Tag: DPS

The cash-strapped Detroit Public Schools racked up an additional $18.7 million in debt from July through September after its plan to boost enrollment failed, and it spent above budgeted amounts on security, transportation and maintenance.
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The largest school district in the state, DPS had 300,000 students in the mid-1960s. After decades of steep enrollment  drops, demographers told DPS as it prepared its 2013-14 budget in June to expect another enrollment drop of 5,000 students and to budget for 46,000 students.

Instead, the district announced it would [try to] attract 5,000 new students, for a total of 51,000, and approved a budget of $687 million.

Financial experts said that was DPS's biggest mistake.

Conway said he struggled to understand DPS' decision to budget an increase in students and revenues when the city is in decline. "You just added to the pile of debt," he said. "You are building a bigger mountain to climb."

Yeah, because we ought not really have any borders, and those border patrol agents just want to hang Latinos and burn crosses on their lawns. DEFINITELY NOT coffee ready pals!

I will let you folks make the connection as to whether she is a positive force or not in our state. She certainly must have SOME influence however, being a DPS school board member and all.  And she is using that position to spread her love:

"Elena Herrada, a Detroit Public Schools board member from District 2, will give a talk titled "Detroit Public School Board Member in Exile" 2:30-3:45 pm April 24 in Room 134 S. Kedzie Hall. A reception in the CLS Office in Room 200 S. Kedzie will be held immediately following the talk."

Maybe because I had more co-workers who had more conscience about training me at that time, or they were just superior to the people turning out the "young guns" nowadays, but I understood this axiom very clearly even back then, and over the years, have gained a greater appreciation for it.

It is also a lesson that I found is easily and very applicable outside of trucking.

Am I trying to change the focus over from politics to Trucking?

Not exactly.

How about all under-performing/failing Michigan Public Schools?

With Labor Day winding down and summer officially now over, we can start focusing on the things needed to get Michigan going again.

Okay, okay, so our elected officials don't really start working until this Wednesday (must be nice), but now is a good as time as any to get the dialogue going here.

So far, on Lansing's Agenda for this fall:

-    Passing Freedom to Work legislation for Michigan.
-    Getting another bridge built across the Detroit River.
-    Making all of Michigan's Public Schools, Schools of Choice.

That last one sounds great on paper.

Not satisfied with how little Johnny's/Suzie's education is progressing?

Just yank `em out of their under-performing school and put them into any district you want that has an available seat.

Those other districts, you want the money. I know they do. So sit down, shut up and do as we in Lansing tell you to do.

How does that really solve the underlying problem?

Many of you will be quick to say, "Well, what was your first clue?"

This is going a little beyond that, including some disturbing comments from Lansing leaders on how to address their latest problem.

What should we expect then from an initiative that will grant all children in the Detroit Public School District a free breakfast, a free lunch, and a free snack? Certainly their will be short term positives from such a program. Less hunger in the classroom has got to be a good thing as far as that goes.

And yet, the program has further goals:

"One of the primary goals of this program is to eliminate the stigma that students feel when they get a free lunch, as opposed to paying cash."