Detroit May Close Down Up To 52 Schools

[Jcrowley]

Detroit may shut up to 52 schools

Plan targets 8 high schools, shrinks district by 20 percent; board to finalize list next month.

Christine MacDonald and Darren Nichols / The Detroit News



DETROIT -- The Detroit Public Schools announced a massive restructuring plan Friday to close 52 schools, a number that would shrink the state's largest district by more than 20 percent.

Forty-seven of the district's 232 school buildings would close this summer and five more by summer 2008 if the Detroit Board of Education approves the plan in late February.

Chadsey, Mackenzie and Redford are among the eight high schools, six middle schools and 38 elementaries targeted. They enroll nearly 20,000 kids, but far more would be affected as students are shuffled among buildings.

Superintendent William Coleman III told those assembled at Spain Elementary/Middle School to hear the announcement that his proposal will be painful but there would be a clear consequence if the district doesn't move forward.

"We set the stage for another state takeover of the Detroit Public Schools," he said, referring to the 1999 state takeover.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701060406

[Dean Martin]

1. Is this similar to Indy....

where they said they didn't have the budget to hire more law enforcement and fire fighters, yet gave 10 million to the *&^%$ Colts to build a stupid football stadium?