WASHINGTON--The Education Department has hired Donald W. Ingwerson, the long-time Jefferson County, Ky., schools superintendent, to advise Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander on urban-education issues.
Mr. Ingwerson has spent the last 11 years in Jefferson County, which includes Louisville, and was named “superintendent of the year’’ in 1992 by the American Association of School Administrators.
In an interview following the announcement of his appointment last month, Mr. Ingwerson said he will take inventory of the department’s urban-education programs and education-related programs in other Cabinet agencies. He said he hoped to complete his review by mid-November so he could “develop a strategy or plan for a major urban-education initiative for America.’'
Asked about the outlook for his proposals if President Bush is not re-elected in November, Mr. Ingwerson said he hoped his work would be welcomed by either Mr. Bush or his Democratic challenger, Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas.
“I’m a professional. This is bipartisan as far as I’m concerned,’' he said.
Mr. Ingwerson said his work could form the basis for new legislation. At a minimum, he said, it will influence the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which will take place during the next Congress.
He called the department’s willingness to take a fresh look at urban education “a tremendous opportunity for the urban centers to bring a coordinated effort to improve the education environment in our major cities.’'
Job Not Seen as Permanent
Mr. Ingwerson said he did not plan to seek renewal of his contract with the school district, which expires in July 1993. He resigned the superintendent’s post late last month but agreed to stay on until a successor is found. He said he will use vacation and leave time to work for the Education Department.
Mr. Ingwerson has been a well-received superintendent, but he came under fire over the last year because of a controversial busing proposal and for hiring school-district employees to repair houses he owned.
He said he did not expect his federal job to last beyond the implementation phase of an urban-education initiative.
