Did anyone see or hear the news conference today in Milwaukee where both the Governor (Doyle) and the Mayor (Barrett) said the best solution for the problems facing our troubled schools is for the Mayor to take charge of them?

They want power over the school board and went as far as to propose that the mayor would replace current board members and pick the next school superintendent.  The Mayor agreed that these were dramatic changes but that dramatic change was necessary if we are to improve the public schools in Milwaukee.  He said right off that Milwaukee’s school district has the “largest racial achievement gap in the nation”. 

The current School Board President, Michael Bonds, says that the two men should expect opposition on their proposal.  But, Governor Doyle says their plan will be taken up this fall when the Legislature comes back in session. 

As a parent who has children in school here in Milwaukee, I need more information on this process before I can support it or speak out against it.  What do you think?  Should we be able to continue to vote for school board members or is it time for that dramatic change Barrett is talking about?

Here’s information on some of the Milwaukee area public schools.