February 4, 2010 at 10:23am
After years of back-and-forth bickering like an old married couple, the mayoral control debate has all the makings of a high-profile divorce - complete with big payouts and the question of child custody.
The most striking thing about the mayoral control debate is how advocates and opponents accuse each other of the same suspicions, failures, and neglect.
The division between the two sides is astonishing with one side blaming the other for everything.
Friends and enemies are a lot like the children deciding who they want to live with, mom or dad.
Divorce is often ugly, and this one doesn't look like an exception.
Those who oppose mayoral control - or governance as Mayor Bob Duffy calls it - have the idea that he will probably run out of steam soon.
They shouldn't hold their breath.
It's over.
In a meeting yesterday morning, Duffy was more fired up than ever. He said he was concerned with the misinformation the public is receiving. And he cancelled the forums, he said, because a bill has not been written and he feared adding to the confusion by answering questions with speculation.
Even a change in the Maintenance of Effort law, which requires the city to hand over $119.2 million to the school district, would not cause him to change course now.
It's been offered, he said, as a kind of behind-the-scenes reconciliation. But he wouldn't go for it.
He's clearly got a friends and enemies list, and three School Board members (you know who you are) are at the top of one list.
He wouldn't say whether Board member Cynthia Elliott will be rewarded with a position on any appointed board, though he didn't say anything to dispel rumors, either.
Duffy is focused on getting "inside the district" and looking at the contracts, financial documents, and mountains of student data.
It's hard to fathom how either side let it get this bad. Worse, there's a bizarre naiveté settling over both camps.
Opponents seem to think that the outrage over eliminating voting rights of largely African American city residents will stop Duffy. Doesn't look like it.
And Duffy seems to think that parent dissatisfaction will suddenly disappear under his watch. Good luck with that one.
This was never a ‘til-death-do-us-part arrangement, but boy, it sure feels like it.
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Comments for "MAYORAL CONTROL: Divorce, American style " (5)
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Louis Richards said on Feb. 04, 2010 at 12:56pm
Should this issue indeed playout similar to the classic 21st century American divorce, the “children” will require an army of “therapists”; while the disputants seek other partners to screw - or screw over, as the case may be.
"It's all about the children" rings so hollow in this politically-charged atmosphere.
Alan Murphy said on Feb. 04, 2010 at 2:50pm
If Mayor Duffy is concerned about the misinformation that the public is receiving, he should stop misinforming. In his 1st draft of "Putting Children First," he talks about the success of charter schools but omits the success of successful elementary schools like World of Inquiry. He also fails to mention that some charter schools fail and are forced to close, just like public schools.
He also mentions that "the District had over 200 more staff than necessary..." but the Superintendent "was thwarted..." in cutting these positions. These unnecessary positions were largely arts and music teaching jobs. Why omit these details if the intent is not to misinform?
James Spount said on Feb. 04, 2010 at 8:15pm
Divorce? Really? That seems like a horribly inaccurate analogy for so many reasons.
Mr. Murphy, you are right to point out the success of RCSD elmentary schools like #58 and #23. Like the highly successful elmentary and middle charter schools in the city, these are further proof that we need not accept academic failure from poor urban students. There are schools here in our midst that have figured it out!
I do have to take strong exception to your assertion that "some charter schools fail and are forced to close, just like public schools." That's the whole point of charter schools! If they fail, then they get closed. Unfortunately, this rarely, if ever, happens with district schools (take a look at the flack Brizard is catching at the mere suggestion of closing a few of the city's worst high schools next year). This is one of the unique characteristics that distinguish charters from their district peers.
Sharon Smith said on Feb. 05, 2010 at 2:52pm
I read in the Democrat and Chronicle that Detroit tried mayorial control and then gave control back to the school board. after a number of years. One thing that I thought was interesting was that Duffy will inherit central office. unions, students, parents, etc. In order to have a successful process you need trust. One part of the article talked about a general handing down orders but needing sergeants to carry them out. Does her have the support of RCSD staff to carry out his orders? Also any advisory board he gets will come from the private sector and need to be trained on school system programs and procedures. Detroit was met with alot of resistance due to the backdoor political deals. Duffy quotes New York City, Washington, and Chicago as success models. I would encourage residents to research Detroit model also.
Alan Murphy said on Feb. 05, 2010 at 9:10pm
My point was not to debate the pros and cons of charter schools but to respond to Mayor Duffy's frustration at the supposed "misinformation" regarding mayoral control while he paints a one-dimensional picture of district and charter school performance.
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