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City Council Rejects Referendum On DPS Control

The Detroit City Council finally took a vote Thursday on a plan to let the voters decide who should control Detroit Public Schools.

WWJ's Stephanie Davis reports there were outbursts, applause, and cheering when Council, in a 6 to 3 vote, turned down a resolution that would have placed a question on November's ballot about the governance of the Detroit Public Schools. It would have been an advisory question asking voters if the elected board stay in place, or if the city's mayor would take over.

After the vote, opponent of that question Minister Malik Shabazz said he's elated.

"We've been coming out here for five weeks, dealing with 'politricks.' We never should have had to deal with it in the first place. But at least it's dead now for this year," said Shabazz.

Sharlonda Buckman is president of the Detroit Parent Network who supported this measure. What's next for them?

"We're just going to continue to stay at the table. I mean there's a lot of work to be done. We have parents out there who need help trying to figure out how to get their kids through a system that's broken. We're going to continue to help them understand what grade level expectations are," said Buckman.

When asked whether or not they would appeal, she Buckman said it's not clear what their plans are as far as that is concerned.

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