Additionally, following the contrived bankruptcy of Detroit, the Detroit school district was dissolved to pay off state bondholders. Michigan’s School Aid Fund provides no money for school infrastructure. After the union squashed the protests, the district soldiered on, making only the most minimal improvements.
Detroit public schools imail series#
In 2015-16, educators mounted a series of sickouts-in defiance of the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and the Democratic Party politicians-demanding attention to the prevalence of mold, crumbling ceilings, buckling pavements and rodents common in the city schools. The plan document acknowledges that the measure is a band-aid, stating, “With continued rising costs, our Facility Master Plan proposes the most immediate investment needs totaling $700M out of a $2.1 billion need . The plan is financed by $700 million from Michigan’s $6 billion federal COVID relief and is a one-time infusion to the Detroit schools. And teachers and staff will continue to be underpaid and under-resourced. Some community schools will be closed, further devastating impoverished neighborhoods. Moreover, the school board will end the mask mandate June 30.
Detroit public schools imail upgrade#
There will be five new schools and others which gain air conditioning, but critically, the deal fails to upgrade all HVAC systems for air conditioning and protection from the aerosolized COVID virus. Focused simply on buildings, it fails there too. Additionally, those who choose to work in-person should earn hazard pay equal to that of teachers and, like teachers, have the option to bring their school-age children with them to work if needed.The Facility Master Plan entirely ignores the people who teach, drive buses, and provide critical support services. The unions will demand the same protections teachers at DPSCD won, including the right to choose whether to work in-person or remotely and guaranteed paid sick leave if they contract COVID-19.
DAEOE returns to the table on September 2 and 4. The Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals will go to the bargaining table with the administration on Wednesday, September 2. And because many of these support staff work directly with students, the hazard pay should be the same as what was offered to teachers. If they do not have any, they are home without pay. Moreover, while the district agreed that teachers who test positive use COVID days rather than their regular sick days, the district wants support staff to use their regular sick days. Paraprofessionals and office employees, like teachers work, was done on-line last Spring and can be done on-line this school year.
While teachers won the choice to work remotely amidst the pandemic, support staff – represented by the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals and the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees – have not been given the same option. It has been proven that our jobs can be done remotely, which we did for three months, and it’s critical that the district give our members a choice on how they return to work.” We have members who have health issues or are taking care of elderly parents who have fears about the return of staff and students into buildings. We are facing yet another new hurdle with the district as the district plans to reopen: Not allowing our members choice,” said Stephanie Carreker, president of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees. The district feels that our work is a necessary function and yet, they’re treating us like we’re expendable. “As the collective bargaining unit for the clerical and office staff for DPSCD we have faced many obstacles with the district during this pandemic. We want to work, but we want to do it safely.” Our members always go above and beyond for our students and the school community and our demands mirror our dedication. “Forcing staff back into school buildings and treating us as second-class citizens indicates that the district administration does not value who we are and what we do. Nikolai Vitti doesn’t appear to agree,” said Donna Jackson, president of the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals. “The lives of secretaries, paraprofessionals, food service workers, and other support staff are just as important as other employees that work for DPS, but Superintendent Dr.
Donna Jackson, Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals
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