D.C. Schools Get Blitz of Repairs for New Year

In one of his most visible moves since taking control of the District of Columbia schools, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty oversaw a summer campaign to fix broken air conditioners, leaky roofs, and other problems at half the district’s schools.

The city spent $80 million on a wide range of repairs at 70 of 142 schools, and plans to spend another $120 million in the coming months on tougher jobs at others, such as replacing roofs or heating systems.

The work is the first step in a 10-year, $2.3 billion effort to tackle deteriorating physical conditions and a backlog...