SAMUEL LOGAN
Publisher
KAREN LOVE
A Real Times Newspaper
Chief Operating Officer
BANKOLE THOMPSON
479 Ledyard – Detroit, Mi 48201
Senior Editor
cORNELiUS A. fORTUNE
(313) 963-5522
Associate Managing Editor
Fax 963-8788
JOHN H. SENGSTAcKE
Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997
LONGWORTH M. QUiNN
e-mail:chronicle4@aol.com
Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989
December 9-15, 2009
Page A-6
Teachers, step up and
help DPS
By Sam Logan Bobb has said that will take
CHRONICLE PUBLISHER
bankruptcy off the table as
Detroit teachers are
an option.
making a decision this week
While the argument
and next that, however it
over the deferred payment
goes, will represent a major
plan has been generating
turning point in the history of
most of the heat in the last
the Detroit Public Schools.
few days, it’s far from the
They are voting on a pro-
only item in the contract. In
posed three-year contract
fact, as I mentioned earlier,
that will, if approved, put the
what I find more interesting
Word to Tiger: Silence
District on more solid foot-
are a series of provisions in
ing financially and help stave
which the District has agreed
off the threat of bankruptcy
to share decision making
that has been hovering over
with the DFT on a broad
is not always golden
the district.
range of issues aimed at im-
proved performance in the
By David Burnett The other suspect detail is that Tiger was
At the same time, and of
schools. The timing of these
trapped in the SUV and his wife Elin, in the
equal if not greater impor-
Let me start by saying that I am thrilled that
proposals is particularly of
house, heard the noise from the accident and
tance, the new contract in-
Tiger Woods is healthy and was not seriously
interest since the National
upon seeing Tiger trapped had to use golf clubs
cludes the kind of innovative
hurt in that accident outside of his home. I
Assessment of Educational
to break out the car’s rear window to get Tiger
thinking and restructuring
selfishly want to see him continue to lay waste
Progress just ranked Detroit
out.
that is critical to achieving
to his peers, because I am a huge Tiger Woods
students dead last among
the improvements we must
fan.
The timing for this could not be worse. It
30 urban school district in
have in the Detroit Public
happens just as the tabloids are screaming
mathematics scores. Clearly,
But that said, there are still some things I’ve
Schools.
that Tiger is having an affair. And the gener-
something has to change.
heard and read about this accident that seem
ally reliable TMZ is reporting that Tiger and his
The contract was ham-
to defy common sense, and because of that, the
Sam Logan
There are five areas in which
wife were arguing about that alleged affair just
mered out in very tough nego-
old reporter in me is overriding the fan.
innovations would be imple-
before the accident.
tiations over the past year, led
mented:
Making it worse is the fact that we have
by Detroit Federation of Teachers President
It is certainly possible that an angry wife
heard (little) from Tiger. This story is begging
Keith Johnson and Emergency Financial Man-
• The first would provide performance bo-
dealing with rumors of an affair could do a lot
for a response from the world’s greatest golfer.
ager Robert Bobb.
nuses for teachers for measurable improve-
of damage with a golf club. I’m not saying that’s
ments in student performance in such areas
As I write this, it has been more than 48 what happened, but most of us would under-
As a Detroiter, I feel blessed that these two
as grade point averages, graduation rates and
hours since the accident happened and there stand if it did.
men sat across from each other and bargained
other measures of success. Criteria for the bo-
are still significant unanswered questions
tenaciously for their respective viewpoints.
Obviously, I am speculating. But what else
nuses will be developed jointly by the union
about what now appears to be a bizarre domes-
Each proved to be a tough adversary. The pack-
am I left to do? I’m human and celebrities, even
and management.
tic incident. But Tiger Woods has said nothing
age they have delivered includes some creative
the ones I like, are fair game to wonder about.
to anyone, not even the police to adequately
features never before seen in labor contracts
• The second is a professional develop-
We all do that.
clear this up.
in these parts and shows the commitment of
ment component which also will be developed
I want to be wrong about all of my doubts,
both men to revitalizing the Detroit Public
and overseen by a joint committee made up of
For me the smoking gun is the report that
but what we know about this accident is coming
Schools and providing our kids the education
labor and management. The courses could in-
the air bags in Tiger’s Escalade didn’t deploy,
from everyone but Tiger Woods and his wife.
they deserve.
clude courses offered by the American Federa-
which unless there was a major malfunction,
And that is never good.
tion of Teachers Education Research and Dis-
means the vehicle was not traveling very fast at
Most of the headlines in recent days have
semination Program as well as others provided
all when it hit the fire hydrant and a tree. And
With millions of dollars in endorsements on
been on economics. At a time when Michi-
by institutions of higher learning and other
you have to wonder, how do you hit a fire hy-
the line, a reputation to protect and a legacy to
gan’s unemployment rate leads the nation,
resources.
