State officials in Michigan approved a new emergency plan to rescue Detroit public schools from its crushing debt, most of which was accumulated since the state took control of the district.
The Detroit Free Press reports:
Michigan’s Emergency Loan Board on Monday approved measures to implement a $617-million financial rescue and restructuring plan for Detroit’s public schools, over the vocal objections of elected school board members and others who attended the meeting in Lansing.
The board approved borrowing to retire or refinance debt, plus the transfer of assets from the old Detroit Public Schools to a new Detroit Public Schools Community District.
There were shouts of “Shame!,” “Jim Crow” and “Black lives matter” as the three board members left an auditorium at the Michigan Library and Historical Center through a back exit.
Critics say the plan treats Detroit public school students as second-class citizens because they would be the only Michigan public school students who could be taught by uncertified teachers. They also say much of the debt addressed by the plan was rung up while Detroit schools were under state control.
“We believe that the state owes the district considerably more, and we have asked continuously for an audit,” said Lamar Lemmons, president of the elected school board.
House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, has called the legislation “an historic plan to save Detroit schools – and the rest of the state – from a disastrous and unprecedented bankruptcy,” adding “this incredible investment by Michigan taxpayers will erase decades of debt and set the new district up for success.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
How’s that 21st century civil rights movement working out for Michigan reformers?
The “center” will not hold.
From Business Insider.com
In 2008 before the state took over the Detroit public schools. Business Insider reports that the net deficit was $369.5 million.
Six years later the net deficit had exploded to $1.66 billion.
http://www.businessinsider.com/detroit-public-school-deficit-has-increase-during-emergency-management-2016-1
And then there is this from Truth/Out.org revealing what happens when the community based, democratic, transparent, nonprofit public schools are replaced by a private sector for profit organization.
Education for Profit in Detroit: The Buying and Selling of “Failing” Children
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/12790-education-for-profit-in-detroit-the-buying-and-selling-of-failing-children
Think of it this way, Lloyd. They hire a bunch of uncertified teachers (whom they can pay much less), the students wind up with worse and worse results on standardized tests, and then they use that as an excuse to privatize the entire district, no actual public schools at all.
It’s a win-win for the foes of public education. 😦
And, sadly, it is working.
Sadly, ciedie aech, it’s working in a lot of places.
Deliberately create conditions that will cause public schools to look worse and worse, by hiring unqualified, temporary teachers, removing more and more of the money needed to help improve (and even run) the public schools, and imposing ridiculous “testing” standards designed to “fail” a whole lot of the students, and they get to install more and more privatized and semi-privatized charter schools (paid for with tax payer dollars, of course).
It’s all about the money, and who profits.
It’s not about the children, or their communities and families. 😢
The people of Detroit with support from unions and African American groups should continue to protest and turn up the heat. If lawmakers get away with this travesty, it will become a “model” for cash strapped urban centers in America. They will figure out a convenient way to circumvent state laws and continue to establish more separate and unequal schools.
My advice is to read the fine print.
I have taught in Detroit Public Schools since the spring of 1999. During these 17 years, the state has ALWAYS been in control, the EM’s ONLY in the more recent years. When I began in the district, there was NO debit. Period. 17 years….3 ceo types and 5 em’s…….so much money wasted on every new program under the sun. Mismanagement, but never at the teacher level. We are not asked what we think as experts on what programs are needed, rather they buy on a whim and fairy dust! In the meantime, my pay and benefits have continued to decline…..so many have left this battle because it takes it’s toll on your life…..health and family.
All of Utah is now subject to uncertified teachers being hired. http://www.sltrib.com/news/4006906-155/one-answer-to-utahs-teacher-shortage
‘The Utah Board of Education said it needs help from the outside researchers to find out what’s driving the attrition.”
Yes, outside researchers because the inside ones don’t know how to do research.
Maybe, just maybe the 20% attrition rate has something to do with the fact that the governor and Utah legislature treat teachers like dirt.
Maybe they should ask Utah teachers why they are leaving. Now there’s a crazy idea.
nearly 20% (15.5%) attrition rate in 2011-2012
That’s the Utah legislature’s way on a lot of things. They’d rather “have a commission” than actually do anything. Particularly true of education.
And the legislature would never deign to speak to actual educators.