DPS Control Debate Continues
With continued calls for Detroit Mayor Dave Bing to be granted control over the Detroit Public School District, including Governor Granholm's support, at least one community group vows to fight against the idea of mayoral control. Ernest Johnson, president of the Community Coalition, is saying no to mayoral control of the Detroit Public Schools. He said it is a voting rights issue.
"If you take our right to vote and put it in someone else's hands to put in someone else's hands, and we don't have any say... then we got what we have right now in terms of an emergency financial person who we have no control of," Johnson said.
Johnson believes Bing should not have control of the Detroit Public School system. One reason, he said, is he believes the mayor should focus on the basics, like making the city safer.
"People are killing people who come to their house, babies are getting killed... policemen are getting shot," Johnson said.
People don't feel safe in the community at night, he said.
Bottom line, Johnson said, is that Bing already has a full plate.
Meantime, supporters of Change For Better Schools have been collecting thousands of signatures in an effort to show Detroit City Council there is a strong interest in a Mayor-controlled Detroit Public School District.
The group plans to present the signatures to the Detroit City Council — in hopes of persuading the council to put the issue on the November ballot.
If voters approve the measure in November, the state Legislature still would need to act.
The vote could lead to the elimination of the Detroit school board.
More on this story here.
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