Charter lobby accuses Duggan of 'bare-knuckle' politics

Duggan invited 30 charter school operators to discuss issues

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan invited 30 charter school operators and DPS Transition Manager Steven Rhodes to dinner at the Manoogian Mansion Thursday night to talk about the Detroit Education Commission and issues facing schools in Detroit.

After the meeting, the Michigan Association of Public Academies, a charter school organization, accused the mayor of what they called "bare-knuckle big city politics."

The charter lobby is vehemently against any overall fix for Detroit Public Schools that would include the DEC, because they view it as anti-charter. The commission would have the power to approve or close both DPS and charter schools.

"We have got to get more quality charter schools in this city and more quality DPS schools," Duggan said.

He sees the DEC as the body that can monitor who needs to stay and who needs to go. He’s asking charter operators to stand with him on Tuesday when he tries to push legislation in Lansing that includes the DEC in a comprehensive bailout for the schools.

Clark Durant, founder of the well-regarded Cornerstone schools, attended that dinner at the Manoogian. He sees no bare-knuckle politics going on, but he’s undecided whether he’ll attend the mayor’s press conference.

"I’m thinking about it," Durant told Local 4. "I think he is very passionate about truly trying, as the mayor of a major American city, to get good schools."


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