1 council seat.

WEAVERFrom Page VG1

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What are three areas you would concentrate on most if you are elected?

Education, employment and the budget.

Education, housing and employment.

Education, public safety and government accountability.

responsibility and congressional relations.

Financial responsibil-ity; education reform; and government fraud, waste and abuse.

Open government, youth issues and city solvency.

Should D.C. increase taxes for incomes over $250,000? $500,000? $1 million?

No. Can’t make a sound decision until I see all the facts.

Temporarily, 1 percent for over $200,000.

No. No. Yes, gradually, but for $150,000, $350,000 and $1.5 million in-comes. Any increases must be sunsetted.

The mayor and council face a $322 million budget problem preparing

budget. What areas, if any, would you look at for cuts? What taxes, if any, should be increased?

Reorganize government around functions rather than agencies to save $30 million to $40 million. Recruit D.C. foster-care providers to reduce school busing and “out-of-state” education costs. Cut council budget. Reduce salaries and introduce furloughs for high-salary employees. Have residents do leaf collection. Reduce tax abatements that get businesses to locate here. Combine public works, transportation and environment departments. Combine deputy mayor for education, state superintendent and

Oppose tax increases.

No concrete feelings. Want to see all evidence before deciding.

Percentage cuts for all government agencies, progressive tax increases with a sunset clause (1 percent on individual income over $200,000), eliminate corporate tax loopholes.

Across-the-board cut of at least 3 percent. We should consider furloughs, layoffs and other reductions of District workforce. No tax increases.

No tax increases, but can get up to $347 million from Medicaid reimbursement; sell our portfolio of real estate tax liens for up to $100 million; lease excess

optic communications system to federal government for up to $50 million; beef up outstanding individual sales and real estate tax collections. Look for cuts in procurement for cars, trucks, travel expenditures, publications.

Scale back capital proj-ects such as Cardozo High, which has under 1,000 students due to poor academics; in-troduce employee fur-loughs; try to save Unity Medical Center (former-ly Southeast Hospital), but we can’t afford the losses. Overhaul entire tax code for individuals by creating new levels at $150,000, $350,000 and $1.5 million, but have the increases sun-setted. Consider closing loophole for tax-exempt bonds from other juris-dictions. Raise $20 mil-lion by forcing national corporations to pay

taxes to District as do most states.

Should the city dip further into its reserve funds, as it has for the last four years?

No. I would vote against it. Most funds are obligated.

No. It is not an emergency.

Only if there is no other option.

No. No. Only to save job training and low-barrier family shelters, but we must preserve 90 percent of our reserves.

Tax receipts went up from the very wealthy after we cut our rates to below Maryland’s. Would higher income taxes for the wealthy mean less revenue,

nesters might be less likely to live in D.C.?

We don’t want to take the risk.

It has happened. No. Yes. Numerous people I have spoken with have moved to Florida and Virginia.

Uncertain, as there are other factors, such as empty nesters not wanting

public transportation, restaurants and theaters.

We probably would lose some, but studies

not occur to levels often stated.

If there have to be tax increases, would you increase residen-tial property taxes?

If there must be an in-crease, which I doubt, we should exempt people over 65.

No. No. Look just at spending.

No. No. Only at a very, very slight level. It would be a burden for working families.

What, if any, should be D.C.’s three top priorities in terms of new spending, once we can afford it?

Transportation infrastructure, education from birth, workforce development.

Education, housing and employment.

Public schools, transportation and public works.

Education, education and education.

Education, infrastruc-ture needs, cleaning up the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

High-quality teachers,

safety net including career-path training and homeless shelters.

What, if any, should be the three top priorities for reductions in spending, given the enormous budget crunch we face in the

Deputy mayor for economic development

have already been reduced; employees earning over $100,000; look at buying vehicles or using Zipcars instead of leasing.

Cannot answer until I see detailed budget

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, police.

It should be across the board affecting everything.

