Two Reports Assail Past Management of D.C. Schools

By Lynn Olson

WASHINGTON Two reports that lambaste past management of the District of Columbia schools have cast a shadow on the school system's request for more money and prompted local lawmakers to consider taking greater control of its finances.

At a press conference last week, Superintendent of Schools Franklin L. Smith and R. David Hall, the school-board president, tried to downplay the damage done when one of the reports was leaked to a local television station while beard members and the superintendent were away at a planning retreat.

"1 am deeply disappointed that some employees in our school system, some members of the media, and some elected officials would try to use the findings of this audit as a weapon against us," said Mr. Hall. "The effect of this audit has been to make the beard more determined than ever to support the superintendent's efforts to bring about total reform...