drant in the first place, unless you are greatly
leave, Tiger Woods has a lot to lose by mishan-
when state and local workers are experienc- distracted or enraged? dling this incident.
ing wage cuts though furlough days, and when
• Third is a priority schools program. Again,
layoffs are an all-too-common occurrence, the
a joint labor-management committee will be
Further you question how Tiger actually got
Indeed, silence is not always golden.
contract does not call for either layoffs or fur-
convened to develop criteria for the recruit-
his busted mouth and was knocked uncon-
Award-winning journalist David Burnett is
lough days. Rather, it includes an imaginative
ment, selection and retention of staff at a prior-
scious from what is being called a minor ac-
former president of the Washington, D.C. As-
proposal that would begin in January and last
ity school.
cident.
sociation of Black Journalists and founder of
two years in which the employee’s salary stays
• Fourth is a school-based decision-making
http://sportssense.net/.
the same, but in which a small portion of that
process in which authority, autonomy and ac-
salary will be deferred.
countability for an individual school would be
Under the plan each employee will have $250
transferred from the central office to the indi-
The recovery report
in gross pay, or about $150 in take home pay,
vidual school. This provides each school the
deducted from their paycheck for the next two
opportunity to develop its own program de-
By Kim Trent
gan.
years. Teachers are paid every two weeks, so
signed for its own students and not be bound
As construction projects go, this one was
Led by Leslee
that works out to about $15 a day in take home
by mandates that school personnel feel are bar-
going to be a life changer for contractor Roy
Fritz, the role of
pay. The District will credit each employee for
riers to their ability to meet student needs.
Bussey.
the office is two-
the deducted funds, which the employee will
• And finally, a peer assistance and review fold: coordination
draw down when they retire or resign from the
program, also managed by a joint labor-man-
After securing a $4.5 million federal con-
of the communica-
district. The credit is what accountants call
agement committee, will establish a system of
tract to refurbish a building on a military base
tions about the Re-
an accrued liability, which means the District
continuous professional support and account-
in Mississippi, the native Detroiter packed up
covery Act, both to
can’t change its mind later; it has to pay the
ability for teachers.
and moved south. This was his big break.
the public and to
money when the employee leaves the district.
If only Mother Nature had shown him a little
the entities receiv-
The third year of the contract ends the deduc-
This kind of innovative thinking and cooper-
southern hospitality.
ing money, and
tion and actually calls for a 1 percent pay in-
ative working together can only help our kids.
compliance. The
crease.
And that is what this is all about – helping our
Just two weeks after he moved to the Mag-
kids prepare to compete on an even footing in
office is respon-
nolia State, Hurricane Katrina swept through
When you look at the District’s financial con-
the 21st century.
sible for making
the base, leveling both the building and
dition, the fact that the contract does not call
sure Michigan
Bussey’s big break. A lesser businessman may
for furlough days or layoffs is remarkable. The
Whichever way this vote goes will mark a
is receiving the
have walked away from his dreams, but Bussey
District has been facing bankruptcy with a defi-
major turning point in the history of the De-
money and spend-
never lost hope.
cit currently estimated at $219 million. When
troit Public Schools. It is my fervent hope that
ing and account-
the negotiations started, Bobb was seeking sav-
DFT members, for the sake of our children, our
“I had major losses and I had to weather the
Kim Trent
ing for it in the
ings of almost $85 million. Over the months
city and their own long-term job security in a
storm, so to speak, but I persevered,” quipped way we are required
Johnson bargained him down to a package that
viable school system, will thoroughly evaluate
Bussey, 55, owner of Detroit-based Busco Con- by the federal government.
saves $62.8 million. If the contract is approved,
this contract and vote “yes.”
struction.
While some Recovery funds have flowed di-
Bussey’s gritty determination to succeed rectly to local governments and other entities,
got a huge boost in February, when President many grants are overseen and distributed by
We need pathways
Barack Obama signed the American Recovery state government agencies.
and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act).
Michigan is one of 16 states whose Recov-
After hearing green jobs guru Van Jones ery Act management has been targeted for
out of poverty
speak at a National Association of Minority close monitoring by the federal Government
Contractors convention in 2008, Bussey knew Accountability Office (GAO). This means Michi-
that the federal government was on the verge gan residents can feel confident that the state’s
By Rep. Barbara Lee crisis, Ameri-
of a major investment in home weatherization programs will be transparent and held account-
can workers, projects. able for the appropriate use of the funds.
