was completed at a cost of $56.9 million. The new high school was named East English Village Preparatory
Academy in 2012 and remains open to service select DPS high school students. The school concentrates on
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Fine and Performing Arts. Students must
undergo an application and admissions process to attend this public school, so it is not an open admission
“neighborhood” school available to all DPS students.
Mumford High School was demolished and replaced with a new building at a cost of $56 million. Upon
completion in 2012, Mumford High School was immediately turned over to the Educational Achievement
Authority. The lease amount is for $1 million per year, which will amortize the construction cost in a mere 56
years.
Kettering High School, renovated at a cost of $6.9 million was closed in 2012 and remains vacant. Kettering
was specially outfitted to service physically disabled students, with one entire wing converted for this purpose.
Southwestern High School was closed in 2012 and remains vacant following a $6.5 million bond investment
that included revamping the auditorium. The building was sold by the State for $3 million.
Nearly $810,000 was used to renovate Cass Technical High School, and within a short time a new building was
announced which was the third most pricey high school built at that time, at $127 million. The old Cass Tech
building was then demolished.
The EAA has benefitted greatly from bond money intended to improve DPS buildings. Southeastern High
School and Central High School both received renovations and repairs amounting to more than $50 million for
each building and were taken by the Governor through his DPS Emergency Manager to give to the EAA.
CONCLUSION
The bulk of the bond money paid by the residents of Detroit to improve their school system was spent between
1999 and 2006 (from the 1994 bond) under the CEO, and from 2009 through 2012 (from the 2009 bond) under
Emergency Manager appointees of the Governor.
Since 1999, Detroit Public Schools has been under the control of the CEO or an Emergency Financial Manager
or Emergency Manager, except during the 2006-2008 period.
For years, the waste of funding has been blamed on Detroiters, although Detroiters played no role in the
expenditures.
The problems incurred by DPS lay solely at the feet of the state, under three different governors: Engler ,
Granholm, and Snyder.
Money that was spent to build new buildings or improve buildings seems to be overwhelmingly benefitting the
EAA and not DPS students.
In 2013, there were 87 vacant or underutilized buildings belonging to DPS that were for sale or lease. A total of
$78.6 million was spent on improvements or renovations to 83 of those buildings. There have been 26 buildings
demolished at a cost of $27.4 million.
Another 28 buildings received a whopping $295.4 million investment and are now leased to community
organizations, the EAA, or charter schools.
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