Detroit's Robert Bobb left his own town hall meeting very upset. Cancelled later meeting.

[madfloridian]

Bobb is Detroit school's Emergency Manager who is always seemingly managing every aspect, even academics. I guess the parents have had enough of school closing and layoffs.

From Mike Klonsky's blog tonight:

Bobb flees his own town meeting


"These schools mean the world to us."

During a contentious meeting interrupted by chants and catcalls Tuesday, students, parents and teachers lambasted a plan to close 14 Detroit schools and convert 45 others to charter schools.-- Detroit News

According to a report I got today from community activists in BAMN, "angry parents, students, teachers, and BAMN civil rights activists left Detroit schools Emergency Manager Robert Bobb stammering, shaking, and fleeing his "town hall" meeting" last night. He also canceled a second meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. this evening at Cody H.S.

Here is more about that meeting.

From MLive.com:

Detroit school board shuts down meeting over parent frustrations with Robert Bobb, closures


AP File PhotoRobert Bobb, state-appointed emergency financial manager of the Detroit Public Schools.

After months of worrying over plans that have ranged from stuffing 60 children into each class to handing over more public schools to charters, parents had every right to be ticked off, confused and frightened.

Sure, the board probably didn't want to give any more of a forum to political grandstanders like Steve Conn, but, hey, Conn and everyone else in that meeting are the people that this board represents. And whatever Conn's antics, I don't think they're excuse enough for the board to duck out on parents with legitimate gripes and who simply want to be treated like they matter.

.."When the city was abuzz with the debate over whether the school system should be handed over to the mayor, board members were quick to crow about how they represented the voice and will of the electorate and how critical it was to keep that voice in place.

If they really believe that, then that's all the more reason for them to stand in that auditorium and engage with that very same electorate.

Here is more about the threat recently made by Bobb to close half Detroit's schools and raise class size to 60.

DETROIT (AP) -- State education officials have ordered the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools to immediately implement a plan that balances the district's books by closing half its schools. The Detroit News says the financial restructuring plan will increase high school class sizes to 60 students and consolidate operations.

And it's no wonder the parents are starting to speak out and demand input.

[aquart]

1. Destroying your children is always the best way to go.

Or they could tax the rich.

[DCKit]

2. You communist, you. nt

[madfloridian]

3. Well, we retirees on fixed income except for COLA sent a huge check to IRS

this week we thought about the rich, and esp. GE who managed to pay almost nothing. I wondered if they have consciences at all.

[JDPriestly]

13. According to Matt Taibbi in Griftopia,

about 3/4 of the corporations managed to pay no taxes between 1998 and 2005. I'm paraphrasing so you need to read the source yourself.

And then they want to cut money for education and Medicare and Social Security benefits. It is theft pure and simple.

Remember when the cuts to capital gains taxes were justified by the argument that capital gains taxes were double taxes since corporations already paid tax on their profits? That was a big lie. And the American people fell for it.

[chervilant]

16. Nope

Sociopaths, to a one.

[nilram]

19. pfffft! tax the rich!?! Now you're talking class warfare!

I've heard about you kind of people from Newt Gingrich.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Ayn Rand fantasies meet real life

Should be the title of this story.

[madfloridian]

6. It sure does seem like Rand fantasies.

The parents are getting angry and rightfully so.

[madfloridian]

5. Good timing on the unrecs....

got it off the greatest page in record time. Getting faster. :)

[HankyDubs]

12. hey at least they aren't polluting these threads

with their vapid regurgitations.

[madfloridian]

14. I should be thankful for that.

I guess. I am amazed though at how they start right in right after posting before time to even read it. I know why it's being done, but it's still surprises me.

[HankyDubs]

18. might seem like a small victory

but if they just unrec and choose not to post because their bullshit would be dismantled--it is a victory, even if it is a teeny tiny one.

[madfloridian]

7. More from MLive..about the school board.

"Since the debate about mayoral control, of course, the board has been denuded of any real power. And while Bobb has been politically savvy enough to keep them around, I wonder: what point is there in having an "elected" school board that can't set policy, can't spend money and, now it seems, can't even be bothered with actually engaging with voters?"

Elected school boards being marginalized.

[madfloridian]

8. "Reformers" think they don't have to answer financially. Being sued by parents.

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/04/parents_group_sues_robert_bobb.html

"A Detroit education reform group is suing DPS emergency manager Robert Bobb, contending that he has failed to release financial information to the public as required by state law.

April 10, Detroit Free Press: The Coalition to Restore Hope to DPS alleges that Bobb posted online only one financial report, which was incomplete — on Oct. 14, 2010 — since the so-called transparency law passed in December 2009.

A law passed last month amended the powers of emergency managers and requires detailed reports of expenditures of $5,000 or more.

Bobb was appointed by then-Gov. Granholm in March 2009, and the suit alleges that he should have filed at least two full online reports since he was put in charge.

Instead, says the coalition, there has been only the October report, which is missing such key (and legally required) data as cost savings from layoffs and job eliminations, the value of the contracts he's awarded and the costs of new positions."

[madfloridian]

9. "the state per-pupil funding of about $7,660 will go to the charter school"

Why are people not upset that private companies are getting money that went to public education? Why is our country so easily giving up its system of traditional public education? Why just a few parents in Detroit, and why do posts about their plight get little attention?

This is the defunding and dismantling of public schools in Detroit.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110408/NEWS01/110408018/DPS-seeking-groups-run-up-45-Detroit-charter-schools

"DPS will serve as the charter authorizer for the turnaround schools, monitoring them for fiscal soundness. Under the charter plan, the state per-pupil funding of about $7,660 will go to the charter school and DPS will retain a 3% fee. DPS currently authorizes nine charter schools with MEAP tests scores that vary from poor to high."

[chervilant]

17. hmm...

I'm wondering just how rapidly those '60 children' per classroom will take over and refuse to listen to a teacher, much less do any work.

[sulphurdunn]

22. Actually, there aren't

many public school classrooms that would hold 60 kids or even 40 for that matter.

[Starry Messenger]

10. He deserves to be ridiculed in the town square.

Detroit is under siege and at war with unfeeling powers.

[TruthTeller]

15. Michigan Public Education is under seige....

www.mea.org/gov/pdf/040811_legislative_update.pdf


A list of all the bills from the legislature.  

Most don't know we have a surplus in the School Aid Fund--$504
million surplus.

www.house.michigan.gov/hfa/PDFs/SchoolAid(ExecRecSummary_FY12andFY13).pdf





Edit Note: sorry can't figure links need to get back to work
:}

[Starry Messenger]

20. I actually figured there was a surplus.

Didn't have proof though, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. But it stands to reason that there was a point to diverting all of these resources to destroy the school system.

[butterfly77]

11. Kick,kick,kick &recommended!

:kick:

[madfloridian]

21. ....

Thanks for enthusiastic triple kick. :hi:

[libmom74]

23. 60 children per classroom??

That is criminal!