A House Republican bill has been introduced to give the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul control over school districts in their cities.The controversial bill would remove control over city schools from a board elected by voters and give it to a seven-member board appointed by the mayor. The new scheme would begin in 2015, when the terms of all sitting school board members now expire.Schools would be run by a chief executive who need not be a state-licensed licensed superintendent. Minneapolis tried such an approach in the 1990s, employing a consulting firm, but abandoned it after several years. Licensed educators are subject to an ethics code.The mayor would appoint that executive—a departure from the current arrangement under which hiring a superintendent is one of the board's most important duties.The arrangement would sunset after 10 years.The proposal was offered by Rep. Tim Kelly, a Red Wing Republican. It takes aim at what House Republicans describe as persistent student achievement problems in city schools, including a vast racial achievement gap. The proposal is part of a package of legislation that House Republicans bill as "Reform 2.0."The bill is scheduled for a hearing at 8:15 a.m. Thursday in a House education reform committee, according to the office of Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Spokesman John Stiles said Rybak hopes to discuss the proposal with key House players on schools.Rybak and St. Paul mayor have both said they're open to school governance conversations, but the they're confident in the approaches to improving schools now being implemented in their districts.Studies nationally have attributed mixed results to the dozen or so cities nationally that have given mayors more control over schools.Minneapolis lobbyist Jim Grathwol said his district hasn't taken a formal position on mayoral control. "We're working very hard to improve the quality and rigor of education for all students. We have data on research-based strategies to show that's working. We'd like to see that happen faster, quicker, cheaper," he said.