http://mi.aft.org/dft231/DFT Responds to Proposed School Closings <3.30.11>
The DPS proposal to charter 41 schools is a bad idea that should be rejected by the citizens of Detroit and those who want to improve the academic and financial performance of Detroit Schools. (Click above to see plan).
Before we embark on a new academic plan for these schools, the current plan should be given a chance to work. Nine of the schools scheduled to close or turn to charters are Priority Schools. Under new language in our collective bargaining agreement, these Priority Schools have increased flexibility in selecting and retaining staff, additional professional development, extended school day and school year, and shared decision-making at the school level. The staff and students at these schools deserve a chance to let these reforms work.
In the past two years, Detroit Public Schools has reached an unprecedented level of chaos. During the summer of 2009, more than 30 schools were reconstituted and approximately 25 others were closed. In the summer of 2010, 51 schools were designated Priority Schools and another 30 schools were closed. Most of our schools received new principals during this time, and many teachers were moved to new schools.
Many of the same schools reconstituted two years ago and made Priority Schools last fall are now slated to become charter schools. We continue to chase reform by trying each new flavor-of-the month without waiting to see results from the last reform. This lack of stability in our system is counter-productive.
The charter operators will need to pay a rent to DPS and make a profit. This can only be accomplished by reducing pay and benefits for employees, making it harder to attract and retain quality teachers in Detroit schools.
The DPS charter plan does not address the causes of the deficit: nearly $100 million per year for debt service and unfunded special education costs. The burden of these costs would be placed on a smaller district. Two years ago the district operated 200 schools and had deficit of $219 million, or about $1 million per school. With DPS reduced to 100 schools, the current deficit of $327 million will be over $3 million per school.
This plan is not in the best interests of the taxpayers who own the system, the students and teachers, nor the State of Michigan who will be left holding the bag when we reach the inescapable conclusion that a shrinking school district with a growing deficit cannot survive.
more stuff at the link...