The guest was Jimmy Womack, former school board president and state representative-elect.

He put his finger on the problem with Detroit and many other public school systems.  We transcribed this after watching the discouraging exchange way too many times.

At 21:38 of the show Off The Record, Womack was talking with The Detroit Free Press's Dawson Bell.

Bell: So the thing that's going to fix Detroit schools is more money?

Womack: And accountability.

Bell: Good luck with that.

Womack: ...More money and accountability.  Here's the bottom line: there has to be an expectation that children, one, can learn.  There has to be a desire to teach those children.  And if you look historically at the Detroit Public School system, there's never been a strong focus on academics or education...

So let's get this straight: in a board member's view and words, "there's never been a strong focus" on teaching kids and yet more money is going to fix the problem?

May we suggest you fix the "mission" problem before we, the taxpayers, are asked to fix your "money" problem?

Womack's view is the district has primarily been a place for jobs, a "place for people to land."  Until the district actually makes its focus educating kids, nothing will change.