Putting Students First in Detroit!

Over the last several months, teachers in the Detroit, Michigan Public School District have staged a series of "sick outs" that have closed dozens of schools.  Yesterday, in a mass sick-out, 60 schools were closed when more than 50% of each school's staff called in sick to work.

So what's going on there?  This district has been under state control for nearly 15 years, due to financial mismanagement and numerous other issues.

Academically, this district is the worst in the State of Michigan and the eighth grade students recently scored the lowest level in the nation in reading and mathematics.  This despite an expenditure of nearly $15,000.00 for each of DPS' 48,000 students. (Last year's budget was $721 Milllion)

The most recent financial releases peg DPS's debt at $3.5 Billion, with $1.7 Billion in short term debt