"Madison - Lawmakers refused to act on a bill Wednesday that would give the mayor of Milwaukee substantial control over the operations of the ailing Milwaukee Public Schools system.
Legislators in both houses, controlled by Democrats, declined to take up the legislation.
The bill would grant the mayor more power over MPS than mayors of most other big cities with oversight of their school systems. Milwaukee's mayor would oversee school budgets and appoint the school superintendent.
The lack of action is a sign lawmakers have questions about how much authority they should give to a mayor.
Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democratic candidate for governor, supported the changes. They have said that mayoral control is needed to boost academic performance at MPS."
Legislators in both houses, controlled by Democrats, declined to take up the legislation.
The bill would grant the mayor more power over MPS than mayors of most other big cities with oversight of their school systems. Milwaukee's mayor would oversee school budgets and appoint the school superintendent.
The lack of action is a sign lawmakers have questions about how much authority they should give to a mayor.
Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democratic candidate for governor, supported the changes. They have said that mayoral control is needed to boost academic performance at MPS."