Duncan supports mayoral control of schools... in Baltimore?
At the Mayors' National Forum on Education in Washington this week, Arne Duncan made the case that all urban school districts should be under mayoral control -- and said he would get involved in advocacy at the local level to see to governance changes. As described in this AP account of Duncan's talk, he singled out Dr. Alonso in the audience and asked how many superintendents Baltimore had over the course of a decade. Seven, Alonso answered. "And you wonder why school systems are struggling,'' Duncan said, according to the article. "What business would run that way?"
He said the tenure of urban superintendents is usually very short because of a lack of leadership at the top. Mayoral control provides stability, he contends.
Assuming the mayor is a strong leader willing to back the superintendent with politically unpopular decisions.
Around the country, the AP says, a few dozen mayors have some control of urban districts, but only seven run management and operations. Among the seven cities with full mayoral control are NYC, where Alonso was deputy chancellor before coming to Baltimore; Washington, where Michelle Rhee is getting a lot of attention for her efforts to rid classrooms of ineffective teachers; and Chicago, where Duncan was superintendent before becoming President Obama's education secretary.
I'm sure most of you know already, but as a refresher: In Baltimore, the school board is appointed jointly by the mayor and the governor, and the board appoints the CEO. It wouldn't be too much of a change if Sheila Dixon were given sole board appointment power, like the mayor of Chicago. Last year, at least, Gov. O'Malley deferred to Dixon anyway to select a new member. The other option would be to abolish the school board and have the superintendent report directly to the mayor, as in New York and D.C. Baltimore's mayor did have full control of the school board until 1997, when partial control was ceded to the state in exchange for additional state funding.
Categories: Around the Nation, Baltimore City
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Comments
Didn't this newspaper's editorial board pan the idea when Keiffer Mitchell suggested mayoral control of the school? Now that the Secretary of Education suggests that it would be a good idea, seems like the Sun has had one of its clever changes of heart a la slots.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 1, 2009 3:59 PM
This is a big issue in Detroit right now where we have a special mayoral race going on. One candidate is saying he is willing to take over while the other does not want to. In Detroit, it is absolutely necessary that the mayor take over control.
However, in Baltimore, where there actually is a competent school board that works well with Dr. Alonso, I do not see the need for change. I think this needs to be a case by case basis.
Posted by: David Donaldson | April 1, 2009 6:19 PM
Just out of curiosity - what makes you think The Sun (or even Sara for that matter) supports the mayor controlling the school system? The reality is that Dixon appointed the school board, the school board pretty much totally supports Dr. Alonso. That's where we are until there's a governor who wants to fight the mayor or a school board who wants to fight the CEO.
Posted by: a parent | April 1, 2009 6:19 PM
Having stability in a superintendent is only good if the superintendent is a good leader...I know it is time for one superintendent with longevity needs to go because the system is stuck in mediocrity and at the mercy of poor leadership.
Posted by: Ruth | April 1, 2009 6:43 PM
Stability in a superintendent is a good thing if for no other reason than everyone knows the system and what to expect from authority. BCPSS has had so many superintendents not because no one supported them but because there was no consistency in curriculum and an attitude of "change is always better." Therefore we get new curriculum every other year and are constantly having to train people what to do next. I don't know that we have had an effective leader since I have been in the system since 1991. Some were just less destructive than others. The real problem with the system is NOT the change of superintendents but hiring those who have no understanding of the culture into which they come. I have yet to understand why Baltimore has a preoccupation with bringing in leaders from outside of the area and then complaining when they try to change the culture of the system. Baltimore is NOT NYC or Philly or Detroit. It is Baltimore with all of its unique problems and neighborhoods. Superintendents seldom embrace that idea and fight to make Baltimore something or someplace it is not.
Posted by: vetern teacher | April 2, 2009 1:16 PM
Darn, I had such high hopes for Duncan, and now he turns out to be just another educrat nitwit with a gun full of silver bullets.
Posted by: skeptic | April 2, 2009 10:44 PM
@skeptic -
Personally, I'm holding off on any judgements about Mr. Duncan until I see some actions. His tenure in Chicago might be a clue, but I would think making federal policy has different constraints. From my point of view there's reason to be worried (special ed wasn't his strong suit) and reason to be hopeful (support of charter schools). I'm undecided for the time being.
Posted by: a parent | April 3, 2009 10:51 AM
@vetern teacher: I understand your frustration and agree that change is not always better- sometimes you can jump from the saucepan only to find yourself in the fire. I think our agreement ends there.
First, Just because someone is coming from outside the culture doesn't mean they can't understand it.
Second, the people who were born here, went to school here, stayed to work here & who have never left here, also could not fix what was wrong here. Because if they could've, they would've.
Sometimes it takes someone who is not entrenched in the situation to identify the solution. Maybe instead of always rebelling against those trying to help us-and viewing them as outsiders- we should try to support their efforts.
We will never be NY or Philly but we can certainly be more (pun intended).
Posted by: Alrighty Then... | April 4, 2009 5:06 PM
@Alrighty: Granted the insiders didn't do such a hot job either but, what I was trying to say, is that just because something comes from the outside doesn't automatically make it better. I have yet to see a leader who takes what works, keeps it and improves upon it. Too many times, it is out with everything and on with something totally new. Lack of continuity is a death sentence. We have stacks of books and materials that were bought and used for one year only to be discarded for a "better" system in the next year. Enough already!
Posted by: vetern teacher | April 6, 2009 3:00 PM