By 2013, DPS has also sold several buildings that received a total $36.4 million in renovations and repairs prior
to the sales.
That is a lot of expenditure for buildings not being used by DPS as tax payers intended. In fact, only about half
of the bond money was spent on buildings that are still in use by DPS for Detroit students.
The toll this has taken on the Detroit Public Schools district has been devastating.
The biggest change in district enrollment numbers has an entirely different source – the rapid increase in
Charter Schools following the enactment of the charter school law in 1994 (Public Act 362 of 1993). There was
no consideration given to neighborhoods and property values when publicly funded schools are left vacant and
open by the State.
Residents are currently liable for the two bonds, plus interest, for building renovations on school buildings that
the district is now leasing to charter corporations that are in direct competition with DPS for declining student
enrollments.
Over the past ten years, DPS has been forced to shut down nearly two-thirds of their neighborhood schools due
to state-created debt. Enrollment in DPS has decreased to fewer than 50,000 students, while enrollment in
competing charter schools ha