Emergency Manager News

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 policy makers, education leaders, partners, clergy and business leaders have attended sessions over the past 10 days. These included a DPS Strategic Planning Opening Session on Saturday morning, March 9 at Renaissance High School that featured opening remarks from Detroit Board of Education President Lamar Lemmons and Roberts, and presentations on financial, demographic and facilities trends, current initiatives and successes.

Six extended Focus Groups have also been held in the Detroit School of Arts Recital Hall from March 11 – 18 with students, teachers, principals, parents and community members, giving their feedback on key issues critical to the district’s future. Attendees of the opening session, as well as each focus group were also asked to provide a written answer to the question, “How would you change Detroit’s public school system to ensure that it addresses the educational needs of our children in the global economy?”

A 25-member Task Force overseeing the process is made up of district administrative leadership and members of the Detroit Board of Education. DPS is working with Boulder, CO-based Western Demographics, with experience in 150+ U.S. school districts, to facilitate this process.

Detroit Public Schools plans to announce short-, intermediate- and long-term strategies developed from the process, as well as program and school changes impacting the Fall 2013 school year on April 10, with an Open Enrollment period for district families running through April 30 and an all-schools Open House on Saturday, April 27.

A webcast of the March 9 opening session may be viewed at: DPS Strategic Planning Opening Session. The presentation made at that event is available at: DPS Strategic Planning Presentation

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 turn, we have seen huge results in only one year.”

“We value the support of our Top Suppliers during this transformational time in the district,” said Dr. Tracy Joshua, Chief Procurement and Logistics Officer. “This event is designed to recognize our Top Suppliers who have not only brought new ideas and innovations to the table, but who have also helped reduce our costs and partnered with us to ensure success for all of our students.”

The following are the second annual Top Supplier Recognition Awards:

Executive Choice Award: PNC Bank

Reason for Selection: Grow Up Great partnership. Made possible by the PNC Foundation, Grow Up Great is a 10-year, $100 million initiative to improve early childhood education. The PNC Foundation pledged $2.1 million in May 2010 to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, the Detroit Science Center and the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Together, they have established new programs in science and the arts for pre-school children in Detroit Public Schools.

Executive Choice Award: Lear Corporation

Reason for Selection: One hundred East English Village Preparatory Academy high school students travel four days each week to neighboring J. E. Clark Preparatory Academy under an innovative paid tutoring program aimed at raising student achievement and supporting successful transitions to high school. The three-year, $1.5 million project, was jointly developed by the schools’ principals, district academic leadership, Lear Corporation and community partners and is being funded by Lear Corporation. The program will annually involve several hundred children on both sides of the tutoring equation. The partnership additionally provides computer resources at Clark, mentoring by Lear executives to the schools’ principals and support for neighborhood efforts to improve the physical environment around the schools.

Operational Excellence: FedBid

Reason for Selection: In June of 2012, FedBid entered into a pilot agreement with DPS to provide reverse auction competitive bidding services. FedBid has worked diligently with the Procurement & Logistics team to offer exceptional service and a quality bid system. The company has invested time in DPS by offering training for all Procurement & Logistics staff and by providing an on-site representative to ensure sourcing expertise and cost savings success at no cost to DPS. The persistence of the process improvement paid off. The FedBid process has resulted in a savings of over $271,000 for items placed directly on FedBid and has been a key driver in the District saving $4.4 million in the sourcing process to date.

Innovation & Technology: Compuware

Reason for Selection: Compuware has provided IT services during urgent needs, both during an on-the-spot need or urgent deadlines that require more resources than the district has available. During the rollout of student Netbooks this fall, Compuware provided 15 people at no charge to DPS to provide timely implementation. Whenever there is a need to quickly respond within DPS’ data center, Compuware provides services above and beyond to ensure needs are met, without additional cost. There are no issues of restricted services or lag in response time. Compuware has also provided internships for many DPS students.

