Detroit Public School Closings

As you look at how many Detroit Public Schools are supposed to be closing, it makes you think. “What else happens in these schools? Why is the government not taking action? What else is wrong with these schools?” Well, those are questions that I unfortunately, cannot answer. What I can do is try to give an understanding and my opinion as to why we are going through this.

As everyone knows, by the end of 2007, at least fifty-two Detroit Public Schools should be closed. However, some of these have already closed, but not all. It takes an estimated twenty-two million dollars to actually close these buildings. The amount saved from this annually is about nineteen million dollars; which would not kick in until 2008. Notice I did say annually which means (in my opinion) it will be a while before we see any of this money (district officials in DPS, Detroit News).

It costs more to close the buildings then to actually save money from trying to close these buildings. So what can we do about this? Absolutely nothing, but try to act upon what we feel for the children. It appears that at this time, the only people asking how the children feel are the newscasters.

A 16 year old junior at Redford High named Tanya Trader stated that “They shouldn’t close it down; All the kids would have to go to different schools and that will cause more problems”. Chadsey, Mackenzie, and Redford are among the eight high schools, six middle schools and thirty-eight elementary schools targeted for closing. This leaves about a little more than 20,000 enrolled kids affected as students are shuffled among buildings. School officials said staff at closed buildings will be reassigned to other buildings, but said it would be premature to discuss whether more layoffs are ahead (Detroit News).

I feel that if the district wants to close schools, close the schools we do not need. If there’s a group of elementary schools together, close at least one or two of them in that cluster. I also feel that if the Detroit Public Schools want money, then the state or the government should take over schools. It makes no sense to have to close so many schools because of lousy spenders.