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Vance resigns
School superintendent cites vouchers, school governance issues as reasons
(Published November 17, 2003)

By KATHRYN SINZINGER
Staff Writer

D.C. Public Schools Superintendent Paul L. Vance announced his resignation on Nov. 14, saying he has "no desire to continue as superintendent."

"I’m not an impulsive person, but I think my consciousness came to grips with the rest of my mental faculties and I said, ‘Paul, you’ve got to do this.’ I decided I had to do this," Vance told The Common Denominator in a telephone interview following his announcement during a 2 p.m. press conference.

"It’s not about the mayor, it’s not about the council...it’s about vouchers and governance issues and the politics of who is going to have control of the school system," he said. "You get that feeling in your gut that it’s time to go."

Vance, 72, who came out of retirement in July 2000 to take over the District’s public school system, said he intends to remain in the District after he leaves his $175,000-a-year position.

"I’m going to cheer for our school system and participate selectively in the debate about our school system," Vance said. He declined to elaborate on his future plans, calling it "unethical" to make a commitment while still employed by the D.C. Board of Education.

School board members, caught by surprise by the timing of Vance’s announcement, gathered at school headquarters late this afternoon to informally accept the resignation. In a statement issued this evening, the school board said it plans to formally accept the resignation at its monthly board meeting on Nov. 19 and will appoint Assistant Superintendent Elfreda Massie to take over as interim superintendent.

"We are deeply grateful to Dr. Vance for the positive change he has brought to the school system and for the commitment he has given our students," the board’s statement said.

Vance said he expects to provide "support" for the school board’s efforts to hire the next superintendent.

Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, who chairs the council’s education committee, said he expected Vance’s resignation within the next week, following private conversations with the superintendent.

"He was originally asked to stay for two years," Chavous said, noting the terms under which Vance was hired to replace former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman by the now-dormant, congressionally created financial control board. "The city is in a transition period. ...I think he probably doesn’t want to be in the way."

Chavous said he expects his committee to meet with members of the school board on Nov. 17 "to let them know that we know it’s within the school board’s prerogative to pick a new superintendent."

But he said the council and the board need to work together to build on the stability that Vance brought to the school system. "Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to make sure that doesn’t disintegrate," Chavous said.

Ward 4 Councilman Adrian Fenty, also a member of the education committee, said Vance is "a career professional who is very respected, but there is no question that we need someone new."

"It’s the right decision, " Fenty said. "The problem is that the school board needs to anticipate things like this. It was clear from the time that we brought [Vance] in that he wasn’t going to be here a long time. We never should have stopped looking [for a new superintendent]."