Where others see problems, MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver sees opportunities

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools is eager -- and where others see problems, Darienne Driver sees opportunities.

"Education really is the liberating force in our country. It's something I'm so proud of," said Driver.

Driver made a guest appearance on "On the issues with Mike Gousha" at Marquette University on Wednesday, January 28th.

"And so that's what motivates me everyday. 'Cause I say the same experience that I had as a young person, I want that for all of the students here," said Driver.

It was an opportunity for the audience to get to know the latest superintendent at MPS -- only four months on the job. Driver says MPS is in transition now -- that it is a financially solvent organization.

"We have a number of partners, foundations, businesses, faith-based who are wrapping their arms around us," said Driver. "So I think that's really a positive. But we're in a really unique place now where all of these resources are there. We have to start producing the achievement results. We have to start seeing this in our classrooms."

On Wednesday, St. Sen. Alberta Darling (R) and St. Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R) released their "New Opportunities for Milwaukee" plan which includes the turnaround school model. It would create a board to oversee the initiative for schools that fail to meet expectations in a targeted zone -- and reopen them with a charter school operator.

"If a school closes and reopens as a charter, you have the teachers in that building who have to find new work. You have families who many times will just leave and go to either another city or another district. And think of the economic impact that could have," said Driver.

Other pieces of legislation deal with school accountability -- giving schools letter grades and sanctions to failing schools.

Driver says schools should be accountable. But she adds that sanctions can create hysteria and dismantle the mission of public education -- to educate students at all levels.

Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan has issued this statement on the "New Opportunities for Milwaukee" proposal:

The Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Caucus has issued this statement: