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Council Delays Vote On DPS Issue

After listening to hours and hours of public comment, Detroit City Council was unable to vote Tuesday on a ballot proposal involving mayoral control of Detroit Public Schools.

More than 100 people attended Tuesday's council meeting, waiting to hear if there would be a November ballot question on whether the mayor should have authority over the district.

A resolution by councilman Gary Brown calling for approval of an Advisory Ballot question was planned for a vote Tuesday.

However, council decided 5-4 against placing the schools issue on the agenda.

Councilman Kwame Kenyata said the resolution must go through council's committee structure before there can be a vote.

"This is not just a maneuver, it's a question of process, which is what got us here in the first place," Kenyata said.

Council members will return for a committee meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday to discuss the proposed resolution. If the issue makes it out of committee, it will be discussed at a council meeting on Friday.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting,  Brown reacted to the council's decision to delay the vote.

"I think it's a travesty. I think that the kids -- the Detroit public school system -- lost today," Brown said.

If the issue gets on the ballot and voters approve it, the state Legislature would then have to pass a law to hash out the details.

Supporters of the push to turn control of DPS over to Mayor Bing has pulled in a strong ally.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan tells the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News that he encourages Detroit and other big cities to consider having mayors take charge of struggling districts.

Mayoral control would eliminate the need for an elected school board.

A group of parents and civic leaders has asked Detroit's City Council to put the measure on November's ballot.

Emergency financial manager Robert Bobb's contract expires in March. He was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to fix the district's finances.

© MMX WWJ Radio, All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to his report.

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