DETROIT - The emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools and the head of some of the city's most successful charter schools said Thursday that preliminary talk is under way about a joint project at DPS' Mumford High School, The Detroit News reported.
The News said that Robert Bobb, DPS emergency financial manager, and Doug Ross, founder of the U Prep Schools, made the announcement at "Education 911," a panel presentation hosted by the Michigan Chronicle.
Ross is superintendent of University Prep High School, a charter public school that promises to graduate 90 percent of its students and send 90 percent to college, according to the report. He also is a Mumford High graduate.
"The good news is that we're both at the table," Bobb said, according to The News. "We're committed."
Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers and another panelist, declined comment because he was unaware of the talks, The News said. He did say that the teachers in any joint venture would have to be represented by the union, The News reported.
"We have only gotten to the point where we said it would be an interesting possibility, and we would sit down and intensely explore it," Ross told The News.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "DPS looks at partnership with charter school founder," June 18, 2009
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Another U Prep charter to open," May 22, 2009
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