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Detroit School For Teen Moms Will Close Its Doors After 30 Years

DETROIT (WWJ) - A school set up specifically to help pregnant teens and teen mothers is shutting its doors after nearly 30 years.

The Catherine Ferguson Academy has had money problems and has experienced declining enrollment over the years, leading to its closure.

Principal Darnetta Banks told WWJ Newsradio 950 teachers and staff will be looking for work.

"Staff, as far as employment is concerned, there was no future placement for them, so each person was responsible for applying for a job or some are opting for retirement," said Banks.

There are currently about 80 students at the academy; and they will be relocated to other schools.

"The staff and I took a very aggressive interest in making sure that the young ladies are placed in schools that best fit their needs including the new Pathway Academy, and some of our girls that are overage will be attending other schools," Banks said.

A group of students, and others, staged a sit-in at the Academy when the school appeared on Detroit's lists of schools to close in 2011.

When it was time to lock up the building for the night, the demonstrators were asked to leave. They refused and police stepped in.

The school had been open since the mid-80s.

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