We can generate adequate revenue to balance the budget without increasing taxes or cutting major services.

Streamline Department of Transportation, delay capital projects and locate more juvenile offenders here to lower costs.


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Should D.C. offer tax incentives such as

-ing for super-luxury rental and condo-minium apartments in Georgetown and downtown to attract more high-income empty nesters?

No. It could well be helpful, but others should get them, too.

No. It should be considered. No. Only if there is a report of its effect on the city and if developers lose it if they fail to meet the threshold for local hiring.

Should developers get tax incentives to bring high-end stores into D.C. (as is done in Tysons Corner as well as in Maryland just across the Dis-trict line)? If so, what incentives?

No. It’s hard to justify when other communities don’t have the basics.

Yes. It would bring us more revenue.

No. Yes. It should be considered, but it would take at least two years to get any sales tax revenue.

No. We don’t need to do it to attract retailers, due to our high disposable income.

We could consider property tax breaks for those agreeing to hire District residents.

Given that depart-ment stores normally do not pay rent when they anchor shopping centers, should D.C. give tax incentives to “anchor-tenant” retailers?

Not unless it is to attract a tenant into a community without much retail.

It would be helpful. No. Yes, if the community wants it.

No. We don’t need incentives.

Yes. Target has brought other retailers to Columbia Heights.

Should the city op-pose or encourage Walmart’s efforts to locate here?

Neither. Opposing it would set a terrible message about our openness to businesses.

Encourage. Encourage. Encourage but also work to help small in-dependent businesses. Walmart would provide unskilled jobs for many unemployed, and the sales tax revenue would be enormous

Encourage if Walmart signs an appropriate

agreement.

Encourage, if they have a livable wage requirement, green buildings, and if health care for spouses includes same-sex couples.

What approaches, if any, should be taken to decrease the like-lihood of lower-in-come, long-term D.C. residents from being forced from their homes because of increasing real estate values and taxes, or are current policies generally adequate?

Look at property tax caps for low-income residents who have lived here at least 10 years. And consider unintended consequences for young people who inherit and live in homes their families have had a long time.

Current policies are adequate.

Unsure of details, but would be willing to explore programs

incomes after speaking with experts.

Unfortunately, due to

cannot afford to do much.

Generally speaking, they are adequate, but when economy recovers, we should consider increasing homestead exemption for everyone.

We need to look after seniors who’ve lived in the District for say 30 years and for individuals gainfully employed in lower-paying, stable jobs.

D.C.’s commercial real estate and cor-porate business taxes are by far the area’s highest. In future years, should D.C. reduce them? If yes, how?

Yes, but not now. Lower tax rates for smaller businesses.

Yes. The higher taxes push them out.

No. Eventually, yes, but we’re $300 million away from being able to do anything.

No. There need not be a major effort. We should have a comprehensive study of our revenue sources and then balance the tax burden.

hiring District residents and for locally owned businesses. Landlords should be forced to pass on any tax breaks.

Should the sales tax include services such as gym memberships?

No. No. Yes. No. It should and does include sodas, but I oppose an extra “sin tax.” Oppose gym membership sales tax.

Do you support D.C.’s plan for creation of an extensive street-car network over the next 20 years in ar-eas other than the H Street corridor, where construction is al-ready under way?

Yes. Streetcars are the catalyst for economic development.

Yes, with increased population, we need them.

Yes. Yes. We must connect east of the river to H Street.

in progress, and delay the rest until economy is better.

Yes, but only in areas where the streets are being worked on for other purposes and work can be done economically.



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Is the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services overall doing a good job? If not, what should the council do?

I have not made a thorough evaluation of the department. We don’t have the capacity to supervise young violent offenders.

Management is really the issue. We should look at other programs that would help that department.

It has improved dramatically over the past decade. The council should continue tough oversight and look at best practices elsewhere.

Most teenage juveniles charged with violent crimes with a gun should be charged as adults.

