Detroit School Board Members Discuss Return To Local Control And Upcoming Election
More than 70 people are running for seven seats.
On election day, Detroiters will choose an entirely new school board. Not just one or two seats are open — all seven seats will be up for grabs.
And more than 70 people are vying for those spots.
That’s not typical. It’s a result of the sweeping Republican legislation signed into law that upended Detroit Public Schools.
Two sitting members of the current board join Detroit Today to talk about the election and the DPS overhaul. They say the board has been “in exile” in recent years after a state takeover of Detroit Public Schools, meaning they’ve had little power over the district.
“The one decision that we made was to stay together, and I appreciate that,” says board member Tawanna Simpson. “And I’m so thankful to be a part of a group of people who stood up for the children in Detroit and traditional public schools.”
“Much is owed to the children of Detroit,” says board member Elena Herrada. “Much is owed to the taxpayers and the voters.”
To hear the full conversation, click on the audio player above.
