By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
MACKINAC ISLAND, MI –
Governor Granholm wants Michigan's big city mayors to have the authority to name the superintendants of their local school districts. She wants to start with Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Detroits' school are currently being run by an emergency financial manager. The governor says it would be a mistake to return control of the district to the Detroit school board next year.
"The system is broken," she says. "It must be fixed. We have to support the person who is making those fixes now and, before we get to the end of this year, I hope that Dave Bing will have the power to appoint the superintendent."
The governor also wants Detroit emergency financial manager Robert Bobb to have more authority over the district's academic operations.