Now that the school closure hearings are over, what’s an education activist to do? File a lawsuit about the DCPS budget, that’s what. School advocate Marc Borbely and several other parents, activists, and ANC officials are asking Chancellor Michelle Rhee to release her FY09 budget. They say that Rhee is required to make her budget public at each stage of the review process. The first hearing on the budget is set for Tuesday. So far, there’s no budget to look at…so there should be no hearing yet, they’re arguing.

On Monday, a letter was sent to Rhee on behalf of a large group of students, teachers, PTA members, and the like. “We write because we learned on Friday from your chief of staff that you do not expect to submit your proposed budget to the mayor until the end of February or early March,” it says.

The plaintiffs came before a judge this morning, according to Borbely. The judge has not made a decision yet, and the hearing is going to be continued at D.C. Superior Court at 3 p.m. later today, he says.

In today’s Washington Post, Metro columnist Marc Fisher PWNS D.C. Councilmember Marion Barry for pulling a huge flip-flop on Mayor Adrian Fenty’s proposal to close 23 schools. Barry was grandstanding for TV cameras on Thursday, calling schools chancellor Michelle Rhee “bullheaded” and railing against the proposed closings. Less than 24 hours later, he’s shaking the Mayor’s hand and calling the plan a “victory for our children.”

Fisher asked Rhee what she thought of Barry’s flip. She said: “I thought that was fascinating.”

According to the Washington Post, the civic watchdog group DC Appleseed finds that Fenty and Co. are failing to provide adequate HIV-AIDS education let alone settle on a curriculum.

This is important news considering the latest stats on infection rates. I know Fenty claims to be willing to tackle this issue. But so far I don’t see it. It better be a lot more extensive then Metro billboards, press conferences, and ribbons. To read Appleseed’s full report go here.

Another important issue–DC Appleseed needs to update its blog. It’s so old its last item references Clifford Janey.