Tag Archives: Emergency Manager
More Pre-K, community schools, art/music enrichment, quality and customer service will be Detroit Public Schools hallmark moving forward
Detroit Public Schools today renewed its commitment to supporting all families, providing the highest quality public education available, and supporting a regional workforce that will drive the city’s economic rebirth through a brand new transformative plan developed by hundreds of community members. An intensive five-week strategic planning process involved parents, students, teachers, principals, staff, clergy, civic and community leaders and policy makers – nearly 600 attended – working to help Detroit Public Schools better understand how to improve its performance and customer service, broaden services, and provide desired programs, all within a safe learning environment. Entitled, “Neighborhood-Centered, Quality Schools,” the plan wraps 36 objectives around 12 major goal areas focused on these five central themes: Starting earlier and working longer, … Continue reading
Hundreds work with Detroit Public Schools to identify strategic path forward and role that DPS should play in Detroit’s rebirth
Detroit Public Schools has initiated a strategic planning process through which it is engaging its stakeholders to assess its strengths and weaknesses and to assist in designing a plan that will improve academic performance, increase market share and ensure a stabilized annual budget. “I strongly believe that if you always do things the way they’ve always been done, you will never get a different result. We must, and are, committed to rethinking the way we do things at DPS,” said Emergency Financial Manager Roy S. Roberts. “We cannot continue to plan to fail by simply accepting a cycle of historically large annual losses in enrollment followed by massive school closures.” Some 450 employees, parents, students, community members, local and state … Continue reading
Annual audit confirms second consecutive operating surplus, deficit reduction, improved audit findings and opinions for Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools today (Thursday, December 13, 2012) released its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) which shows that the school district ended its fiscal year with a $10.9 million operating surplus (the second consecutive operating surplus), while at the same time lowering its General Fund deficit from $283.9 million to $76.3 million. There was also a reduction in the number of audit findings and an increase in the number of unqualified single audit opinions. “All outcomes are increasingly positive factors that continue to lead us toward fiscal stability, the elimination of the legacy deficit, increased funding driven to the classroom, and the enhancement of the district’s ability to borrow funds at competitive rates,” said Detroit Public Schools Chief Financial Officer … Continue reading
Detroit Public Schools recognizes Top Suppliers at 2nd Annual 100 Top Suppliers Conference Event
Detroit Public Schools on Tuesday, December 4, held its second annual 100 Top Suppliers Conference, focusing on a theme of “Championing Change for Children.” The meeting was the second annual presentation to suppliers by DPS’ Procurement & Logistics Office, as well as members of the district’s executive leadership team including: Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts, Chief Financial Officer William Aldridge, Superintendent of Academics Karen Ridgeway and Chief Innovation Officer Doug Ross on the district’s goals and objectives with a focus on supplier excellence and fiscal responsibility. “The Procurement & Logistics Office was redesigned last year to focus on quality service, collaboration and cost – not just contracts,” said Emergency Financial Manager Roy S. Roberts. “That was a huge change and, in … Continue reading
Detroit Public Schools Opens Teacher Evaluation Review Process
Detroit Public Schools announced that teachers who have been laid-off as a result of their 2012 performance evaluations can request a review of their scores. Requests for review will be accepted at www.detroitk12.org through Nov. 30, 2012.
DPS Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts announces appointment of Diane Jones as CIO & Chief Strategic Officer
Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts has appointed Diane Jones to the position of CIO (Chief Information Officer) & Chief Strategic Officer (CSO). Jones has been the Chief Information Officer for Detroit Public Schools since August 2010 and recently gained the added duties of Chief Strategic Officer in July 2012. As the CIO, Jones is responsible for balancing risk and value by properly integrating people, process, policy and technology to ensure performance. Jones’ added responsibilities as the CSO call for her to evaluate operations and strategies that are distinct parts of the business ( such as a focusing on leading the department in the present), and looking to the future to frame strategies that allow for continuous adjustment … Continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions for Detroit Public Schools Operating Millage: PROPOSAL S (S = Schools/Success)
On Tuesday, November 6, Detroit voters will have the opportunity to vote on renewing and restoring the Detroit Public Schools Operating Millage. Proposal S would allow the school district to continue to levy mills previously levied for general operating purposes on non-homestead property (mainly industrial, commercial and rental property). Owner-occupied homes are exempt from this levy under existing law, meaning their taxes will not increase. Proposal S is a renewal of current taxes. It IS NOT a new tax. Proposal S IS NOT a tax on resident homeowners. It is a tax paid by the owners of industrial, commercial and rental properties. Proposal S provides for continued operating funds for Detroit Public Schools to allow teaching and learning to continue … Continue reading
Detroit Public Schools becomes strategic sourcing trailblazer while reducing back-to-school supply costs by over $800,000
Use of national online marketplace tool FedBid reduced costs by up to 53%. DPS saved nearly $104,000 on a single classroom handbook purchase Michigan Chronicle Coverage Detroit Public Schools in June became the first U.S. school district to use a national online marketplace tool for public sector commodity buys and has since generated over $800,000 in savings during the mission-critical back-to-school period during which essential supplies are procured and delivered to 100 schools in time for the first day of teaching and learning. DPS saved nearly $104,000 on a single classroom handbook buy, $15,000 on school supplies and $14,000 on pipefitting accessories. The district reduced costs by up to 53% on a number of academic and operational purchases while increasing … Continue reading
Detroit Public Schools’ enrollment surpasses targets while attendance levels climb to 90%
Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Roy S. Roberts today released the latest enrollment reports for the district’s 100 schools that show that the district has tentatively surpassed its fall term budgeted forecast based on student head count, and that daily attendance has reached 90%. As of the most recent full school day for which data is available, Tuesday, September 18, 51,674 students have attended school in DPS this fall. The adopted fiscal year 2012-13 budget is based on a fall term enrollment of 49,852. On Tuesday, student attendance was 90 percent, with 46,668 students attending classes. Tuesday was the 11th day of the new school year. “I continue to witness that attitudes are different across our schools this year,” … Continue reading
