State Of Detroit Families: Education Is A Priority, Parents Tell Michigan Legislature
By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network
How do parents in Detroit feel about the plan the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren wants the state legislature to adopt? Let's start with the busload of parents who are so committed to progress; they hopped on a 7am bus to Lansing to join in conversations with legislators to share their personal stories.
Meeting with policy makers they discussed how the lack of coordination of school closings and openings confuse parents. Parents provided insight on the scarce resources for all students and in particular, special need students, largely due to the enormous debt of Detroit Public Schools.
Parents attending the House Education meeting and engaging in legislative meetings shared stories of why this plan is important to them to fix Detroit schools and the future of their children.
Parents were accompanied by Scott Romney, Bill Taubman and other businessmen from Detroit who parents felt were strong supporters in pushing back when some legislatures deemed this a "Detroit" problem. Parents were encouraged that others cared and really saw this as a beginning solution for districts across the state and not just Detroit, one parent, Erika Rozier became emotional as she stated, "he cares about our kids too, he really backed us up and understood," referring to a man she later came to know as Scott Romney.
Another parent, Greg Posey, had this to say. "It was empowering to see how the whole process works and actually be a part of it. There was a difference in tone with the two representatives we met with. Rep. Garrett was engaged, taking notes, and asking questions about everything we shared with her."
Detroit parents showed up to be champions for their children and despite occasionally feeling discouraged, discovered their strength through each other and the unlikely allies who began this journey several months ago on behalf of Detroit children. The legislature can no longer hide behind the notion that Detroit parents don't care about their kids. Many took a day off from work and home to make the trip to Lansing.
They made it and are ready to go back again if that's what it takes to get this legislation to put kids, all kids, before politics and do the right thing.
The Coalition plan calls for the creation of a Detroit Education Commission to coordinate closing low performing and opening high performing schools along with centralized services such as enrollment and transportation for choice to be real for students. It also calls for the elimination of debt, which combined creates a pathway for academic achievement to be the primary focus along with good neighborhood schools.
*Content provided by our sponsor the Michigan Education Savings Plan.
