Pretending to Care

You know… Doyle has been governor for seven years.  He didn’t show any interest at all in reforming MPS until Obama dangled some money in front of him.  The MPS board also hasn’t shown any interest in reforming MPS.  Nor the legislature… not the mayor… methinks that all of their current carping is more about them not getting to spend a bunch of federal dollars than it is about helping the kids of Milwaukee. 

Wisconsin’s failure to make it past the first cut in the national competition for $4.35 billion to improve schools launched a volley of finger-pointing Thursday between the governor, legislators and interest groups.

Gov. Jim Doyle criticized the state Legislature for not acting on reform measures the governor wanted in the state’s application for the federal Race to the Top grant competition, namely allowing mayoral control of Milwaukee Public Schools and giving the state Department of Public Instruction enhanced powers to intervene in struggling schools.

He also criticized the MPS board for inaction on critical issues, including its inability to come up with its own reform agenda for drastically improving educational outcomes for children.

“Today’s announcement should be a wake-up call to many,” Doyle said Thursday. “U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it clear: The federal government will provide significant resources to states that are serious about reform. Milwaukee needs clear, consistent, accountable leadership focused on reform.”