Fighting school privatization in Detroit

The largest public school district overhaul of its kind in the nation is happening in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit Public Schools have been taken over by the State. Governor Jennifer Granholm has appointed an Emergency Financial Manager to oversee turning around the schools. The manager's relationship with the Detroit Board of Education is highly contentious (you know there had to be drama)...

Just days after Detroit Public Schools leader Robert Bobb announced his plan to bring in EdisonLearning, EdWorks, the Institute for Student Achievement and the Model Secondary Schools Project to run 17 high schools, the Detroit school board voted to sue Bobb, saying he has overstepped his authority as the emergency financial manager and is trying to create a charter district. At the same time, many in Detroit are calling for the removal of the School Board, as they feel the Board concept is responsible for the failure of the schools and is blocking progress by suing Bobb.

The president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers has also raised concerns about the companies being hired, EdisonLearning in particular, which they say has not improved education in places like Philadelphia.

Bobb and Governor Granholm say he is operating within his authority and should not be micromanaged by the board:

"The board's attempt to distract and confuse the public by claiming that we are privatizing schools is disingenuous. We are not privatizing these schools. We are not creating a charter district. The district has partners working with DPS principals, teachers and parents to bring the best national models of school improvement to Detroit families."

Bobb is charged with overhauling 40 schools in all and is still considering management companies for six alternative schools and 10 elementary schools.

Bobb: Detroit board can't block academic reform