State orders Detroit to close half its schools

DETROIT - State education officials have ordered the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools to immediately implement a plan that balances the district's books by closing half its schools.

The Detroit News says the financial restructuring plan will increase high school class sizes to 60 students and consolidate operations.

State superintendent of public instruction Mike Flanagan says in a Feb. 8 letter that the state plans to install another financial manager who must continue to implement Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb's plan after he leaves June 30. Flanagan's said approval of Bobb's plan means the district can't declare bankruptcy.

Bobb filed his deficit elimination plan with the state in January, saying it would wipe out the district's $327 million deficit by 2014

Bobb was hired in March 2009 by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

[gosstom]

We homies doesn't ned nun of this bok learnin-We is City Strong!!

[natural45]

TOTALLY AGREE....and see what happens then!!

[krisd999-2009]

Read Atlas Shrugged and you'll know what is happening. Detroit has had a Democrat in power for 50 years, extortion and violence by unions..but I repeat myself..Why aren't the unions protesting??? Capital and the people who make things happen have fled to other states or to other contries. Look at which states gained population- all have no income tax. Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington. Until all income and capital taxes are repealed from the constitution this country will continue to circle the drain. We need our wild west back- sheriff, judge and a few basic laws against robbery and murder. Legalize everything else. America is a police state now, we keep over 10-15 times more people per capita in prison than most other contries. We now can be chased down by the police over speaking on the phone- absurd.

[cepe10-2009]

Don;t forget the republican dominated states like Utah with it's huge taxes and surcharges on everything that had population increase

[taggedup]

? Crime pays for the GOP. The GOP "Never pays for it's crime! 22 million dollar deficit during the 2010 election cycle, and now they want us to believe they can manage the US budget!
We need asset forfeiture for all crimes of fraud. If it's good enough for drug dealers, it's good enough for bankers, CEO's and political hacks.
GOP greed over people!
Pay your bills! Just once Republicans, PAY YOUR BILLS! Stop leaving AMERICA broke!

[spaceatoms]

What is the difference between Detroit and Wisconsin ordeals?

[gosstom]

We spend megabucks to open schools for Moslem kids in Iraq and A-Stan, and close schools for American kids in Detroit...What's wrong with this picture???....

[kms1978]

*** is this country coming to that our children can't even get an education. I hope to god the federal government steps in to remedy this situation. We can bail out failing corporations but can't save the schools. This is sad. We are quickly becoming the dumbest nation in the world thanks to the crappy public school system. Imagine a future where we are unable to compete on an intellectual and economic level because we are uneducated. Not good.

[RobAla]

We should have never bailed out corporations, and schools are the responsibility of states. If one state makes irresponsible decisions regarding state funding and schools, why should responsible people in other states have to pick up the tab? This thing about corporations being too big to fail is garbage. That is what monopoly laws are all about. Only certain companies were bailed out, not all companies. The federal government should not be in the business of selecting which companies fail and which succeed. President Bush and President Obama were wrong in the bailouts.

[tmittelstaed]

While the city of Detroit has lost roughly half its population in the last fifty years, decline in the DPS has dropped by almost half in the last eight years, dropping from 164,496 in the 2002-03 school year to 87,754 in the year 2010. Enrollment is projected to dip to 56,500 in 2014-15.

This is NOT a bad plan. The supposed 60 per class is scare tactics. They did not sit around blowing smoke and just tossing darts to arrive at a closure value.

When this plan is completed the average age of the school buildings in DPS will be TWENTY YEARS! That is YOUNGER that most of you posters!

Read some actual numbers here:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/education/22861844/detail.html

[ianlou]

The only problem with this plan is how will the students get to that new school miles further away from home? Walk?

Like everything else, the Detroit Bus system is broke also.

Ever heard the old folks talking about walking miles to school through deep snow, up hill both ways?

Add dodging dope heads and rapists and the Detroit story is no exageration.

[Freedomwriter10]

I am much older than 20. I remember when Detroit, the Motor City, was the greatest city in the world---as it was known in my household and everywhere else. It saddens me to see children denied an excellent education in this country. I loved being in Michigan as a kid. I love the people of Michigan. I see this urban blight in Philadelphia, parts of NJ, Pittsburg, Baltimore, parts of DC and many other cities. We need a leader from the people--not pretty former Michigander, Romney, who I know personally and who considers anyone not wealthy as nothing more than 'extras". We don't need politicians. It is time to reclaim our country; to get back to the needs of the people. I will invest every cent I have to help the families of Detroit. I will give of my time and talents in aiding them. It starts with one person and it grows. Detroit can come back. This country can come back. Stop letting others run it and being complacent thinking you can't make a difference. Together we all can take this country back to its greatness. WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS. We are all here to enjoy the freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness guaranteed to us by the constitution. 60 students to a classroom means 60 children go without a good education in each classroom; no teacher can possibly be expected to manage this. I taught 178 students in an integrated school---6 classes. It was hard, but not impossible. I call on all of the philanthropists in this country who give millions around the world, to help the children of this country in the impoverished areas. Today we are in need; tomorrow we can be strong. Be Americans. Buy American. Give to our future leaders: the children. Look for ways to help each community. Come on Motown singing greats, Bill Gates, Oprah, Donald Trump, and anyone else with a dollar to spare. Let's clean up America---one school, one neighborhood, one city at a time. Bette Midler, email me and tell me you will bring that gift of beautifying the inner city to other cities beyond New York. Please people. Step outside your comfort zone and step up to the plate. We can do this. We can change our future for the better.

[ludvig1-2009]

If 60 students are in a classroom it will be anarchy.

[MostWantedAxisOfEvil]

The United States enters a new era. One that leads them into the third world.

[thanksgreed]

but Wall Street dudes are so happy in West Palm...