A referendum on the schools takeover

From the Concerned4dcps e-list:

Please visit http://LetMeVOTE. org, and join Mary Spencer at a strategy meeting this Thursday evening at 6pm, at the offices of DC ACORN.

Today, after almost 2 hours of testimony/argument, and after more than 2 hours of closed-door deliberations, the Board of Elections & Ethics approved DCPS Grandmother (and DC ACORN vice president) Mary Spencer's request to put the School Takeover up for referendum. This victory for democracy was in large part thanks to the terrific (pro bono) lawyering of Matthew Watson, former DC Auditor and former general counsel to the Board of Elections (in the 70s). Thank you to Debby Hanrahan of the DC Statehood Green Party for finding Mr. Watson. Thank you to Robert Brannum and leaders of the DC Congress of PTAs for having gotten people thinking about the referendum process, months ago.

District citizens will have a right to vote on the Takeover -- if Mary and supporters are able to collect 20,000 valid signatures before the bill's 30-day review period expires (it is set to expire on June 8; it would expire on June 14 if Congress takes four more days off for Memorial Day, as currently planned).

This referendum would not be affected whether Congress acts or doesn't act on the Fenty/Council Charter amendment request. Even if Congress amends our Home Rule Charter, Titles 1 and 10 of the Takeover Legislation must take effect before the Mayor can take control.

The referendum request seeks to suspend only Titles 1, 9, and 10 of the legislation, the titles that specifically transfer authority from the Board of Education to the Mayor. The remaining titles, which would create an Ombudsman, an Interagency Commission, a State Board of Education, and an Office of Facilities Modernization, will be allowed to become effective around June 8.

Mary and supporters will likely be allowed to begin collecting signatures on June 4. If we collect enough signatures, titles 1, 9, and 10 of the legislation will be recalled from Congress until after the referendum, which could take place on August 21, the day of the Wards 1/2 special election for Board of Education.

She will need HUNDREDS of volunteers helping, working hard over a very short period -- a true sprint. If you can help, please visit http://LetMeVOTE. org

Mary is asking that everyone willing to help organize this effort meet her for a strategy meeting this Thursday evening from 6-7:30pm, at DC ACORN, a few blocks from the Eastern Market Metro, at 739 8th Street SE.