'Michigan Matters' Exclusive: DPS Crisis In The Spotlight -- A Michigan Chronicle 'Pancakes and Politics' Forum
(CBS Detroit) - As the crisis in Detroit Public Schools continues to play out, the conversation about what happens next took center stage at the Michigan Chronicle's first "Pancakes and Politics" forum of the 2016 season.
As the iconic spring time speaker series kicked off its 11th season this week, the event again attracted a standing room crowd at the Detroit Athletic Club where 500 people listened in as Ivy Bailey (Interim President, Detroit Federation of Teachers), Alycia Meriwether (Interim Superintendent of DPS), John Rakolta, (CEO of Walbridge) Tonya Allen (president and CEO, Skillman Foundation) and State Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) talked about the situation.
The conversation was moderated by Carol Cain, Senior Producer and Host of "Michigan Matters." CBS 62 has been a sponsor of the event since the beginning.
The riveting discussion focused on what it will take to address DPS' fiscal and academic woes, who best to address them and also come up with the money to pay for them.
Talk also touched on the role of Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
Bailey gave kudos to Steven Rhodes, newly appointed Transition Manager of DPS.
Meriwether, who was appointed a few weeks ago by Rhodes, discussed the importance of the community pitching in to help.
Rakolta, who worked with Allen and other leaders in coming up with a plan to fix DPS, said he would not rest until the district received the money and attention it needed.
Also asking questions were Keith Owens, Senior Editor of the Michigan Chronicle , and Vickie Thomas, City Beat Reporter for WWJ Newsradio 950, sister station of CBS62. WWJ Newsradio 950 also is a sponsor of "Pancakes and Politics."
(You can hear the conversation by watching "Michigan Matters" 11:30 Sunday on CBS 62).