No, it is not. Judges should determine whether a convicted offender is returned to the community or placed under

The New Beginnings fa-cility in Prince George’s is working well. It should have many more than 60 beds, as many serious offenders are put in neighborhood group homes with lim-ited supervision and services.

How can the youth administration resolve any

between protecting public safety and rehabilitating young offenders? Which is more important?

Public safety must

expand more heavily supervised housing for them rather than putting dangerous youth in the neighborhoods. Also, we need a facility for dangerous female youth offenders.

Use partnership with other organizations that offer public services.

transparency. Must ensure wraparound services, and especially workforce development and education programs. Public safety is more important.

Community safety is more important. The agency should design its rehabilitation program in a manner that ensures public safety while addressing inmate’s needs.

For violent offenders 16 and older, there must be blended sentence, a longer incarceration or probation term for over age 18. Less violent of-fenders should receive mental-health services, career path training and counseling.

Should penalties for crimes by juveniles be substantially increased?

Uncertain. No. They need other services.

It depends on the offense.

Yes, if the crime is with a gun.

No. The laws are adequate. They need to be imposed.

For murders and very violent assaults, yes; for less violent offenses, more oversight.

Should juveniles who commit felonies be treated as adults in most cases?

No. We need to correct their lives.

No. It depends on the offense.

It depends on their age. Yes. It should be a case-by-case issue.

What steps should be taken to improve education?

The key is differentia-tion. If students need mental-health services or more hours in the classroom, they should get them. We must be competitive with the best schools, public and private. We need more great teachers, engaged parents.

partnerships with businesses for vocational training.

Continue reform efforts started under former Chancellor Michelle Rhee.

Bring special-education programs into the District, have magnet schools, more arts and music, more after-school activities.

Continue investment in early childhood education and vocational training.

teachers to work in lowest-performing schools by offering supplemental salaries.

Some educators say that per-pupil spending in areas where there is a great deal of poverty ought to be higher than in areas where students come from well-educated families. Do you agree?

Yes, and it should be differentiated within the District by need.

No, it should be equal across the board.

Yes. It should be considered. Yes. Probably yes, as we are taking on responsibilities that

do at home.

What line items, if any, should be reduced, deleted or added to the school budget?

Right now we can’t afford additions. Can reduce special-education costs by providing services ourselves.

I would have to review the budget to decide.

Provide more special-education resources in the city. Add only based on chancellor recommendations. Would increase bilingual education.

Reduce special-educa-tion transportation, look at special-education private placements and build up the District’s in-house capacity for special education that would produce future savings.

to ensure salaries are in line with national averages.

While fabulous buildings are helpful, great teachers are far more important to academic success.

Should there be funding for pre-kindergarten for very young children shortly after birth?

Yes, but we can’t now afford it.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, for kids 3 and older, but it really doesn’t differ from structured child care for younger kids.

Would D.C.’s per-pupil public school spending be adequate if it were properly managed?

I believe it would.study the budget.

Yes, overall. Yes, but improving schools is a complex problem.

Generally, yes. Yes. The programs must be more focused and streamlined.



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Should funds above the regular per-pupil spending be allocat-ed to vocational edu-cation and to magnet programs such as the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and School Without Walls due to their ad-ditional costs?

Yes, but we should use facilities where appropriate for adults in the evenings.

No, it should be equal. Yes. Yes. Yes, if we have adequate revenue available.

We should look for partnerships, but it’s worth it for more taxpayer money to be spent on successful special schools.

Do you favor estab-lishing a math/sci-ence magnet school aiming to send graduates to colleges like the Massachu-setts and California institutes of technol-ogy, even if it means a higher cost per student than in other public schools?

Yes. Not if it results in higher costs.

Yes. Absolutely, yes. No, we cannot afford it. It would be great if we could. We should evaluate how many

Yes, but it requires partnerships with places like the National Institutes of Health similar to what Maryland’s Montgomery Blair High School does.

