5426779 Resolution 21-49, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools Salary Adjustment Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015

A RESOLUTION

21-49

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

March 3, 2015

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to approve the salary adjustment for the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools Salary Adjustment Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015”.

 

Sec. 2. (a)  There exists an immediate need to approve a salary adjustment for the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, pursuant to section 1052 of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective June 10, 1998 (D.C. Law 12-124; D.C. Official Code § 1-610.52).

            (b) The legislation would approve an annual salary for the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (“DCPS”) of $284,000, based on the Chancellor’s steady leadership and continued progress of DCPS.  

 (c)  Kaya Henderson was appointed Interim Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools on November 1, 2010, following the resignation of Michelle Rhee.  On March 11, 2011, she was nominated to serve as Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools.  Chancellor Henderson was unanimously confirmed by the Council on June 21, 2011, and has served as Chancellor continuously since that time.

(d)  Over the past 4 years under Chancellor Henderson’s leadership, DCPS has realized dramatic improvements towards the goals of increasing District-wide math and reading proficiency, improving the proficiency rates of the DCPS’ 40 lowest performing schools, increasing high school graduation rates, increasing student satisfaction, and increasing overall DCPS enrollment. 

(e) DCPS has increased audited enrollment to the highest level in over 5 years, with 3 consecutive years of growth.  In 2014, DCPS students reached their highest proficiency rates ever in reading and math.  Graduation rates have been growing steadily each year with a goal of 75% in 2017.  In-seat attendance has increased to 89% and truancy has been reduced by 18%.  Since 2011, the results of the National Assessment of Education Progress show District students improved in math and reading and demonstrated the greatest growth of any state in the nation.   

(f) Based on the dramatic improvements achieved under the steady leadership of the Chancellor over the last 4 years and the commitment to continuing the progress of DCPS, the Mayor has signed a new contract and made an adjustment to the Chancellor’s present salary.  This emergency is necessary to reflect the salary adjustment as approved by the Mayor on January 2, 2015.

 

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools Salary Adjustment Emergency Amendment Act of 2015 be approved after a single reading.

 

           Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.