School Board quiz for parents

With the new school year set to begin next week, it’s time for a back-to-school quiz.Not for students. This one is for parents with children in Milwaukee Public Schools or anyone concerned about the future of MPS.In the past few weeks, the future of MPS has been widely debated due to a blockbuster announcement about a plan to take over control of MPS from the Milwaukee School Board and give it to the mayor of Milwaukee.

Under this plan, endorsed by both Gov. Jim Doyle and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, the Milwaukee School Board would become an appointed body rather than an elected one and the responsibility for choosing the next superintendent would lie with the mayor instead of School Board members.This kind of thing has been attempted in other cities, with no clear track record of success or failure. But just the fact that Barrett, Doyle and others even floated this trial balloon suggests they think it’s an idea whose time has come. Which raises the question:

How much do people know about their Milwaukee School Board? Get your No. 2 pencils ready:

1. How many members are on the Milwaukee School Board?

a) Fifteen
b) Twelve
C) Seven
D) Nine

Bonus question: Can you name all of the members of the board? Can you name four? Three?

2. How long is the term for a Milwaukee School Board member?

a) Two years
b) Five years
c) Three years
d) Four years

3. The plan to take over MPS and turn over control to Mayor Barrett and the city will require what kind of action in order to become a reality?

a) President Barack Obama will have to approve it.
b) The School Board and board president will have to approve it.
c) The public will have to vote in a general election to approve it.
d) State law will have to be changed first.

4. What are the benefits of having the city take over MPS as opposed to the way things are run now?

a) A more streamlined organization with not as much infighting.
b) A more efficient budget process.
c) More community input and less political bickering.
d) Nobody really knows yet.

5. Some have suggested the takeover of MPS is racially motivated. Exactly what is the racial breakdown of students in Wisconsin’s largest public school system?

a) 50% white; 50% African-American.
b) 30% white; 30% African-American; 30% Hispanic; 10% Hmong.
c) 70% African-American; 20% Hispanic; 10% white.
d) 57% African-American; 22.5% Hispanic; 11.9% white; 4.6% Asian; 0.8% American Indian, 3.1% other.

6. Why is the takeover of MPS such a big deal right now?

a) People are fed up with poor performance of Milwaukee Public Schools in terms of the failure to produce a qualified future workforce.
b) Billions of dollars in federal money is available for schools, and some people in town want to grab it while they can.
c) Nobody votes in School Board elections anyway, and most MPS parents don’t seem to care enough to work with teachers to improve their child’s education.
d) All of the above, and yes, it’s a damn shame.