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Mayoral Control of Schools

Mayoral Control of Schools. Michael Kirst Stanford University. National experience does not rule mayoral control in or out. Local context is crucial for effects – School boards in New York, Chicago, and Boston were dysfunctional Hard to predict impact of governance changes

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Mayoral Control of Schools

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  1. Mayoral Control of Schools Michael Kirst Stanford University

  2. National experience does not rule mayoral control in or out • Local context is crucial for effects – School boards in New York, Chicago, and Boston were dysfunctional • Hard to predict impact of governance changes • Evidence suggests mayor should take all control or nothing • Think about down-side risk of mayoral control: e.g. Good components of district will suffer

  3. Basic Characteristics and Structure of School District and City Government Matter • Contiguous boundaries for city/schools • Strong or weak mayor is legal power • Role and electoral base of city council • Union characteristics • Electoral turnout for mayor (34%) versus school board (10%)

  4. Need to Confront Trade-offs in Making Decision • Executive integration and clearer accountability versus representative democracy • If citizens have complaints about schools, where do they go? • How do voters get good information on school performance under mayor vs. board? • Can mayor get more federal/state money?

  5. Why Did I Support Mayoral Control in Oakland? • District and city contiguous • Down-side risk very low – district was very weak, board dysfunctional, fiscal crisis • City manager seemed to have competence and desire to run district • District needed a “jolt” and nothing else was likely to provide it

  6. Why Did I Support Mayoral Control in Oakland?... continued • Voters could end it in four years • Vision of children’s policy and city integration of children’s services with schools • Oakland’s compromise outcome of mayor adding three members to board did not work

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