DPS Teachers are Fleeing the District at an Unprecedented Rate

[313WX]

"An uncertainty about the future of the school district, an expected spike in health care costs and stagnant pay is creating what union officials say is an unprecedented number of midyear retirements and resignations in Detroit, the Detroit Free Press reports.

That's causing a teacher shortage, Ann Zaniewski of the Freep reports.

Patrick Falcusan, financial analyst and retirement counselor for the Detroit Federation of Teachers union, tells the Freep that those conditions have pushed some teachers who were on the fence about retiring to finally do so.

"Virtually every day, somebody calls me and wants to quit or retire," he said. "A number of teachers aren't coming back after Christmas. ...

http://deadlinedetroit.com/articles/...s#.VlixKXarTIU

The Freep writes:

In early November, there were at least 170 teaching vacancies. DPS spokesman Michelle Zdrodowski said Wednesday that the number has been reduced to 135 by reorganizing some teaching assignments based on enrollment numbers from the fall student count day.

The shortage has pushed other academic staff, such as instructional specialists and school service assistants, into teaching roles. About 115 substitutes have been assigned to fill empty spots.

[313WX]

Someone made an interesting point in the Freep comment section of the above article. They said this sudden increase in teachers vacating DPS is a sign of an improved economy [[as more job openings become available in other school districts and industries).

With that in mind, can that theory also apply to the residents who have, until recently, been stuck in Detroit because they haven't been able to find better paying/stable jobs that would afford them a lifestyle outside of the city?

If so, would be unreasonable for one to expect another significant loss in Detroiters as well over the next few years as these folks are now becoming more upwardly mobile [[I.E. James Robertson)?

[Wesley Mouch]

DPS & DFT can not doubt deal with this. If they can't, the students are fortunate to have alternatives that didn't exist in the past. Creative destruction.

[Hypestyles]

no one sane wants to work for peanuts in a tumultuous bureaucracy.

[jmarie]

Many big cities have been dealing with teacher shortages for a few years now. The problem is spreading. We are a few years away from having a nationwide teacher crisis. [[I am a former teacher, I taught in the south as well as Michigan and I have friends/former classmates teaching across the country.)

Detroit has the unfortunate problem of having all of the common problems, times 10. Across the board Michigan has been struggling to cover retirees' health care. I had to pay $50 per check [[$1,300 a year) towards retirees' health care, in addition to the $150 per check for my own health care [[I'm single w/out dependents.) I can only imagine that a district the size that Detroit once was has even more financial issues when it comes to covering retirees' benefits and pensions.
To teach in Detroit, you will start with a low salary, likely pay high insurance rates, high union dues, have overcrowded classes [[a friend of a friend has 40+ first graders in her classroom as the only teacher), have challenging students, high turn over amongst colleagues and administration, minimal supplies, etc... Who wants that? Passion for kids and teaching only takes you so far.

[Danny]

Snyder's way to restructure Detroit Public Schools is to get rid of it. And replace it with some new school district run by another psuedo EEA program with flowing with private dollars, non-union under qualified teachers and keep bad Detroit kids in the ghetto in line.

[Honky Tonk]

Seriously, can you blame them? Having known a few teachers in DPS, and listening to their horror stories, I can't. My only concern is without parents, teachers and cops, what is Detroit's youth going to look like in 10 years, 20 years?

[Zacha341]

As initiated under his predecessor, former governor Jennifer Granholm....

Snyder's way to restructure Detroit Public Schools is to get rid of it. And replace it with some new school district run by another psuedo EEA program with flowing with private dollars, non-union under qualified teachers and keep bad Detroit kids in the ghetto in line.

[Wesley Mouch]

Snyder's way to restructure Detroit Public Schools is to get rid of it. And replace it with some new school district run by another psuedo EEA program with flowing with private dollars, non-union under qualified teachers and keep bad Detroit kids in the ghetto in line.

Or we can just keep supporting DPS. What's the point in trying something different. New and different is usually bad.

[Hypestyles]

dps needs stability. the children deserve better.

[Zacha341]

EAA [[the Education Achievement Authority) has been problematic as well. It has neither Achieved what it promised, nor Educated to a level of increased testing scores, etc.

How many chancellors/ leaders has EEA had? Corruption?
http://www.dedweek.org/ew/articles/2015/11/04/corruption-probe-muddies-efforts-to-fix-detroits.html

And yet there's seemingly plenty of money to go around to continue....
EAA gave $1.7M contract to new firm with higher bid
https://www.google.com/search?q=Matt...=off&tbs=qdr:m

[Wesley Mouch]

EAA [[the Education Achievement Authority) has been problematic as well. It has neither Achieved what it promised, nor Educated to a level of increased testing scores, etc.

