D.C. petitions for control of pupil transportation system

WASHINGTON, D.C. — City officials petitioned a federal judge last week to return control of its pupil transportation system, which only serves special-needs students, to local authorities. 

In a report by the Washington City Paper, the court filing states that a, “first-class school transportation system” has been established under Transportation Administrator David Gilmore and “it is now time to return control of this function to the government elected by the citizens of the District of Columbia.”

Washington City Paper goes on to report that according to a court filing, Gilmore has told U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman that the D.C. Public Schools transportation office is “consistently providing safe, timely and appropriate transportation services” and that “it is appropriate to initiate a process of transition” to local control.

Gilmore has proposed a plan for the transition, and the city has asked that Gilmore be appointed to oversee it.

The news source reports that the city hopes to gain control of the transportation system by July 7, 2010. If or when local control of the system returns to the city, it will be budgeted and managed through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.