Do you favor in-creases in the school budget to allow gifted and talented programs for our brightest students? If yes, should the goal be to offer them an education equal to that of the District’s best private schools?

We can’t afford any increases right now. But we should offer an education for all of our students equal to that of the best private schools.

As long as spending is equal for everybody.

It’s worth exploring. Yes. We could not afford it now. But the long-term goal is to help all children perform at their highest level.

Yes, but the issue is how do we get kids to that academic level. It would be a draw for people who would otherwise leave the District due to the schools.

Charter school advo-cates say the city has violated the law giv-

at closed school buildings. What, if anything, would you do about it?

The D.C. Council should not approve the sale of buildings if they were not made avail-able to charter schools unless the proceeds are made available to sup-port a charter school.

I’m not sure that is the case now. It was under Fenty. I would have to see what the new administration does.

We should determine their use based on what is most needed by the city and the immediate community.

crack at all closed school buildings.

They should have

all unutilized school buildings, unless the real estate is exceptionally valuable.

crack at all school buildings, except in truly exceptional circumstances.

Charter school advocates also say that charter schools do not receive as much per pupil as the public school system does, as most charter schools have to fund their own buildings. Do you agree? If so, what should be done about it?

They are given roughly equal operating dollars.

facility costs to make them equal. The chief

been working on a method of measuring them.

They receive the same amount of per-pupil funds as the public schools.

Generally, they do receive fair funding.

They should receive equal funding as is required by law.

I don’t agree. Charter schools don’t have

schools do.

It’s true, but they can raise money from private sources. The goal should be for a near-equal footing, but realistically it would be

the same level.

The D.C. auditor claims the city has not been enforcing requirements that city contractors hire local residents. Do you agree? What if anything should be done about it?

I agree. We should withhold payments to noncomplying contractors and not give them future contracts.

I agree. Ensure we have

agreement. Fine con-tractors if they do not follow the rules.

businesses that do not follow the rules.

We need more appropriate workforce development programs.

I agree. The council should hold oversight hearings requiring developers to prove compliance at least annually.

I agree. Incentives for tax breaks must

that do not meet the standards.

Is the present level of enforcement for quality-of-life offenses generally adequate, too heavy-handed or not tough enough?

Don’t know. Not tough enough. We need to use our parking ticket writers for such offenses.

Not tough enough, especially for noise complaints.

Not tough enough. We should look at

Not tough enough. It’s a mixed bag.



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Should police be able to write tickets with

-age drinking and for quality-of-life offens-es so they don’t have to take time to book the accused?

Not for underage drinking; would consider it for quality-of-life offenses.

First offense should be a ticket, later ones should require being booked.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Absolutely.

Should D.C. turn over citizenship information to U.S.

when suspects are arrested? When they are convicted? Just when convicted of a violent crime? Or not at all?

of a violent crime; probably for most felonies.

At the time of arrest. Just when convicted of a violent crime.

Just if convicted of a violent crime. We must comply with any federal laws.

Not at all. If convicted of a violent crime.

How would you get better enforcement of laws on jaywalk-ing, bicycle riders ignoring moving vehi-cle laws, and drivers ignoring yield signs, using cellphones and blocking the box?

penalties to fund the enforcement effort.

Let ticket writers issue tickets, use more cameras.

Push police to enforce and actually follow these laws themselves.

It’s worth examining, but not if it would take police resources away from more serious problems.

Engage the chief and ask her to focus on them.

Bicycle and jaywalking need show-of-force enforcement. Cellphone offenders need more enforcement. Use meter maids for blocking the box and for yield offenders.

Do you think we have an adequate number

the force?

Uncertain, but some communities have serious problems. It may be the way we deploy them.

No. Yes. Yes, for the time being. Yes, assuming we are at full strength.

We must keep our current numbers by

more aggressively.

