Many stories exist illustrating the failure of the system academically, but the district has no shortage of incompetent financial issues as well. DPS now has a state appointed financial manger after State Superintendent Mike Flanagan declared an emergency, citing inaccurate and incomplete information in the DPS financial report to the State. The district also lost 55 million dollars last year, and is in a $400 million structural deficit.

Flanagan told the Detroit Free Press:

"The schoolchildren of Detroit are being deeply affected academically by the chronic inability of the district to manage its finances. We cannot let this continue any longer.The students' learning and achievement are suffering because of the district's financial turmoil."

The Governor and legislature are not known for reaching out to each other for the good of constituents, but the Detroit Schools situation is an opportunity to start making Detroit desirable again, a key component in making Michigan a place people want to raise their kids again.

The Governor and legislators have a great blueprint to work with, the one implemented by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg after he took the district over from the school board.

New York's schools have site based control, where the principal is the instructional and financial leader of their building. Another teacher, or two hundred new laptops? The Principal's decision, not Central office. Principal's are rewarded for taking on highly challenging areas, as well as academic success. The Mayor also has a teacher merit pay system that encourages student success and teacher collaboration, rather than just teacher seniority. The system is funded by third party sources, giving an average of $3,000 per year to eligible educators. Charter schools have also been effectively implemented.

Mayor Bloomberg's measures have seen double digit increases in graduation rate, a large increase in reading and math scores in all grades, as well as an improvement in the minority achievement gap.

The teacher's union in New York City has been working with Bloomberg throughout the process, and the relationship is proof urban education can be turned around cooperatively for the good of the kids. Lets hope the new year brings similar cooperative and collaborative efforts in Lansing.

Brandon Hall is a Trustee on the Grand Haven Area Public Schools Board of Education.