For many years, Compuware has partnered with Marcus Garvey Academy by providing resources for the school, such as mentoring and providing supplies. In 2010, Compuware formally adopted Marcus Garvey through the DPS B.O.L.D. program. The company has provided resources to help the school achieve its goals such as:

• Creating a year-round speaker series to address important student issues such as anti-bullying, what to expect in high school, why technology is cool and the importance of college.
• Providing a supply of uniforms for students who are unable to purchase them on their own.
• Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit to provide mentors for middle school students.
• Providing tutors for the DPS Reading Corps program that teaches pre-K through third-grade students to read.
• Partnering with Madonna University to provide field trips for Garvey students to visit the university.
• Partnering with Junior Achievement to provide a field trip for Garvey eighth-grade students to visit Finance Park in spring 2013.
•  Hosting a culmination event at Compuware headquarters in May 2012 for all 200 of Marcus Garvey’s middle school students. Guests included Rhonda Walker, Detroit Lions player Don Carey, and mascots Ronald McDonald, Roary and Paws.

This year, Compuware is starting a pilot program at Garvey to provide tutoring for the eighth grade class to help enhance their test-taking skills. This tutoring program is an effort to help the students prepare – and successfully pass – the entry test applications required to enter Cass Tech High School, Renaissance High School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School.

In addition to programs at Marcus Garvey Academy, Compuware supports many educational and recreational programs for Detroit Public Schools such as City Year Detroit, Detroit Public School Athletics Program, Mosaic Youth Theatre and Think Detroit PAL. Last year, Compuware partnered with Greektown Casino-Hotel and other downtown companies to help collect over 3,000 books for the district through the “Turning the Page on Illiteracy” book drive.

Partnership & Building Relationships: Delta Dental

Reason for Selection: Delta Dental has had a partnership with DPS for over 20 years and has worked to provide the best overall dental service for the district. Through redesigned dental benefits, and without compromising service, Delta Dental has helped the district to achieve a cost savings of over $400,000 for 2012 and an overall cost avoidance of $1.9 million in 2012. Through continued process improvements and overall internal efficiencies, Delta Dental has improved the overall customer service experience. The organization has also supported low income students with the Blessings in a Backpack program which provides weekend food to less fortunate students in the district.

Unsung Hero: The Midnight Golf Program

Reason for Selection: The Midnight Golf Program (MGP) is a 30-week empowerment and mentoring experience that in addition to learning to play golf, teaches life skills, including financial literacy, college preparation, and community activism.  It is a program that makes a positive impact in the lives of the participants through its core values of empowerment, quality, respect and caring. MGP has taken a special interest in DPS’ homeless children, providing gifts at Christmas and helping fund dresses and tuxedo rental for senior proms. MGP has also made arrangements for DPS students to receive extra credit for volunteering at P&L during winter breaks.

Supplier Excellence Award (Performance Driven): FedBid

Reason for Selection: Showing its true commitment to the district, FedBid has invested in the district by providing training and support for the Procurement and Logistics team in order to ensure cost savings success. FedBid provides an on-site account representative every week without cost to the district, and the overall team is available at any time for assistance. Through FedBid’s continued support, the district has benefited with cost savings in a short timeframe.  FedBid has worked to show true results.

Academic Excellence: Cambium Learning

Reason for Selection: Cambium Learning has been providing DPS with a service contract for Intervention Programs for Students with Disabilities, K-8 Reading and Math programs since March 2012.

• Students in Grades 1-5 have all experienced benchmark improvement in word-per-minute connection text since the inception of this program.
• Students in K-8 participating in the VMath component have shown gains in module growth.
• Performance metrics are now in place contractually with Cambium to ensure growth is cultivated and maintained in order to execute any further contract extensions.
• Cambium has worked proactively with DPS to ensure transition for its changing building footprints.
• Cambium provides dedicated staff to each site, as well as the flexibility to provide Executive Level intervention, at a moment’s notice.

At contract renewal, Cambium provided DPS with a 9.4% cost savings. Current metrics show significant improvement in these academic intervention programs.