Do you support rais-

drivers and cyclists who do not yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks?

Yes. No. Yes. Uncertain, but it deserves study

No. Yes.

bicycle riders who

be substantially in-creased?

Yes. Yes. No. Not at this time. No. Yes, up from $5.

Should adult bicycle riders be allowed on sidewalks?

No. We need to encourage them to use our bike lanes.

Yes. No. Not in high-density population areas. It’s dangerous.

No. Not in high-density areas or where there are bike lanes.

Should allowable noise levels be reduced throughout the city for groups who chant or for speakers who use microphones?

Probably not. It’s not now a major issue.

No, unless it affects residents.

No. It should depend on the location.

Uncertain, but it should be considered.

No. The current law is adequate.

Only in strictly residential neighborhoods.

Is the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board generally too friendly to licensees, or to local residents, or is there a proper balance?

Uncertain. Uncertain. A proper balance. It varies with the issue. Proper balance.it’s more industry-friendly.

Should it be very dif-

beverage licensees to end voluntary agree-ments with advisory neighborhood commissions?

Yes. Yes. It should depend on the establishment’s history.

No. Yes Yes.



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How should the D.C. Council reduce the

universities and their neighbors over 10-year campus plans?

Foster more dialogue. Am uncertain the goal should be to decrease

Council members should meet with the community.

Limit the universities’ ability to increase enrollment if it negatively affects their neighbors.

I’d defer largely to the affected ward council member and advisory neighborhood commis-sions and work more closely with university administrations.

By being more engaged in the process and creating a dialogue with the parties.

In commercial areas, university-owned prop-erties should be taxed at a higher rate if they are not properly used. In residential neighbor-hoods, any use chang-es should be subject to voluntary agreements.

Should the city force universities to offer more on-campus undergraduate student housing? If so, how?

No. No. It should not be forced.

Yes. No, but it should be strongly encouraged.

Yes, by penalties such as fees or zoning restrictions if they don’t.

We should offer them height and density bonuses in exchange for more undergraduate student housing.

Is the present open-meetings law adequate?

No. The law needs to specify what constitutes a meeting.

Yes. No. The council has meetings behind closed doors.

No. All breakfast and budget sessions of the council should be open. We should also look at all the boards including advisory neighborhood commissions.

No. It doesn’t include the D.C. Council or advisory neighborhood commissions.

No. It should be ex-panded to every city board, including ad-visory neighborhood commissions.

Do you support an elected prosecut-ing attorney for the District? If yes, how should it be funded?

Yes, but not at this time. Unsure how to

Yes, if we can afford it, but I doubt we can.

No. Yes. We should seek federal funding.

Expand powers of attorney general, subject to getting federal funds.

Yes, but only if we can get the federal government to commit to its current spending levels.

Should D.C. allow residents to set up self-taxing districts where residents agree to pay extra taxes to receive more services, like the business improve-ment districts in D.C. and in Maryland mu-nicipalities?

Yes. If people want to pay more for greater services, they should be able to.

No. Yes. If the community wants it, they should be free to do it.

Not at this time. We are already taxed enough.

No. It would increase disparities between the haves and the have-nots.

Yes, on a limited basis for say a special recycling program or

overtime. Oppose independent police force.

Do you support making emergency medical services its own agency, independent of the

No. We need to reduce the number of agencies.

Yes. No. No, unless savings would be realized and services would not suffer.

We should evaluate it. There has to be a con-nection as there are so

-ers. Most have been cross-trained. It could be quasi-independent.

Should Klingle Road be reopened?

Yes, but we cannot afford reopening it now.

Uncertain. Yes. No. Keep it closed. Yes. I’d rather see it as a ballot initiative for wards 1, 3 and 4. I would prefer it to be for bikes and walkers.

D.C. Council mem-bers receive among the highest sala-ries in the country. Should their salaries be reduced?

Yes, by about 10 percent.

