Is Peoria's Mayor developing a model?

I can just see it now, it's budget time in the City of Peoria, Il, the Mayor and Council are faced with the tough decision of laying off firemen, policemen, teachers and/or lunch ladies...

In the Monday, August 16, 2010, issue of the Wall Street Journal, Mayor Jim Ardis was quoted in an article about mayoral control of schools.

After reading the article, I found myself wondering; if Mayor Ardis controlled schools, what exactly would that mean? Would he conduct business for the schools along the lines of how he conducts business for the City?

The pjstar reposted this article from the WSJ. Since it sounds like Ardis is saying that they are in fact developing a "Peoria model", perhaps the pjstar should take it a step further and ask Ardis to clarify exactly what his intentions are.


Taking Schools Into Their Own Hands
More Mayors Seek Control as Washington Presses for Action on Failing Institutions; Setting an Example in Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—During the last weeks of the term, third graders at School 58-World of Inquiry School created an oil spill in a bowl. Under the guidance of teacher Alyson Ricci, they tried to clean it up. Cotton swabs worked.

The school last year won the national Excellence in Urban Education Award, with all students meeting state proficiency rates in science and social studies. It's an exception, though, in a Rochester system where fewer than half of the 32,000 public-school students graduate on time.

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy wants to set up more schools that produce results like World of Inquiry's. But he says the superintendent's efforts to close failing schools and open new ones have been hobbled by a school board mired in minutia. He is pushing to dissolve the elected board in favor of one appointed by the mayor and city council for a five-year test period. New York's state legislature is considering the bid.

As cities come under increasing pressure to fix failing schools, more are, like Rochester, trying to take matters into their own hands—or at least those of their mayors.

"People are desperately seeking a model that can be duplicated and used in different communities," said Jim Ardis, the mayor of Peoria, Ill., who is considering such a move. He argues that a Peoria model—yet to be developed—is more likely to fit smaller cities across the Midwest than existing systems in larger urban areas.

Detroit and Milwaukee recently launched bids to assert mayoral control, although those have stalled amid opposition from lawmakers, unions and school boards. And in California, where a court has deemed mayoral control unconstitutional, Sacramento's mayor is figuring out unofficial ways to be involved.

Read the entire article here.

Related articles...
Governor Quinn wants to explore having more influence in the City of Peoria
A new charter school - Peoria City Academy?
Oh, how wonderful

Governor Quinn wants to explore having more influence in the City of Peoria

Peoria’s crime rates, crumbling infrastructure, cuts in essential services, failing schools, middle class flight and a reputation of failure has convinced Governor Quinn that the City of Peoria is failing.

He says he's looking at larger states for inspiration to initiate change here that would intertwine his job as governor with the decision-making of the City of Peoria.

My interest is not in running the City of Peoria, and I think that's one of the misconceptions that people have when they hear 'gubernatorial control,' Quinn said.

But Quinn said he is "exploring" the gubernatorial appointment of Peoria's City Council members, who in turn approve or reject which direction the City goes.

The Governor didn't say how far his interests go, whether he is thinking of appointing the entire City Council or just a few members.

He contends that with a governor in charge, there is just one elected official who can be held accountable by voters as to whether they're doing a good job or not.

Peoria's Mayor, Ardis favors the current system. I think an elected mayor and city council is a good thing, Ardis said. It's important for all the different public bodies to communicate with each other, but I think it's also important that we all keep our own identities. I think an elected mayor and city council is important to keep.

City Council member Gary Sandberg said he's willing to listen to the governor but didn't know if there was a need. If it's just a power play, then I'm against it, but if it's a collaboration approach - I would just have to hear more about it, Sandberg said, . . . it's worth the discussion.

Quinn said he believes there are both positives and negatives. I think it needs a good vetting to talk about the pros and cons, he said, I'm going to keep pushing the discussion. I can't think of another city that has a greater importance on downstate than the City of Peoria.

Source

Countdown to Election Day

From comments: General Parker said...
Emerge,

I have more time to receive a pardon from Gov. Quinn. I won't be sworn in until May 5.

I have been known in the past to be able to pull a rabbit out of a hat and this will be another one of those times.

Quinn is not my only option and that law just may not be all that it is cracked up to be. The states attorney should know this and the news media here in Peoria are too lazy or inept to do their due diligence. I look forward to their attempts to challenge me once I'm elected and I will proudly serve as Mayor of Peoria.

I want to thank you for your endorsement and understand that this campaign is not about me at all. You and others who vote for me as mayor, are saying to the status quo, NO MORE!

We will no longer be unrepresented or unheard. Our concerns will no longer go unanswered. We will hold our government officials responsible from now on.

Can you beleive that they are actually considering taxing us again to not only build a privately owned hotel but also a privately owned museum, when we have had deteriorating roads, bridges, sidewalks and a sewer system for years. They are also thinking of adding more taxpayer dollars from the stimulus bill to cover the gap that private funding may be lacking.

This should anger every taxpayer in this area. They won't seek stimulus money to pay for an antiquated sewer system that we're are mandated to fix but they will fight tooth and nail to fund their friends project.

A vote for Ardis will mean a vote to pay higher taxes for:
1. Museum
2. Hotel
3. Mid-Town
4. Combined Sewer Overflow System
5. Budget Deficit

Four out those five on the list are direct results of council's decisions. The mayor can claim experience all he wants but if your experience has been making either bad or the wrong decisions for the citizens, then it's time to chose someone with good judgement and concern for the people, all the people.

Don't forget that District 150 has raised it's tax levy on the people and Gov. Quinn will raise the state income tax by 50%.

How much longer will we accept being taxed unnecessarily?

Vote Parker for Mayor.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009