Duncan says Detroit mayor should run schools
Marisa Schultz / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington— U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan praised the reform efforts of the outgoing Detroit Public Schools financial manager, but believes mayoral control of the district is needed to sustain progress.
"Detroit desperately needs all hands on deck and desperately needs to keep the reforms going," Duncan said Thursday. "I think the children of Detroit deserve better than what they have received for a while. And I just don't see how the city could ever regain its greatness if it doesn't have a great set of public schools."
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing last year said he would be willing to take on the responsibility of Detroit Public Schools, essentially eliminating the 11-member elected school board. A business-backed coalition, Change for Better Schools, pushed to put the measure to a vote on the November ballot, but community activists and the school board successfully urged the City Council to leave the issue off the ballot.
While Duncan said he wants mayoral control for DPS, Bing has backed away from the issue publically.
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110221/SCHOOLS/102210336/Duncan-says-Detroit-mayor-should-run-schools#ixzz1EbUy2sKd