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OCR Page 1 of 35THE WASHINGTON POST
THE DISTRICT AND THE REGION
M1
D.C. Schools Off to a Better Start This Year
SAT Scores
Officials Pleased
Average scores for 19
not get the paperwork processed
quickly enough, sources said. And
By Easy Opening
at the African-centered School
Within a School, none of the 156
1998
By VALERIE STRAUSS
students showed up because par-
ents were concerned about the
D.C.
Washington Post Staff Writer
410
safety of the former Taft Junior
Virginia
The District's 146 public
High School building in Northeast
schools opened as scheduled yes-
Washington, where the students
Alexandria
475
terday for the first time in four
were told to report at the last
Arlington
523
years-amid more moves by Su-
minute because their regular
perintendent Arlene Ackerman to
school building is not ready.
Fairfax
540
restructure the troubled system.
At many schools, though, the first
Loudoun
523
Ackerman, who visited several
day went just fine, parents and princi-
schools during the day, said that all
pals said. Ackerman and her staff met
Manassas
519
major roof repairs had been com-
daily for three months to make sure
Manassas Park
489
pleted before school bells rang and
the opening went smoothly. They
that she was delighted with the
also took the unprecedented step of
Prince William
516
enthusiasm she saw from teachers,
having junior and senior high school
Stafford
520
principals, students and parents.
students pick up class schedules in
"This was the third thing we
August, so instruction could begin
Maryland
said we had to do to make people
right away yesterday.
Anne Arundel
513
start to believe that things could
At Malcolm X Elementary School
change," she said. "We had to raise
in Southeast Washington, new Prin-
Calvert
524
test scores, and we did, and we had
cipal Vaughn Kimbrough rushed
Charles
495
to have a successful summer
BY LUCIAN PERKINS-THE WASHINGTON POST
around organizing more than 700
school, and we did. Now we've
At Birney Elementary, T'Aira Phillips, 9, hugs her pal Sabrina Smith, 7, as she
students-most of them in uni-
Howard
535
opened schools on time."
talks with her mother before beginning the first day of the new school year.
forms-into classes. The school was
Montgomery
537
The new superintendent has re-
visited by Cora Masters Barry, wife
organized more administrative
this summer in much of the person-
tem for six months last year and was
of Mayor Marion Barry, who urged
Prince George's
446
functions in her push to make the
nel office, long considered dysfunc-
in charge of human resources there,
the youngsters to study hard.
St. Mary's
510
system more efficient and account-
tional. Katrina Robertson Reed,
recently served as an adviser to
At nearby Birney Elementary
able. Joe Carrillo, brought in a few
president-elect of the American
School, Marquette Jenkin, 7, was
U.S. AVERAGE
505
Ackerman.
months ago as personnel chief, is
Association of School Personnel
In starting classes on time, Ack-
downright gloomy. Asked whether
now associate superintendent in
Administrators and a 30-year vet-
erman did have an advantage:
he was glad to be back, the boy
*Change in points from 1997
answered, "No." Asked why, he
NOTE: Scores for Fauquier County an
charge of a newly created office to
eran of the Minnesota school sys-
There was no judge this year de-
oversee the system's emerging re-
tem, has been hired as associate
said sullenly, "Because."
SOURCES: College Board, school dist
creeing that repair work could not
lationship with charter schools.
superintendent for administrative
But Michael Lynn Jackson, 10,
be done while classes were in
Nearly 20 charter schools,
services-a newly organized office
who was hugged by Principal
session-a ruling that caused the
which are publicly funded but oper-
that will handle personnel, human
Yvonne Morse, said he was glad to
school system to delay opening last
ate outside the traditional bureau-
be starting fifth grade. He was
resources, labor relations and man-
year by three weeks.
cracy, are scheduled to open in the
escorted to school by his mother
agement information systems.
But at several schools yesterday,
Area Offici
city next week.
and grandmother, the latter coun-
Reed, who was acting superinten-
there were some teacher shortages
seling, "Everything in life is related
Carrillo helped oversee firings
dent of the Minneapolis school sys-
because the personnel office did
to math, so study hard."
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