Detroit Starts City-Wide Inspections Of School Buildings
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - City building and health officials will begin inspecting all Detroit public schools for possible code and safety violations.
The inspections follow visits Mayor Mike Duggan made Tuesday to several schools after the teachers' union complained of rodents, mold and other problems.
His office said Wednesday that 20 buildings believed to be the most problematic will be inspected by the end of January. Each of the district's 97 school buildings is to be looked at by the end of April.
Public charter schools also will be inspected.
Parents, teachers and students are asked to report potential health and safety concerns on the city's website.
If code violations are found, building officials will take appropriate action to make sure that the violations are understood, along with the required repairs and the timeline for completing them. If any potential health hazards are identified, the Department of Public Health will also conduct an investigation to assure both compliance and a healthy environment for students and teachers.
"This effort isn't about blaming anybody," Duggan said in a statement. "It's about making sure that every child and every teacher in Detroit goes to school in a safe and healthy environment. We've been assured by Emergency Manager [Darnell] Earley that DPS will respond promptly to correct any deficiencies found in these inspections and we look forward to working with the district to resolve these problems."
Duggan told reporters he saw a dead mouse, children wearing coats in cold classrooms and a gym floor too warped for play during Tuesday's schools tour.
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