How many chancellors/ leaders has EEA had? Corruption? ...snip...

I don't see how the failures of the EAA have anything to do with this. DPS is a mess. EAA is a mess. Let's fix messes and stop using the failures of one or the other to reduce choices for society's most vulnerable children.

[Zacha341]

Yes, lets fix the messes. I think most reasoned folks get that. I commented on the Educational Achievement Authority as it was brought up in the thread and EAA to a large extent, particular at the high school level, pulls it populations from DPS.

EAA was to have returned to DPS at some undetermined time [[currently in the works depending on who you believe), so they are very much related.

If you'll recall, Detroit homeowners voted for the mileage a few years back to fund refurbs and building of then held DPS schools like Mumford High School for example. Shortly thereafter those schools were converted to EAA, yet the taxing continues.

In the meantime students outside of the charters only have the 'choices' of DPS or EAA. Great.

[Wesley Mouch]

Yes, lets fix the messes. I think most reasoned folks get that. I commented on the Educational Achievement Authority as it was brought up in the thread and EAA to a large extent, particular at the high school level, pulls it populations from DPS.

EAA was to have returned to DPS at some undetermined time [[currently in the works depending on who you believe), so they are very much related.

If you'll recall, Detroit homeowners voted for the mileage a few years back to fund refurbs and building of then held DPS schools like Mumford High School for example. Shortly thereafter those schools were converted to EAA, yet the taxing continues.

In the meantime students outside of the charters only have the 'choices' of DPS or EAA. Great.

Its good to be concerned about whether the EAA is working. Sorry if I reacted before thinking. Too much of that in the world.

My concern is exactly that. Knee-jerk attack on anything Snyder touches -- or that threatens the precious existing status-quo of education that has so clearly needs to reboot.

The defense of status-quo school boards is something I find hard to tolerate. Education is the single most important thing we can do for the future of our society. We have to do better -- especially in our cities. Fights to fund public schools over other educational ideas are often self-serving. But let's be open to ways to make sure that we have a 'school of last resort' run by the state -- and at the same time encourage innovation and discourage rent-seeking.

[Baselinepunk]

Politicians who have ZERO experience teaching should never, never be in charge of educational policy/decisions.

JennyEngler started EFMs, not EMs, -- that's Ricky the Boy's baby.

Once the State got wind of all of the cash money in bonds the district was getting, the State got in while the getting was good and never let go.

The only thing that will save that District, and the State, is to boot every single G.D. Republican out of office and erase the years worth of damage those bastards did.

[Wesley Mouch]

Politicians who have ZERO experience teaching should never, never be in charge of educational policy/decisions.

JennyEngler started EFMs, not EMs, -- that's Ricky the Boy's baby.

Once the State got wind of all of the cash money in bonds the district was getting, the State got in while the getting was good and never let go.

The only thing that will save that District, and the State, is to boot every single G.D. Republican out of office and erase the years worth of damage those bastards did.

Hate, generalizations, and simplification also are impediments.

Changing directions.... I suggest that any use of the word 'fleeing' suggests a badly thought through article.

[ABetterDetroit]

Pay whatever it takes to get Kevyn Orr back and ram DPS thru chapter 9 as fast as he can. This disaster has gone on long enough considering the kids are getting the shaft.

[Shai_Hulud]

Pay whatever it takes to get Kevyn Orr back and ram DPS thru chapter 9 as fast as he can. This disaster has gone on long enough considering the kids are getting the shaft.

Don't forget we need to first dissolve EAA and roll it back into DPS.

Then we need a new board with elected officials, state financial oversight, and appointees made of actual qualified educators and not the recycled local politicians.

Yet, this continues to drag out.

[Honky Tonk]

Don't forget we need to first dissolve EAA and roll it back into DPS.

Right, Not every top and middle manager @ DPS has had a chance yet to skim funding off the top and buy a $650K home in Northville.

[Wesley Mouch]

Don't forget we need to first dissolve EAA and roll it back into DPS.

Then we need a new board with elected officials, state financial oversight, and appointees made of actual qualified educators and not the recycled local politicians.

Yet, this continues to drag out.

