VOL. 47 — NO. 10 JULY/AUG. 2009POSTMASTER: All forms 3579 are to be forwarded to Detroit Federation of Teachers, 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202

Attention Members

with Layoff NoticesDPS employees with layoff noticesare STRONGLY ENCOURAGEDTO ATTEND a worker's orientationmeeting on July 28 from 11 a.m. to7 p.m. or July 29 from 9 a.m. to 4p.m. at Martin Luther King HighSchool. The orientation is spon-sored by the Joint AdjustmentCommittee, a coalition of DPS,state and other agencies to aid withissues facing laid off workers. Formore info, visit www.detroitk12.org/resources/staff/jac.

Carstens is Named a Top Five School in State

Why is Carstens ElementarySchool, in a decimated east sideneighborhood, such a success?

Answer: the staff quit the blame game.The staff decided to do everything to

meet the needs of the whole child. If thatmeans a student needs a coat, there’s acloset at Carstens with clothes. If it meansfeeding a hungry child, it’s done. Theycall it no-fault decision making.“We go out and get it for the kids,” says

science teacher Elbert Bennett Jr. “We’renot blaming the parents. We’re not blam-ing downtown. We’re coming together tomake this the best building we can.”The reform of the building started about

12 years ago with the principal, Dr.Theresa Mattison and her staff. Mattisonwas not hierarchical by nature. She lis-tened to teachers’ ideas and deliveredwhat they needed.“It starts with her,” said language arts

teacher Vilanda Prograis. “She hasmopped floors and wiped tables. Shetakes kids home throwing up in her van.You never see her dressy and prissy.”According to Prograis, Dr. Mattison

turns to them for their best solutions. Inreturn, she gets their professionalism, theirexpertise, and their dedication. She getsretirees to volunteer at the school and abusiness owner to donate a turkey to eachfamily at Thanksgiving.For all this toil, the garden feeds the

family. The school regularly receivesAdequate Yearly Progress and was hon-ored by the Michigan Department ofEducation as one of the top five Title 1schools in the state making significantgrowth.The school raised its language profi-

ciency scores by 59 percent and its mathscores by 80 percent since 2005-2006.“The efforts of the entire staff are

reflected in your student proficiencyscores,” said Mike Radke, AssistantDirector in MDE’s Office of School

Improvement.“It’s teamwork here,” Prograis says.

“And there’s no ‘I’ in teamwork.”

Carstens students and teachers Elbert Bennett, Jr., Vilanda Prograis and Deborah Limage, hold theschool’s latest awards.

District Looking to Layoffs, Concessions

The Detroit School Board’s budgetfor the 2009-2010 year has poten-tial negative implications for

members of the Detroit Federation ofTeachers. On June 29, EmergencyFinancial Manager Robert Bobbannounced that an additional 685employees would receive layoff notices(which categories of employees is not yetknown), bringing the total to 2,451.

The budget also calls for nearly $87 mil-lion of labor concessions to be negotiated.

Although the layoffs and budget cutsresult in a budget surplus of $17 millionfor the 2009-2010 year, the district still hasa deficit of $259 million from previousyears that needs to be repaid. In addressingthe deficit, Bobb announced that the dis-

trict is considering all options, includingbankruptcy.DFT President Keith Johnson said the

budget outlook was “devastating.” How -ever, he has put in place a seasoned negoti-ating team that is continuing to bargain.“I have said many times that the salaries

and benefits of our teachers are not thereason for this deficit,” Johnson said.In April, the union was optimistic that

most of the 600 layoffs would be rescindeddue to retirements and normal attrition.With the two additional rounds of layoffs, itis possible that some layoffs will not berescinded. The final number of teacherswho lose their jobs will be based on studentenrollment in the fall, and the number ofteachers who resign or retire. were due to teachers not completing required certification.

**Calculated on years as a DPS contract teacher.

July/August 2009 The Detroit Teacher Page 3

As we close another schoolyear I feel compelled tothank all of the members of

our great Union for standing sostrong during a time of tumult andtransition.

Thank you for not wavering inyour commitment to your craft asDPS continued its downward spiralof corruption, dysfunction andinner chaos. You maintained yourfocus on delivering quality instruc-tion even as the Secretary ofEducation Arne Duncan called us anational educational disgrace. Littledoes he realize that it was gracethat carried us through the inepti-tude of our elected school boardand the mismanagement of ourschool district.

Thank you for enduring thechange in leadership at DPS, asRobert Bobb was appointed theemergency financial manager andinstituted measures to restore thisschool district to fiscal solvency.The June 9 personal pickup of pay-checks and remittance advisementswas an inconvenience, and the ben-efits are not yet known, but wecomplied and proved once againthat we are not the ones who havepilfered this district through fraudand misrepresentation.Thank you for answering the

“$10 political call to action.”Through your contributions of atleast $10 per member, we wereable to double our COPE politicalaction fund, which will allow us toprovide financial support to candi-dates and causes that are in the bestinterest of public education andeducators.Finally, thank you for helping

me with the transition in the leader-ship of our Union. Your support hashelped me to begin to restore soli-darity to our fractured Union.Whether you voted for me or not,you have given your support and

KeithJohnson

(ISSN 0011-9695)

The Detroit Teacher is the official pub-lication of the Detroit Federation ofTeachers, American Federation ofTeachers Local 231, AFL-CIO.Member of the Union Teacher PressAssociation, Inter national LaborPress Association and MichiganLabor Press.

