VOL. 47 — NO. 10 POSTMASTER: All forms 3579 are to be forwarded to Detroit Federation of Teachers, 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 JULY/AUG. 2009 Carstens is Named a Top Five School in State hy is Carstens Elementary ciency scores by 59 percent and its math reflected in your student proficiency Improvement. School, in a decimated east side scores by 80 percent since 2005-2006. scores,” said Mike Radke, Assistant “It’s teamwork here,” Prograis says. Wneighborhood, such a success? “The efforts of the entire staff are Director in MDE’s Office of School “And there’s no ‘I’ in teamwork.” Answer: the staff quit the blame game. The staff decided to do everything to meet the needs of the whole child. If that means a student needs a coat, there’s a closet at Carstens with clothes. If it means feeding a hungry child, it’s done. They call it no-fault decision making. “We go out and get it for the kids,” says science teacher Elbert Bennett Jr. “We’re not blaming the parents. We’re not blam - ing downtown. We’re coming together to make this the best building we can.” The reform of the building started about 12 years ago with the principal, Dr. Theresa Mattison and her staff. Mattison was not hierarchical by nature. She lis - tened to teachers’ ideas and delivered what they needed. “It starts with her,” said language arts teacher Vilanda Prograis. “She has mopped floors and wiped tables. She takes kids home throwing up in her van. You never see her dressy and prissy.” According to Prograis, Dr. Mattison turns to them for their best solutions. In return, she gets their professionalism, their expertise, and their dedication. She gets retirees to volunteer at the school and a business owner to donate a turkey to each family at Thanksgiving. For all this toil, the garden feeds the family. The school regularly receives Adequate Yearly Progress and was hon - ored by the Michigan Department of Carstens students and teachers Elbert Bennett, Jr., Vilanda Prograis and Deborah Limage, hold the Education as one of the top five Title 1 school’s latest awards. schools in the state making significant growth. The school raised its language profi - District Looking to Layoffs, Concessions he Detroit School Board’s budget trict is considering all options, including Attention Members for the 2009-2010 year has poten - bankruptcy. Ttial negative implications for DFT President Keith Johnson said the with Layoff Notices members of the Detroit Federation of budget outlook was “devastating.” How - Teachers. On June 29, Emergency ever, he has put in place a seasoned negoti - DPS employees with layoff notices Financial Manager Robert Bobb ating team that is continuing to bargain. are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED announced that an additional 685 “I have said many times that the salaries TO ATTEND a worker's orientation employees would receive layoff notices meeting on July 28 from 11 a.m. to and benefits of our teachers are not the (which categories of employees is not yet 7 p.m. or July 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 reason for this deficit,” Johnson said. known), bringing the total to 2,451. p.m. at Martin Luther King High In April, the union was optimistic that School. The orientation is spon - The budget also calls for nearly $87 mil - most of the 600 layoffs would be rescinded sored by the Joint Adjustment lion of labor concessions to be negotiated. due to retirements and normal attrition. Committee, a coalition of DPS, Although the layoffs and budget cuts With the two additional rounds of layoffs, it state and other agencies to aid with result in a budget surplus of $17 million is possible that some layoffs will not be issues facing laid off workers. For for the 2009-2010 year, the district still has rescinded. The final number of teachers more info, visit www.detroitk12.org/ a deficit of $259 million from previous who lose their jobs will be based on student resources/staff/jac. years that needs to be repaid. In addressing enrollment in the fall, and the number of were due to teachers not completing required certification. the deficit, Bobb announced that the dis - teachers who resign or retire. **Calculated on years as a DPS contract teacher. Page 2 The Detroit Teacher July/August 2009 July/August 2009 The Detroit Teacher Page 3 THANK YOU DFT: Updates... Detroit Broadcast Students Receive Accolades Standing Strong in Time of Transition DFT/COPE Endorses Candidates s we close another school Thank you for enduring the Detroit City Council year I feel compelled to change in leadership at DPS, as Alvin Sims thank all of the members of Robert Bobb was appointed the V A Mohamed Okdie our great Union for standing so emergency financial manager and V strong during a time of tumult and instituted measures to restore this O Charles