Councilmember Kevin P. Chavous
A PROPOSED
RESOLUTION IN THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, LIBRARIES, AND RECREATION & PARKS
To authorize an investigation by the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation
& Parks on the use and monitor of funds by the District of Columbia Public Schools.
RESOLVED, BY THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, LIBRARIES, AND RECREATION & PARKS, That
this resolution may be cited as the "Committee on Education, Libraries, and
Recreation & Parks Investigation of the District of Columbia Public Schools Use of
Funds Resolution of 1998".
Sec. 2. The Committee finds that:
(1) On April 5, 1998, the Committee was informed at the Joint Budget Work Session that
the District of Columbia Public Schools ("DCPS") has a $70,000,000 deficit for
Fiscal Year 1998.
(2) The Committee was not informed of the $70,000,000 deficit at the budget hearings on
the Fiscal Year 1997 Spending and Fiscal Year l998 Budget Implementation of DCPS, which
was held on February 20, 1998; the Fiscal Year 1999 Request of DCPS, which was held on
March 5, 1998; and many private meetings that were held with DCPS’ officials including the
Chief Executive Officer/Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer/Deputy Superintendent, and
Chief Financial Officer.
(3) Information has been requested on all aspects of the school’s budget. In most
cases, the information sent was incomplete and the information never revealed a deficit of
this magnitude.
(4) The Fiscal Year 1998 budget of DCPS does not indicate a $70,000,000 deficit.
(5) Documents from the Chief Financial Officer indicates that DCPS has overspent more
than $8,000,000 in overtime.
Sec. 3. The Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation &
Parks determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute reasons to
conduct an investigation, including the use of subpoenas issued by the Chairperson of the
Committee. Specifically, this investigation will examine:
(1) Expenditures of DCPS in relation to its statutory authorization
(2) The disbursement of funds by DCPS
(3) The internal financial, accounting, and budgetary documents of DCPS as well as
financial, accounting and budgetary documents provided by the Council by DCPS
(4) Policies and procedures of DCPS
(5) Internal controls to monitor expenditures
(6) Contracts signed by DCPS
Sec. 4. The Clerk of the Committee shall file this resolution, upon
its adoption, with the Office of the Secretary, in accordance with section 60l(b) of the
Rules.
Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.