It’s no secret that the city of Detroit has made considerable gains in attracting businesses to open here since its emergence from bankruptcy more than a year ago, but there is one nagging issue that will never allow the city to again flourish: failing schools.
With a rash of teacher “sick-outs” over the last few weeks, and Lansing’s threats to revoke teacher certifications should sick-outs continue — the governor and legislature contend sick-outs are akin to strikes, which are illegal for teachers under state law — the perpetually flailing school district is again in the news.
Rolling teacher sick-outs in the Detroit Public Schools have forced dozens of schools to close on various days. The sick-outs come amid complaints of poor pay, crowded classrooms, unsafe buildings and other issues, including mold and rodent infestations. A judge last week denied the district’s second attempt at a temporary restraining order against the sick-outs.
On Feb. 1, 2016, in response to a lawsuit filed by the teachers’ union, claiming that facilities are in severe disrepair, the school district said it is actively working to address building maintenance issues, including those that have been cited in recent city inspections.
Saddled with millions of dollars in debt, declining enrollment and continuous state-appointed emergency oversight, fixing the district is a critical component to revitalizing the city and its neighborhoods.
While rental units are being built and occupancy rates are high, those aspects of business growth will be fleeting if and when the time comes for all these young urbanites to enroll their someday children into school the choice is a district that has still failed to get its house in order.
Resnick Law’s business legal practice can help businesses in Detroit and Southeast Michigan succeed and thrive, but unless the city and state can figure out how to fix a perpetually broken Detroit Public Schools system, no amount of legal knowledge will help Detroit succeed.