Let big city mayor pick school chief

Wisconsin State Journal Editorial:

Something big needs to happen with Milwaukee Public Schools to boost student performance and graduation rates.

And Gov. Jim Doyle's push to give the city's mayor more influence is worth a shot.

The Legislature should accept Doyle's call for a special floor session this week to change how Milwaukee chooses its school superintendent.

Doyle wants the city's mayor, rather than the Milwaukee School Board, to appoint the superintendent. In addition, Senate Bill 405 would give the superintendent more power over the district's budget, contracts and staff.

If city voters didn't like the results by 2017, they could change back to the current system through a binding referendum.

The Legislature is already planning to meet this week to OK tougher drunken driving laws. So it can easily take up SB 405 as well. The bill needs quick action to help Wisconsin compete for federal "Race to the Top" innovation grants.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at December 12, 2009 1:01 AM
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