MILWAUKEE—The debates over Mayor Tom Barrett’s proposed takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools continue as Wisconsin Legislature prepares to make a decision.
Since last year, Barrett has been seeking the reform of MPS and with the Obama Administration’s “Race to the Top” fund, a program giving competitive grants to reward schools that have reformed and innovated their education system, Barrett is now proposing the mayoral control of MPS.
Barrett, with the support of Governor Jim Doyle, would appoint six members to a panel called the Milwaukee Public Schools Innovation and Improvement Advisory Council in which the mayor would be chairman.
Critics of Barrett’s plan say the takeover would be autocratic and a slap in the face to voters.
A rally against Barrett’s proposal was held on Monday, August 24th, hosted by 14th District Alderman Tony Zielinski.
“I feel it is undemocratic to disband an elected body and replace it with another. There have been many people who’ve risked their lives and died for democracy and voting is one of our fundamental rights as Americans,” said Zielinski in an interview with the Epoch Times.
On Tuesday, Zielinski invited Barrett to debate publicly on the matter in a press release, saying he is ready to discuss the issue “Whenever, wherever”.
Barrett says that his proposal is about improving MPS, accountability, and taking advantage of possible federal funds.
Alderman Willie Hines Jr. supports Barrett’s plan to innovate MPS.
“I have my own kids at MPS. But the system needs drastic improvement,” said Hines in a September 1st press release. “The current form of governance at MPS has been in place for several decades, but recent failings- academic, administrative, and financial- have led to the federal government pushing for substantial, dramatic changes”.
Eileen Figueroa, whose son is starting his first year in MPS, isn’t pleased with the current state of MPS.
“The mayor should step in,” said Figueroa. “If the current board is slacking, they need to be replaced. They are not being held accountable for what is happening and are pretty much getting away with giving our children a less than standard education.”
Other major U.S. cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City have switched to mayor-run school systems since the early nineties. Boston’s school system saw remarkable results when it traded its elected school board for mayoral control in 1995 while Chicago shared a similar story when Mayor Richard M. Daley revamped the school system the same year.
Barrett continued to work on his campaign soon after being beat with a metal pipe while leaving the Wisconsin State Fair the evening of August 15th. Barrett intervened when he heard a cry for help from an elderly woman being assaulted by a young man. The incident made national news and Barrett was even thanked for his heroics with a call from the President Obama.
