Berry.

I am a candidate for the office of state representative in Michigan’s 9th House District – which includes portions of Dearborn and Detroit – because one of the most important aspects of a community—quality public education under local control— is under attack from Lansing.

As president of the Dearborn Public School Board and chair of Henry Ford College Board of Trustees, there has been nothing more satisfying for me than to participate in and help lead the progress of Dearborn’s public school system and Henry Ford College. Our average test scores have increased, as have our graduation rates, throughout Dearborn. Unfortunately, recent actions taken by the republican-dominated Michigan legislature have set a dangerous precedent for weakening the traditional public school system. In a deliberate effort to displace the ability of the Detroit Public Schools system, and possibly others, to better serve its students – and, importantly, to govern itself – republicans in Lansing established the Educational Advancement Authority or EAA, in June 2011.

The performance of EAA schools – 15, so far, which have been absorbed from the traditional Detroit Public School system – have been very disappointing. Classroom discipline, test scores and graduation rates have all been consistently below goals established by Gov. Snyder and the republicans who hailed the EAA as a promising alternative to Detroit Public Schools. Moreover, rather than take a hard, objective look at the failing situation, republicans and even a few democrats – current state representative Harvey Santana, among them – voted on March 20 to expand the EAA’s authority.

Casting a deciding vote for Republicans, Mr. Santana handed them a 56-54 victory. Worse yet, not only did Mr. Santana change how the state can address its lowest-performing public schools, but the bill made it easier for the EAA and Michigan republicans to take over traditional public schools, much as it did with the 15 Detroit schools the agency already operates.

This is among the most important reasons why I am running for State Representative in the 9th District – to continue the work in Lansing that I do every day in Dearborn – protecting and strengthening traditional public schools systems. I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues and administrators to improve our scores and graduation rates. We are succeeding and do not need a state takeover of our schools to accomplish our goals. It can be done. It is being done in Dearborn and can also be done in Detroit.

Mr. Santana’s vote with republicans is a betrayal of the traditional public education system in Michigan. Perhaps, and only perhaps, had EAA schools been performing better, we might thank him for his vote; but EAA schools are under-performing in a significant manner. Moreover, the state of Michigan should not be in the business of taking over local school districts where parents and taxpayers deserve to control, elect leaders and participate in the education of their children.

As a father and community advocate, I am greatly disturbed by the EAA and its enhanced ability to assume local control of community schools. I have faith in my neighbors. I have faith in teachers. I have faith in parents who want a better life for their children.  I think we can collaborate to get the job done. We do not need threats or takeovers by Lansing. A better education and stronger schools are what we all want, after all who knows better how to achieve it than you and your neighbors.  

— Hussein Berry is president of the Dearborn Public School Board and a Chair of the Henry Ford College Board of Trustees.