5978030 Resolution 21-440, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools Salary and Benefits Approval Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

21-440

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

April 5, 2016        

 

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, with respect to the need to amend the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to revise the salary limitation for the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools and to authorize the provision of certain employment benefits to the Chancellor.

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 and Benefits Approval Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016”.

 

            Sec. 2. (a) Kaya Henderson was appointed Interim Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (“DCPS”) on November 1, 2010. On March 11, 2011, she was nominated to serve as Chancellor of DCPS and was unanimously confirmed by the Council on June 21, 2011. She has served as Chancellor continuously since that time.

            (b) Over the past 5 1/2 years under Chancellor Henderson’s leadership, DCPS has realized dramatic improvements toward the goals of increasing District‑wide math and reading proficiency, improving the proficiency rates of DCPS’ lowest-performing schools, increasing high school graduation rates, improving student satisfaction, and increasing DCPS’ overall enrollment.

            (c) According to the National Assessment of Education Progress’s 2015 Trial Urban District Assessment results, DCPS continues to be the fastest-improving urban school district in the country. DCPS students grew by 8 points in 4th grade reading over the 2013 test, representing the biggest increase of any school district and the largest increase in the history of the 4th grade reading test. DCPS students also saw a 4-point increase in 4th grade math scores.

            (d) The percentage of DCPS high school students who graduate in 4 years has increased by 6 percentage points, from 58% to 64%.  Last school year, 52% more students took Advanced Placement exams compared to 5 years ago. Student satisfaction at DCPS has also vastly improved, going from 65% when Chancellor Henderson started in the role to 83% at the end of school year 2014-2015.

(e) Under Chancellor Henderson’s leadership, DCPS has increased its audited enrollment with 4 consecutive years of growth, enrolling the highest number of students in over 5 years. DCPS is on track to meet its goal of enrolling more than 50,000 students by 2017.

(f) Based on the dramatic improvements achieved under the steady leadership of the Chancellor over the last 5 1/2 years and the commitment to continuing the progress of DCPS, the Mayor has signed a new contract that increases the Chancellor’s present salary and provides for certain employment benefits.

(g) There is an immediate need to approve the salary and benefits provided under the contract in order to ensure the retention of the Chancellor and to allow for the prompt payment of the negotiated salary. The Chancellor’s previous contract has expired, and the new contract was signed effective January 2, 2016.

(h) On February 2, 2016, the Council passed the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools Salary and Benefits Approval Emergency Amendment Act of 2016, effective February 18, 2016 (D.C. Act 21-313; 63 DCR 2197) (“Emergency Act”).  It expired on April 1, 2016.

(i) Temporary legislation, the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools Salary and Benefits Approval Temporary Amendment Act of 2016, enacted on March 3, 2016 (D.C. Act 21-323; 63 DCR 3652), was recently transmitted to Congress for the 30-day review period required by section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). It is projected to become law on April 28, 2016, 27 days after the expiration of the Emergency Act.

(j) A congressional review emergency is needed to prevent a gap in the law as the Chancellor has already begun receiving the salary and benefits agreed to under the new contract and as provided in the Emergency Act.

 

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 and Benefits Approval Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2016 be adopted after a single reading.

 

 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.