So your answer to our educational system is to double-down on DPS -- with the caveat that some brilliant god-like persons gets to appoint brilliant god-like educators? I'm with you on moving from politicians to educators -- well on further thought -- NO! Educators had their chance with a monopoly on education. DPS is the result.

This line of thinking is why the only option is disassembly of DPS, EAA, and every other state agency and a fresh start that allows OUTSIDERS in. Let's outsiders fail -- and find new ways.

[Baselinepunk]

Hate, generalizations, and simplification also are impediments.

Changing directions.... I suggest that any use of the word 'fleeing' suggests a badly thought through article.

Not true -- teachers are, in fact, fleeing DPS. If you don't want to acknowledge reality, and spin your wheels being a time thief, that's your own damn fault.

Tell ya what, Moooooch.

I wouldn't have a little piss and vinegar if Ricky the Boy didn't cost my family approximately $10,000 + in income since he was elected. And that number is a little low because every time I add it up I get more and more pissed -- having a nice day at the moment so I don't want to ruin it by counting how many ways Ricky the Boy has personally fucked my family. But until Ricky the Boy and his G.D. Republican asshole buddies get their hands out of my pocketbook,I will be sure to have a little "edge" when talking about those POS, K?

So, moral of the story is don't hit a wasp nest and then ask not to be stung.

[BankruptcyGuy]

There isn't a teacher shortage, at least in reasonable districts in Southeast Michigan. In my district, our last set of postings for 7 open positions drew 3,500 candidates. It's more difficult to find science teachers, and very difficult to find special ed teachers, but there is no general teacher shortage.

The proponents of DPS [[that is, reviving the district or keeping the old structure intact) were not helped by the latest stunt:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...ures/76618414/

I feel bad for the parents who had to miss a day of work, for what result I'm not sure exactly. The ghost of Steve Conn still haunts the district, I suppose.

[Wesley Mouch]

Not true -- teachers are, in fact, fleeing DPS. If you don't want to acknowledge reality, and spin your wheels being a time thief, that's your own damn fault.

Tell ya what, Moooooch.

I wouldn't have a little piss and vinegar if Ricky the Boy didn't cost my family approximately $10,000 + in income since he was elected. And that number is a little low because every time I add it up I get more and more pissed -- having a nice day at the moment so I don't want to ruin it by counting how many ways Ricky the Boy has personally fucked my family. But until Ricky the Boy and his G.D. Republican asshole buddies get their hands out of my pocketbook,I will be sure to have a little "edge" when talking about those POS, K?

So, moral of the story is don't hit a wasp nest and then ask not to be stung.

If fleeing means leaving, then you're right. When people 'flee', they all leave. You flee from a gunman, along with everyone else. You leave your job.

When 50% of the teachers have left in a month, then you have my permission to call if fleeing.

That all said, I hope all the teachers do flee. It would be an appropriate response. Leaving DPS with no teachers would likely be the best thing the teachers could do for their students.

[Zacha341]

Yes, Darnell Earley recently appointed by Snyder is called EM, but umm is EFM vs. EM significantly different? Just asking...

Let the good times roll and big money flowing!

Plus, per state records former EFM Roy Roberts was appointed [[under Snyder) as an 'EFM' not Emergency Manager [[EM):
http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,466...4020--,00.html

JennyEngler started EFMs, not EMs, -- that's Ricky the Boy's baby.

[Shai_Hulud]

Yes, Darnell Earley recently appointed by Snyder is called EM, but umm is EFM vs. EM significantly different? Just asking...

Let the good times roll and big money flowing!

Plus, per state records former EFM Roy Roberts was appointed [[under Snyder) as an 'EFM' not Emergency Manager [[EM):
http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,466...4020--,00.html

Yes, the EFM had less power than the EM. The EM basically has unilateral authority over anything they choose.

Robert Bobb felt as "Emergency Financial Manager" he had control over anything that involved spending, meaning everything. The board disagreed, sued and won.

Then Snyder became governor and passed PA 4 which created the EM distinction. Voters shot that down, and shortly after that Lansing pushed through PA 436 which restored the EM and but also had various appropriations to make sure it wouldn't be voted down again.

I don't really have the time to present the issue the way I would like to. Suffice to say, DPS hasn't been in control of DPS for seven years. During that time the state has lost half of the DPS students and doubled the deficit.

So no, the current state of DPS is not a valid reason to further maim public education and democratic process in the name of experimentation. It would be impressive if someone managed to do a worse job than Lansing. However, I don't believe we can afford to burn up another decade of students, or at least black students, in the name of "experimentation."