Sec. of Education says voters should decide control of DPS

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has jumped in to the brewing controversy over whether to dissolve the local school board and give Mayor Dave Bing control of Detroit Public Schools, saying that the voters should be allowed to make that decision and that mayoral control can be effective if done correctly. The Detroit Free Press reports:

In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Duncan said he is hopeful partly due to the public discussion about giving the mayor authority over the DPS. He is encouraging Detroit and other big cities to consider this path, saying that, with broad support, it can work.

Tuesday’s Detroit City Council meeting could be the third and final chance for a vote on whether to place a non-binding question on the November ballot asking Detroiters whether the mayor should have authority over DPS. If the issue gets on the ballot and voters approve, the state Legislature would then have to pass a law to hash out the details.

It’s “common sense” to let voters decide, Duncan said. “What’s the downside to letting people’s voices be heard?” he asked. “For children to reach their full potential and ultimately for the city reach its full potential, you need to rally the entire city behind these efforts.”

Bing says he wants control of the schools, but only if Detroit voters ratify such an arrangement. The Detroit School Board adamantly opposes both a mayoral takeover and a ballot referendum on the question.