In Detroit Schools News It's Democracy 1, Oligarchs 0

[Hannah Bell]

DARREN A. NICHOLS
The Detroit News

Detroit --The City Council voted 6-3 this afternoon against asking voters in November if they want to authorize mayoral control of the Detroit Public Schools.

Dozens in the audience erupted in applause and shouts of "it's all over."

The council rejected a proposal fine-tuned this afternoon from Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown that would have asked voters Nov. 2 if they support the elected board or want the mayor to supervise schools. The plan called for the mayor to appoint the superintendent and the current board to be replaced with an advisory board of two parents, two teachers and three other stakeholders. The City Council would also play a role in school finances.

Brown supported the measure along with Council President Charles Pugh and Saunteel Jenkins. Members Kenneth Cockrel Jr., Andre Spivey, Kwame Kenyatta, JoAnn Watson, Brenda Jones and James Tate opposed it.

They killed the plan despite heavy lobbying by Mayor Dave Bing, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to let residents weigh in before DPS Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb's term ends in March.

http://www.schoolsmatter.info/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. How is preventing a plebiscite a victory for Democracy?

[txlibdem]

3. Each school board member is elected

Having the mayor wield total power over the school board is antithetical to Democracy. What if you don't like what the mayor's hand-picked board does? You didn't elect them, you can't recall them or hold them accountable on the next election cycle.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Why should the people should not be allowed to vote on that plan?

I do not agree with it, but if they want to do so, why is it democracy to block it.

[Starry Messenger]

2. Hell to the yes!

I can just imagine what kind of "board" the mayor would put in place. Not surprised to see Duncan had his cold shriveled fingers in that pie, too.