DETROIT - An ambitious proposal to overhaul Detroit Public Schools ran into opposition Thursday over the issue of dissolving the school board and allowing Mayor Dave Bing to take charge, according to The Detroit News.
A coalition of 15 groups, among them the Skillman Foundation, New Detroit and the University Prep charter school network, has proposed creating an independent "accountability and standards" commission which would issue report cards on every public, charter and private school in the city and move to close failing schools, according to The News.
The group wants Bing to oversee the effort, giving him authority to name a school superintendent, The News reported. Union and community activists who attended the meeting said they would fight the plan because it takes control of education out of the hands of Detroiters, according to The News.
Bing said he would accept the responsibility only if voters agreed; the coalition wants to put the question on the November ballot, according to The News.
Lansing politicians told The News that mayoral control would not be likely to succeed without strong community support.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Control
of Detroit Public Schools splits community," March 12, 2010
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Bring
Parental Choice to Detroit Schools," Dec. 17, 2009
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