Yes, on a temporary basis due to the budget crisis.

Yes, by about 15 percent.

Yes. It should set the example during these tough economic times.

No. Yes. It would be great symbolically in today’s economic crisis.

Should the council become a full-time job, with a ban on legislators earning outside income?

No. It would restrict the talent available to join the council.

No. Yes. No, but I would not personally take another job with outside income.

No. The three most productive council members all have outside employment.

Absolutely yes.

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should elect you to the D.C. Council.

I’m the only candidate with eight years teach-ing experience and

budget and connecting residents with jobs.

(Did not supply.) I will be an honest council member

continue educational reform and hold the new administration accountable.

I will primarily focus on reducing spending, continuing Rhee-like education reform and engaging congressional Republicans on District issues.

(Did not supply.) If you believe in a more accountable, transpar-ent government focus-ing on access to quality education and smarter progress, vote Weaver.



An Almquist D. Kamili Anderson Andrew Moss Bill Quirk

What would be your three major areas of concentration if elected to the D.C. State Board of Education?

Higher academic achievement, teacher effectiveness and school environmental safety.

Teacher evaluation process, renovating and building facilities and improving workforce preparation.

Continuing educational reform, instituting core curriculum and implementation of “Race to the Top.”

Implementing standards, coordinating city educational services and encouraging community participation.

What do you consider to be the most important responsibilities of the D.C. State Board of Education?

Holding schools and state superintendent accountable, setting standards, getting adequate data to make decisions.

Thoroughly analyzing and responding to proposals and their relevance to Ward 4.

Rule-making function of school board and ensuring all schools throughout the city meet the same standards.

Drafting and implementing educational standards.

Charter schools must have the same performance standards, assessments and accountability as regular public schools. What should happen if they are not met?

They should be held accountable. We must see why a school might be failing. After a reasonable amount of time to improve, the charter should be pulled if standards aren’t met.

They should be called on the carpet. Board should recommend if charter school should have its charter pulled after having opportunity to improve.

They should be reviewed as to why they are not performing. If it’s mismanagement, we should consider pulling their charter. If it’s just teacher standards, we should look at their licensing.

They should be reviewed by the charter school board.

Are “common core” subject standards that are being developed with various other states a good idea?

Yes. It allows English and math to be measured across states.

Yes. Yes. It helps ensure our graduates will not lag behind others when they attend out-of-state colleges.

Yes.

should there be the common core standards?

None at this time. IT and perhaps some other IT, computer science and biology. Sciences and foreign languages.

Should a foreign language be required for high school gradu-ation? If so, what languages?

Yes. Spanish, French, Chinese, German and Latin.

Yes. It should be. Choice between Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.

Yes. Choice between Spanish, French, Chinese and German.

Yes. Spanish plus a large number of options; unsure of Latin.

The two years of a foreign language that are required now need not be consecutive. Should that change?

The years should be consecutive. The requirement should be three years with fourth available.

Yes, with a three-year minimum. Yes. They should be consecutive. We should consider a third year.

Yes. They should be consecutive. Third year should be available.

For subject areas that do not come under national stan-dards, should the board devel-op standards that match those of other states so we can com-pare results? If yes, which?

Foreign languages and science already have standards; developing new ones in these

We should consider matching standards at least with Virginia and Maryland.

We should consider it at a later time, as the board has so much on its plate at present.

Yes, for both sciences and foreign languages.

Do you approve of the truancy standards we now have?

Currently, 10 unexcused absences equal an F and three tardies equal one absence. The unexcused number should be reduced to six.

No. There are counterproductive limitations on when a child may be picked up by the police and truan-

Yes. Yes, but we need better enforcement.

What should be the state board’s role in administering the Race to the Top funds?

Ensure they are allocated as originally proposed, e.g., adopting international benchmark standards for recruiting, retaining teachers.

Look at materials in an advisory role. The board is to provide scrutiny to see what is best for the city and for the wards.

