WIN: Wisconsin's Governor Tries For $254 Million In Federal Education Funding

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/12714

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on January 7, 2010 - 4:51pm
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionSend to friendSend to friend

Wisconsin’s largest school district is currently in a battle for the future. Jesse Russell reports:

On Thursday, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle said the state would follow through on a pitch for $254 million in funding from President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top” program. The application is due on January 19 and the out going Democratic governor plans to make the pitch even though important decisions regarding the future of Milwaukee’s public schools remain up in the air. Doyle supports a bill currently working through the Wisconsin legislature that would hand over control of the school district to the mayor. During a hearing on Tuesday the legislature was called on to listen to reforms proposed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council and the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association. The organizations see “Race to the Top” as a quick fix when schools should be seeking comprehensive reforms.

Proponents of the bill have argued that putting the Mayor at the top of the chain of command have benefited other major city school districts, but opponents disagree. Rep. Tamara Grigsby spoke at the hearing:

: Mayoral takeovers are not only ineffective, but they have made public education worse for some students in other cities where this has taken place.

However, 2010 gubernatorial candidate Milwaukee Mayor and Tom Barrett says the school district can do better if it has consistent vision and leadership and he supports allowing the Mayor to appoint the Superintendent.

: We can not ignore that anymore. We simply can’t do it. If we do the kids who will be in school in 2012, 2016 or 2018 will not be able to get jobs where they can support their families.