As I start my first beginning of the school year, I wonder why the uproar about the mayor taking over? I am fully aware of the impending accountability of teaching 4th grade and the high pressure testing that my students will encounter. Yet, I am short on textbooks, I have outdated and incomplete science resources, and have spent way too much of my own money to equip my classroom.

I have a hard time seeing how a mayoral takeover can be a bad thing. At least I will know exactly who to blame rather than the circle of blame that now exists. Yes, the mayor has other social issues to deal with in the lovely segregated city of Milwaukee, but doesn't this fit right in? Creating community-centered schools that provide a vast range of services to all of our families would help to revitalized all of our communities. Returning public money to public schools would also help the overall situation. A huge change in direction back with the confidence of the community would help to stop the decreasing school enrollment.

The status quo is not cutting it and a politically elected school board is lacking the cohesive vision to accomplish what is needed to meet the federal mandates that are set. The amount of federal money that is available for making this change is well worth dumping the school board. Results around the country are favorable for this move.

And as I return to thinking about my classroom, I realize that someone new may provide at least a new ear to listen to a new teacher. Maybe he will listen to an idea as simple as paying teachers to have time to collaborate and plan lessons that are engaging and constructive. Coming from the restaurant business I believe we paid people for hours and hours of prep work in order to have a successful service. How can I have a successful service with 1/2 hour of prep time per week?

There are a million simple solutions that the qualified teachers of MPS can give once they have a solid ear to give it to. If the mayor doesn't do a good job, at least we know who to get rid of, rather than trying to dump a whole lobbyist supported pack.