The Detroit News reported the latest plans for the beleaguered Detroit Public School district. Under state control for three years, Detroit is now run by an emergency financial manager with dictatorial powers.
First the good news: “Detroit Public Schools’ proposed 2012-13 school year budget supports a system of schools focused on innovation and robust school choices, data-driven programs to enhance teaching and learning, including new Individual Learning Maps for every child, and highly qualified teachers selected after new teacher evaluation and interviewing processes,” Emergency Manager Roy S. Roberts said. Roberts is a former auto industry executive.
Now the bad news: “For the second year in a row, DPS is cutting its budget by nearly a quarter, from $1.03 billion last year to $784 million for the new fiscal year. It cut $231 million from its budget for the 2011-12 year as well as 800 staff positions.” This year, there will be 1,900 layoffs, as 15,000 students are transferred to the new state authority in charge of failing schools. “Class sizes will remain at 25 in grades K-3, and rise by three to 33 for grades 4-5 and 38 for grades 6-12, returning to levels from 2010-11.” Last year, the teachers took a 10% pay cut.
Now the really good news: The district will have a surplus of $11.9 million at the end of the current fiscal year!
Think about it: Some of the poorest and neediest children in one of the most economically depressed cities in America will have some of the most crowded classes in the nation.
The district is on life support. But never fear, there will be “highly qualified teachers,” “innovation,” “robust school choices,” “data-driven programs,” etc. The lyrics are familiar, but there is no music.
Diane
And now we have 2 districts in Michigan (Muskegon Heights and Highland Park) under EFM’s that instead of fixing what they came there to fix, will just turn over the educational mission to charter operators, while the EFM’s get paid high salaries to just count the local tax dollars, reduce the debt, and ignore the academic needs of the kids. It’s the latest racket that could spread fairly rapidly.
Yes, it’s that bad. Public Act 4 has facilitated a municipality’s/ school district’s ability to basically “sell off” bad debt. Our EM’s style is to rely on anyone with money and set up partnerships to take over schools that are going to be in the state run EAA — run by John Covington (who media reports has a horrible track record in this type of work).
Another gem; one of the gentlemen running for State Senator just had an article in the paper today about how he is “saving” Detroit with his Cornerstone charter schools — therefore, vote for him in November. Unfortunately, it’s a popular argument with Detroit- hating, diversity- hating, union- hating, public school- hating individuals who blame poverty on the individuals themselves. You can check out the article in today’s Detroit News. That worst part is that once this all gets going, students are going to be disrupted, parents are going to be confused, and Detroit will be empty of residents. But then, again, that is what EMs and Detroit business leaders seem to be hoping for because it’s no coincidence that these initiatives with something we have called the “Detroit Works Project;” the private foundation-run (I’m sure you can guess the foundations) “initiative” to stop providing services to vast areas of Detroit under the guise of stabilizing 8 or 9 select neighborhoods in the City. a.k.a. resizing.
Just recently, the Detroit News had an article saying that of 25 schools in the Detroit area, only 6 outperformed regular Detroit public schools. John Covington, by the way, was most recently in charge of the Kansas City public schools; he resigned abruptly to take the Michigan job. Covington is a graduate of the Broad Superintendents Academy, which is an unaccredited training program that networks people into high-level “reform” positions. Soon after he left, the district lost accreditation. Not everyone loved what he did in Kansas City: http://parentsacrossamerica.org/2011/09/warning-to-michigan-parents-and-teachers-about-john-covington/
David, I was just about to post that shocking news. 2 public school districts in Michigan have been sold to for-profit charter schools with a primary goal of being profitable and with no competition from the local public schools to worry about.
They weren’t sold. They will be given away. And you are right, despite all the chatter about the need for “competition,” these charter operators will have no competition.
Get rid of the riff raff so those gentrified hard working people can move in, eh? (turn off sarcasm). Stealing the commons???
Duane, you’re exactly right. Investigate the Kresge foundation/Detroit Works Project which coincides with the efforts to create the EAA, close schools, and sell vacant DPS properties. When you research the schools that were put into the EAA, you will notice that they do NOT have “among” the lowest MEAP scores (one of the criteria). At least in my neighborhood, these schools were chosen because they are in densely populated areas where they could be guaranteed a modicum of success (ie. student enrollment). Three schools that come to mind are Trix Elementary, Osborn HS and Brenda Scott MS.