I approve of the current system where it works with the state superintendent.

It depends on the new chancellor’s plans.

Are there areas for which you believe the state board should take over oversight?

Turning around lower-performing schools and ensuring Race to the Top funds are going to lower-achieving schools.

Not at this time. I support the idea of the board having just an advisory role.

policy-making. No.

What elements of the reform effort over the past three years should be continued, and what areas should be reworked?

Continue raising achievement for all students and focusing on special education, vocational education improvements, modern-ization efforts and raising teacher effectiveness. Communications to teachers need improvement.

Evaluation system for teachers should be continued with some

continue to be rewarded for taking on areas of responsibility. In Ward 4, we need to improve the feeder school system.

The reform needs to be implemented more collaboratively. I’m concerned about implementation of teacher evaluation system IMPACT. I fear it will create a disparity in the system.

Devising educational standards has gone well, but not their implementation. We need it in earlier grades.

Should the board be

the state superintendent?

It should have input and the right of veto.

No. Backgrounds of elective

adequate for that decision.

No, but we should have input. Our role should be limited to rule-making.

No. It should remain with the mayor.

Are school board stipends at $15,000 adequate? Should they be zero?

It should be zero. $15,000 is adequate. It should not be nothing, but the amount might be evaluated.

They are adequate. They should be reduced, but not all the way to zero.

Should preparation by third-party groups (like Teach for America) continue to count toward certifying teachers?

I approve as long as the organizations can show they are

Yes. Yes. It is providing needed training. Yes, as well as other organizations.



An Almquist D. Kamili Anderson Andrew Moss Bill Quirk

Should private school teachers be allowed to teach in public schools even without having taken education coursework?

No. A private setting is very different. We need more expertise.

Yes, depending on their Yes, if they have good evaluations and are willing to go through the

Yes, but they must go through

Chancellor Michelle Rhee did? Should she have been encouraged to remain?

She meant well, initiated a lot of good programs and showed she cared for students. But her communication was not effective for teachers, union members, parents and some students.

Yes to both. Her efforts were needed. However, reform must be collaborative and include all stakeholders. She was not collaborative. She should’ve been asked to remain only if she agreed to be more collaborative.

personally too divisive.

Does the school system place too much, too little or the right amount of emphasis on test scores in evaluating teachers?

Too much. You may get all A’s, but Too little. Probably too much. We must also look at critical thinking and writing skills.

The right amount, but they should not be penalized for one bad year.

Should early education be available from shortly after birth?

If we have the resources. Research shows that from birth to 3 years is critical in learning and developing.

Yes, but am unsure if public schools should take it on.

Yes, as early as possible. It helps provide needed skills to be successful.

Yes.

Should there be vocational education standards written by the state board?

They are not needed as standards already exist we can adopt.

They should be developed with the board’s input and consensus, but the board might not be the group to originally develop them.

We should have vocational educational standards, but I am not certain they should be developed by the board.

It should be considered.

What can we do to strengthen math and science teaching in the middle grades?

Incorporate more hands-on

trips to appropriate museums.

Introduce science and math as early as possible and continue consistently; increase number of courses and teachers; and have extracurricular activities. Offer math and science to help students on career paths.

We are still using old approaches. Today students need to know how math and science apply to everyday life rather than rote learning.

Ensure standards are enforced at younger ages prior to the middle grades.

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should elect you to the D.C. State Board of Education.

By reviewing my achievements, proven leadership, scholarly research and educational experi-ence, I’m prepared to lead with substance, not just style.

Working in education has been my day job for 30 years at the national level. I have some experience.

A vote for Andrew Moss means a vote for experience, commitment and leadership. Let’s educate our children together.

I’ve been an advocate for District children for nearly a decade, the chair of my ANC and an expectant parent.



Voters Guide -- 04/2011

Documents

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state board of education

board ofeducation member

council chairman

state board of educationsince

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