D.C. Officials say that all schools will be ready to open on time in just a couple of weeks, but council member Mary Cheh said she wanted to see for herself; so on Monday she toured six schools, checking on everything from school supplies to maintenance.

Just before the back to school bell rings, Councilmember Cheh made sure D.C. schools in Ward 3 are making the grade. "I think it's psychologically important for the staff and the kids to have everything in order," Cheh said.

On her tour of D.C. Schools, Cheh checked on staffing levels and made sure repairs everywhere from roofs to bathrooms are up-to-date. On the to-do list at one elementary school is upgrading the plumbing and making sure the construction is underway. And while many of the classrooms appeared to be in disarray, school officials said they are working feverishly to make sure construction is completed by August 25. School Chancellor Michelle Rhea says all schools will be ready on time.

As part of Mayor Fenty's $2.3 million schools modernization plan, all classrooms now have air conditioning units and this summer 60 schools received major renovations. Cheh says she's seen a noticeable difference in the schools from years past. 

Parents took notice too. "It looks a lot nicer," one parent said.

This time last year, Cheh said thousands of textbooks were holed up in a warehouse at the start of school. Cheh vowed not to let this happened again, prompting her to ask the questions, "Do you have all your books; do you have all your personnel?"

In addition, over the summer D.C. school officials hired 45 principals and 200 teachers to replace the ones that were fired. And on Monday, Mayor Fenty and school Chancellor Rhea met with the new employees at an orientation.

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