Last day of school in Detroit is bittersweet - Thirty are closing for the last time

[Bozita]

POSTED: 6:55 P.M. JUNE 17, 2010
Last day of school is bittersweet
BY PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI AND CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY
FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITERS

The last day of the regular school year school was marked with celebrations, cheers and some sadness at local schools that let out for summer on Thursday.

The occasion was bittersweet in 30 Detroit Public Schools buildings that will close for good this summer due to enrollment declines and budget woes.

At Holcomb Elementary school on the city’s northwest side, parents and neighbors said they will hate to see the 85-year-old building close. In 2005, the school was recognized by the Skillman Foundation as a high performer, but its enrollment is now down to about 247, though capacity is at 592.

“I’m hurt, this is a good school,” said Ricardo Frazier, who re-enrolled his son in Holcomb after a short stay at another school. He said his two children will likely attend a charter school next year.

The closest school to Holcomb is a charter school three blocks away. DPS has lost half its population in the past decade, mostly to charter schools. This year’s school closures will mark about 130 school closures since 2005, leaving 140 schools next year.

“I’m going to miss everything and everybody,” said third-grader Malik Montgomery.

Roddie Battle, 48, moved in across the street from the school about a year and half ago and now worries what will become of the building.

“I’m worried that somebody is going to come and vandalize the school,” he said. “If that school goes, our little block is going to be gone.”

Teachers at Holcomb - and principals districtwide- are still awaiting word on where they will work in the fall.

With 10 years experience, Holcomb teacher Markita Hall – who has earned a coveted national certification - received her fifth layoff notice and hopes to be recalled to work by September.

“Everyone is putting out resumes, but there aren’t any jobs -- not for teachers.”

Summer school starts on Tuesday for DPS. The district hopes to enroll 40,000 of its 85,000 students. Also, high school students from other districts can enroll in DPS at fee of $250 per class. DPS high school students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch can retake failed courses for free.

more, but the report goes into the burbs ... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100617/NEWS05/100617092/1322/Last-day-of-school-is-bittersweet&template=fullarticle




Sound heard at charter schools in Detroit tonight: "Ka-Ching"

[Hannah Bell]

1. ka-ching indeed. wait a couple of years for the reports on the failing charters.

less than that for the reports on financial abuses.

[Bozita]

2. Charters seem to be immune to investigative reporting in the MSM