Pugh transition. school district to fiscal solvency. Derrick Hale O The June 9 personal pickup of pay - T Saunteel Jenkins checks and remittance advisements Brenda Jones President’s Report was an inconvenience, and the ben - T efits are not yet known, but we E Raphael Johnson complied and proved once again Gary Brown E Keith that we are not the ones who have James Tate Johnson pilfered this district through fraud and misrepresentation. Southfield City Council Thank you for answering the Janna K. Garrison “$10 political call to action.” Through your contributions of at State Senate Thank you for not wavering in least $10 per member, we were Irma Clark-Coleman your commitment to your craft as able to double our COPE political DFT President Keith Johnson being interviewed on the multitude of DPS continued its downward spiral action fund, which will allow us to issues facing the Detroit Public Schools. of corruption, dysfunction and provide financial support to candi - Vote August 4th Golightly Career and Technical Center students were honored at inner chaos. You maintained your dates and causes that are in the best ideas to address the structural, to bring you the level of service the 2nd Annual Media Night. focus on delivering quality instruc - interest of public education and financial, and operational chal - you demand, and together we will tion even as the Secretary of educators. lenges we inherited when we took do it. Thank you and have a great, Retirements Before the UNION, By Dana Hughes Honor Society Members Education Arne Duncan called us a Finally, thank you for helping office. With your support our mem - safe, and restful summer. Announced • 13 students who will be attending national educational disgrace. Little me with the transition in the leader - bership meetings have been more Notice of Apology: the word was “NO” he radio and television stu - The following DFT members have various Michigan colleges and uni - ship of our Union. Your support has orderly and informative, our infor - dents of Golightly Career and does he realize that it was grace I had technical problems receiv - announced their retirements: Juanita versities helped me to begin to restore soli - Technical Center celebrated that carried us through the inepti - mational forums have been produc - ing my DFT email. Now it is work - Sanders, Margaret Redmond-Squires, No seniority T their 2nd Annual Media Night on • 14 Michigan Association of tude of our elected school board darity to our fractured Union. tive, and our quality of service has ing. Feel free to contact me at work Clester Lewis, Alice Kelley-Booker, Whether you voted for me or not, improved. No job security May 28. The event honored students Broadcast Awards and the mismanagement of our at [email protected] or at Ronald Patrick Johnson, Betty for academic and broadcasting abili - • 8 Michigan Association of school district. you have given your support and We still have a lot of work to do home at [email protected]. Thomas, Marcia Hunt, Robbie ties. Rhodes, Alan Schrecengost, Sharon L. No representation Educational Broadcasting Awards Donato, Patricia Saddler, Juanita In attendance were advisory board • 1 2009 Carl E. Jacobson Sanders, Ellen Hechler, Carol Votruba, No grievance procedure members, Adrienne Reynolds of Educational Achievement Award Detroit Enter tainers and Musicians Day School for Deaf Perseveres Carolyn Mattison-Wright and • 6 Detroit Media Showcase Winners Marilynn Mattison-Wright. If you No prep periods News Magazine, Harold Meeks of tellusdetroit.com, independent film If the Day School for the Deaf educates students have retired in the last six months and • 2 National Finalists in the producer Hamisi Robinson, Edward “Courageous Persuaders” P.S.A. community is one thing, it’s persist - who are hearing would like it announced in the Detroit No standard work day Teacher, please call the editor at 313- Foxworth of Foxworth Marketing Video Competition ent. The staff planted a garden and impaired, deaf or Group, and Wayne State University’s 875-3500 ext. 776. No uniform pay scale • 1 Recipient of the “$24,000 Ford it was vandalized. So the staff hard of hearing. (ISSN 0011-9695) television director Darryl Shreve. Motor Company High School planted again. Fast forward, and the “This is a very The Detroit Teacher is the official pub - No health care Journalism Scholarship” new Birds and Butterfly Garden unique school and Success! Union Wins Foxworth, the keynote speaker, lication of the Detroit Federation of spoke to the future broadcasters on • 1 Michigan SkillsUSA Recipient planted this spring is the fifth gar - unless you’re in it, Teachers, American Federation of Teacher’s Grievance marketing and branding themselves Teachers Local 231, AFL-CIO. No paid holidays den in as many years. it’s hard to describe.