Student Excellence: CareerStaff Unlimited, Inc.

Reason for Selection: CareerStaff Unlimited, Inc. has had a 20-year relationship with Detroit Public Schools and has developed extensive knowledge of DPS students with physical and learning challenges and their special medical and emotional needs. CareerStaff has qualified special education personnel who have serviced DPS students with special needs. For the 2011/2012 school year, the company placed 92 nurses and therapists throughout the district.  CareerStaff helped the district achieve a cost savings of $149,810.

• Percentage of cost savings:  5.0%
• Community Service: Provides Early Intervention Therapists that service future students from birth to age 5 in their homes and Head Start Programs to enhance the child’s development in the areas of language, cognition, fine/gross motor skills, social/emotional functioning, self-help, hearing and vision.
• Quality: CareerStaff currently provides an on-site nursing coordinator who works at the east side bus terminal at no cost to the district. She supervises all in-school and transportation nurses to ensure coverage and continuity.

Student Excellence: The Children’s Center

Reason for Selection: The Children’s Center is a child and family service agency that has partnered with Detroit Public Schools for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant-funded program.  The center provides administration and direction to manage community-based organizations that deliver youth development, enrichment, family services, programmatic, instructional and after-school activities.

• 96% student participation in Academic Enrichment activities which exceeds the state-wide comparison of 76%.
• High ratings overall on the qualifications of staff.
• High ratings on providing a safe environment for students.
• Teachers who have confirmed improvement in their students’ behavior exceeds the state-wide comparison of 74%, with an average of 91% from all five DPS school sites serviced.
• Teachers who have confirmed improvement in their students’ homework and classroom participation exceeds the state-wide comparison of 71%, with an average of 90% from all five DPS sites serviced.

The Children’s Center has exhibited dedication and commitment to serving Detroit Public Schools students and parents for many years. They are steadfast in their efforts to support student learning by ensuring the program utilizes high quality suppliers. They provide support and training to suppliers to make sure quality services are being offered to students. In addition, in spite of budget reductions and the district’s extended payment terms, The Children’s Center ensures suppliers are paid in a timely manner.

Partnership and Building Relationships: Statewide Disaster Restoration

Reason for Selection: Statewide Disaster Restoration has consistently responded to the district’s needs in regard to major disruptions and emergency repairs. Not only are they responsive, they provide innovative solutions when problems occur. Our Operation and Facilities customers rate Statewide as one of the best when it comes to partnership and going beyond the call of duty in emergency situations.

Qualified teachers have until Nov. 30 to request a review of their 2012 evaluation scores

DETROIT, (October 23, 2012) – 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.

Earlier this year, DPS became the first school district in the state of Michigan to implement an objective teacher performance evaluation as part of the selection and recall process affecting every DPS classroom for the start of the 2012-13 school year.

DPS’ performance evaluation tool took into consideration a number of variables, including classroom observations, and discipline and attendance, as well as relevant accomplishments and professional contributions to make up each teacher’s overall composite score of up to 100 points.

A new state law precludes public school districts from placing teachers in classrooms solely on the basis of seniority. At DPS, teachers (all of whom had been laid-off at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year) sought interviews with school principals who, for the first time, were given the opportunity to select the educators who would be at the front of classrooms in their school buildings for the coming year. Teacher recalls were based, in large part, on a teacher’s performance evaluation.

“Our number one priority is ensuring that each child in Detroit Public Schools receives the best education possible,” said Roy S. Roberts, DPS Emergency Financial Manager. “In order for that to happen, the most qualified teacher must be placed at the front of every classroom. Our implementation of teacher performance evaluations is critical to our efforts to ensure this quality education is received by all.”

The Michigan law defined four levels of effectiveness (highly effective, effective, minimally effective and ineffective) based on the evaluation’s 100 point scale, and mandated that if a school district chose to place a minimally effective or ineffective teacher in a classroom, the district would be required to send a letter to all parents/guardians of the children attending the school informing them of and explaining the decision.

On Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, DPS mailed letters to all teachers who were evaluated in 2012 outlining their scores and effectiveness rating. The review process is available only to those teachers who believe they were not recalled from lay-off due to an error in their evaluation.

“It is certain that no process is infallible. However, I want everyone to understand that DPS was acting in the best interest of its 50,000 students when we implemented our teacher performance evaluations,” said Roberts. “The state of Michigan gave us this incredible opportunity and we did not believe we could wait a moment longer to ensure our students get the education they so rightly deserve.”

To begin the review process, teachers must complete and submit the online form located on the Resources page of the district’s website, detroitk12.org. The district expects to have final resolution on all complaints filed no later than January 2013.

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 to fast-changing conditions.

Prior to Jones’ appointment to the CIO position, she served as interim CIO for one year, bringing more than 20 years of experience in Strategic, Tactical and Development Planning, Business Management Systems, IT Governance and Business Process Improvement with high-profile companies including Compuware Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Wayne State University.

During her tenure as CIO, Jones has led a transformation of the Information and Technology Division, positioning it to achieve greater operating efficiency, effectiveness and customer service across the district.

In the past two years, Jones has successfully led initiatives including:

• A more than $7.5 million savings to the district resulting from vendor management and process improvements within the IT Division.
• A high-speed wireless internet strategy that gives access to every school, making DPS one of the nation’s largest PreK-12 districts to achieve full wireless capabilities.
• The implementation of a new and more robust district email system.
• The infusion of millions of dollars of technology into DPS classrooms as she developed processes and the deployment of more than 4,000 teacher stations and 40,000 Netbooks.

“Diane’s efforts have broadened the use of technology across the district while empowering students and teachers to increase their learning and instruction capacity,” Roberts said. “She will continue to leverage her process re-engineering, organizational capabilities and advancements in technology tools to frame strategic requirements of the schools and business departments.”

In her new role, Jones cited her three main objectives in using technology to strengthen the district which include: Partnering with the Academics Department to introduce more digital tools that align with the educational needs of students; providing executive leadership and vision for the strategic development and management of information, resources and technology to support district-wide goals; and providing training for employees to understand and effectively utilize the technology in their schools and in the central offices.

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 overall competition as well as utilization of small, disadvantaged and minority businesses.

The savings were recorded after new DPS Chief Procurement and Logistics Officer Dr. Tracy Joshua implemented DPS’ first strategic sourcing program. The FY2013 adopted Detroit Public Schools budget calls for $5 million to be shaved from the cost of procuring goods and services, and Joshua expects the use of FedBid will result in $3 million of that savings goal this year.

Overall, savings were obtained in purchases ranging from school furniture to A/V equipment, from books, dictionaries and clothing to enrollment marketing materials, and training aids.

Under the FedBid system, each “buy” stays open in the marketplace for approximately three days, during which the company’s support service team offers customer support while sourcing and building competition from a pool of qualified suppliers.

In one case study, due to FedBid’s “reverse auction model,” the buyer’s suggested source needed to re-bid to stay competitive, which led to 28% further savings from the original pre-FedBid quote the supplier provided for school supplies. According to Southeastern Louisiana University Professor of Management David Wyld, in a reverse auction, a single buyer makes potential suppliers aware of their intent to buy a specified good or service, and during the course of the actual reverse auction event, the suppliers bid against one another to secure the buyer’s business, driving the price to be paid for the item downward.

DPS’ Joshua states that the new system enables Detroit Public Schools to include additional quality suppliers in its supply base that can deliver overall value including best service and price.

“This is an absolute must for Detroit Public Schools,” Joshua commented. “It is our responsibility to provide excellence in education for all the children that we serve, which means we must be good financial stewards. FedBid gives us a tool to very effectively drive competition like never before.”

The FedBid tool requires no investment by DPS.  Instead, it provides tremendous benefits for the suppliers who participate by expanding their business reach.  Detroit Public Schools is leading the way with innovative business processes and DPS will be used as a model for other school districts as well as other public and private sector organizations.