The economic crisis is having a devastating
the unemployed
effect on millions of Americans and has re-
But the Recovery Act brought contractors Here on the pages of the Michigan Chroni-
and families are
sulted in record levels of unemployment. For
like Bussey unprecedented opportunities to cle, I will share Recovery Act success stories
hurting.
the first time since 1983, that national unem-
participate in a major way. with Detroiters in coming months. We want
ployment rate has reached 10.2 percent. In my
I’m pleased
Bussey says before the Recovery Act, federal
you to know that Gov. Granholm’s team is
home state of California the unemployment
that earlier this
weatherization programs were too small to at-
working closely with the Obama administra-
rate has topped 12.2 percent.
month Congress
tract anything more than a few specialized con-
tion to ensure that Michigan achieves the Act’s
sent President
Just last week, the U.S. Department of Ag-
tractors.
intended goal of boosting employment and
Barack Obama strengthening communities.
riculture reported that nearly to 14.6 percent
legislation fulfill-
The $243 million in weatherization funds
of American families struggled to find food last
ing our request
that the Recovery Act will bring to Michigan
The Recovery Act is not, as some critics have
year, the highest rate since 1995.
giving an much
will be a boon to small business owners like
said, just another massive spending program.
These numbers are painful reminders result- needed econom-
Bussey, who stands to make up to $5 million
It’s a viable strategy to ensure that people in
ing from the economic policies of the former ic lifeline to help
retrofitting homes in St. Clair County and
cities like Detroit not only survive, but thrive.
Bush Administration. those who’ve
metro Detroit to make them more energy effi- For now, Bussey, a graduate of Mumford
cient. Additionally, he will hire dozens of dis- High School with degrees from the University of
They underscore the need for Congress and
been laid off.
placed Detroit workers to renovate the homes. Detroit and University of Southern California,
President Obama to continue to work together But the truth
to create jobs in our economic recovery ef- is that address-
Bussey’s story is just one example of the
is grateful the Recovery Act has allowed him to
forts. ing the unem-
profound impact the Recovery Act is having in
come home to Michigan and make a difference
Detroit.
in the community that nurtured his talent.
Sadly, once again communities of color, par-
ployment gap
ticularly African-Americans and Latinos, are
Barbara Lee
for minority
More than $500 million has been allocated
“There’s no place like home,” he said of his
experiencing the worst of these job losses.
communities will
to Detroit to fund important projects through-
decision to bid for Recovery-funded contracts
not happen through an extension of unemploy-
out the city. In addition, millions of dollars
in metro Detroit. “We have a great environ-
According to the Department of Labor, al- ment insurance alone. Millions of Americans
have come to Detroiters through individual and
ment that has been fostered by Gov. Granholm
though the national unemployment rate was are grasping to maintain their quality of life
business tax cuts and credits, increased unem-
and others. There’s an element of pride when
9.8 percent in September, the rate for African- during this turmoil. This crisis is particularly
ployment payments, and other Recovery Act
you’ve been a part of a city all your life and you
Americans was 15.4 percent and for Hispan- acute among African-Americans. More than 24
funding streams.
are able to succeed at home.”
ics it was 12.7 percent. As disproportionate percent of African-Americans live below the
as those numbers are, the evidence indicates poverty line and African Americans are 55 per-
Gov. Jennifer Granholm established the
Kim Trent is director of the Governor’s Office
that the gap in unemployment rates for com- cent more likely to be unemployed than other
Michigan Economic Recovery Office to work
for Southeast Michigan. For more information
munities of color is widening. As a result, the Americans.
closely with local governments, nonprofits,
about the impact of the American Recovery
pipeline to poverty is being filled with minority
educational institutions and other entities to
and Reinvestment Act in Michigan, visit www.
children and families at an increasingly alarm-
The Congressional Black Caucus, in its con-
attract and track Recovery Act dollars in Michi-
michigan.gov/recovery.
ing rate.
tinued role as the conscience of Congress, has
a moral obligation to address inequality and
That is why in August the Congressional injustice as never before in history. We are ag-
Black Caucus, along with the Congressional gressively advancing the role of government to How To Write Us:
Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pa- empower and protect American families by col-
cific American Caucus, and the Congressional lectively pursuing a legislative agenda that ad-
The Michigan Chronicle encourages letters from readers. Expressed opinions
Progressive Caucus sent a letter to the Speaker dresses the priorities of our constituents. must bear the writer’s signature, address and phone number (only the names
that called for the extension of unemployment
will published with the letters). Write: Reader’s Speak, Michigan Chronicle,
benefits.
U. S. Rep. Barbara Lee is chair of the Con-
gressional Black Caucus.
479 Ledyard, Detroit, MI 48201 or email the editor at chronicle4@aol.com
People need help during this economic
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