Detroit public school teachers returned to work on Wednesday after two days of protests that forced school cancellations. However, the closing of Detroit public schools for a few days did not resolve the district's real financial crisis.
During the weekend, teachers were informed that they would not be receiving their paycheck after June, without financial aid from the state, according to Parent Herald. In protest, over a thousand teachers called in sick to work on Monday and Tuesday forcing the district to close most of its public schools.
After new assurance from administration officials on Tuesday evening that teachers' pay would not be cut off, Detroit pubic school teachers went back to work. Being paid for the work that they did is not a win, but is rather a legal right and expectation, according to Emma Howland-Bolton, a Grade 5 Detroit public school teacher.
Aside from the district's financial problems, there are lingering concerns with the district's leadership. For example, an audit to determine the cause of the district's deficit was left ignored.
Bolton explains that without the forensic audit, the district could easily find themselves in the same position in just a matter of weeks or months. Despite receiving $49 million in emergency aid, the money is still not enough for public school funding.
Detroit public schools have been in crisis for years. The district's long-term debt totals at $3.5 billion while its projected year-end budget deficit is at $320 million, according to The New York Times.
In addition, the district is facing a corruption probe from the feds as nine principals cut deals less than a month after getting charged with scamming. Enrollment has declined to only 46,000 students or 71 percent since 2000 while two-thirds of the district's schools have closed in the last 15 years.
In January, a similar teacher sickout occurred when the Detroit Federation of Teachers posted about the dangerous and deplorable classroom environments. Hazardous and unsafe conditions include mold, extreme temperatures and rodent infestations, according to Huffington Post.
Michigan is largely considering controversial reforms that would direct more money to the district, pay off some of its debt, and create a new commission to oversee the openings and closures of the schools in the city, including charter schools. Another proposal was to do away with the overseeing committees, curb the union's bargaining powers and allocate less money to the district.