The Detroit Teacher is publishedmonthly, except for July and August,for $4 per year by The DetroitFederation of Teachers, 2875 W.Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202.Periodical Postage Paid at Detroit,MI.

POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to The Detroit Teacher, 2875W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202.

Editor — Margaret Weertz

Retirements AnnouncedThe following DFT members have

announced their retirements: JuanitaSanders, Margaret Redmond-Squires,Clester Lewis, Alice Kelley-Booker,Ronald Patrick Johnson, BettyThomas, Marcia Hunt, RobbieRhodes, Alan Schrecengost, Sharon L.Donato, Patricia Saddler, JuanitaSanders, Ellen Hechler, Carol Votruba,Carolyn Mattison-Wright andMarilynn Mattison-Wright. If youhave retired in the last six months andwould like it announced in the DetroitTeacher, please call the editor at 313-875-3500 ext. 776.

Success! Union WinsTeacher’s GrievanceThe DFT has won a grievance for a

high school teacher. The DFT memberwas teaching six hours, instead of thecustomary five hours a day, for morethan four years. The DFT brought for-ward the case and the teacher won.“The arbitrator unequivocally

rejected the District’s defenses,” saidthe DFT’s attorney Marshall Widick.The Detroit teacher was awarded

nearly $38,000 in back wages.“Once again the arbitrator support-

ed the union’s contention that thecontract language is binding and thedistrict cannot decide which part ofthe contract it will honor and which itwill not,” said DFT President KeithJohnson.

ideas to address the structural,financial, and operational chal-lenges we inherited when we tookoffice. With your support our mem-bership meetings have been moreorderly and informative, our infor-mational forums have been produc-tive, and our quality of service hasimproved.We still have a lot of work to do

to bring you the level of serviceyou demand, and together we willdo it. Thank you and have a great,safe, and restful summer.Notice of Apology:I had technical problems receiv-

ing my DFT email. Now it is work-ing. Feel free to contact me at workat kjohnson@dft231.com or athome at keith7606@sbcglobal.net.

Page 2 The Detroit Teacher July/August 2009

President’s Report

Updates...

Golightly Career and Technical Center students were honored atthe 2nd Annual Media Night.

DFT President Keith Johnson being interviewed on the multitude ofissues facing the Detroit Public Schools.

Day School for Deaf PerseveresIf the Day School for the Deaf

community is one thing, it’s persist-ent. The staff planted a garden andit was vandalized. So the staffplanted again. Fast forward, and thenew Birds and Butterfly Gardenplanted this spring is the fifth gar-den in as many years.“We’ve had obstacles and road-

blocks not only with our garden butwith developing our school,” saidPrincipal Jan Goike at a June 5 cer-emony. “But we’ve persevered.”On a balmy June day, friends of

the Day School for the Deaf cele-brated that perseverance and chat-ted about what makes the schoolwork. For five-year teacher BeckyCroskey, it’s the cohesiveness ofthe staff and the leadership skills ofthe principal.“This is where I want to be,”

Croskey says of the school atForest and the Lodge freeway that

educates studentswho are hearingimpaired, deaf orhard of hearing.“This is a veryunique school andunless you’re in it,it’s hard to describe.The main thing thathelps this school isthe leadership.”According to

Croskey, the princi-pal advocates for thestudents and teach-ers and finds sup-plies and staff devel-opment opportuni-ties for the staff.The school works so well for its

40 students that Mayor Dave Bingattended the June 5 butterfly cere-mony and said he fully supports theschool’s mission to stay open and

serve the various needs of its stu-dents.“This school is very, very impor-

tant,” Bing said. “We need to makesure we get a commitment from thecity and the Detroit Public Schoolsto support this school.”

Detroit Broadcast StudentsReceive Accolades

By Dana Hughes

The radio and television stu-dents of Golightly Career andTechnical Center celebrated

their 2nd Annual Media Night onMay 28. The event honored studentsfor academic and broadcasting abili-ties.

In attendance were advisory boardmembers, Adrienne Reynolds ofDetroit Enter tainers and MusiciansNews Magazine, Harold Meeks oftellusdetroit.com, independent filmproducer Hamisi Robinson, EdwardFoxworth of Foxworth MarketingGroup, and Wayne State University’stelevision director Darryl Shreve.

Foxworth, the keynote speaker,spoke to the future broadcasters onmarketing and branding themselvesin the industry.

“What crosses your mind does notalways have to cross your lips,”Foxworth said. The theme of MediaNight centered on the negative mediatoward the Detroit Public School sys-tem.

Golightly’s Mass Media ProgramManagers Dana Hughes and DennisMoore pointed out to parents andguests the numerous achievementsand accolades received by the mediastudents this school year.

Those awards included:• 13 Honor Students• 6 National Vocational Technical

Honor Society Members

• 13 students who will be attendingvarious Michigan colleges and uni-versities

• 14 Michigan Association ofBroadcast Awards

• 8 Michigan Association ofEducational Broadcasting Awards

• 1 2009 Carl E. JacobsonEducational Achievement Award

• 6 Detroit Media Showcase Winners

• 2 National Finalists in the“Courageous Persuaders” P.S.A.Video Competition

• 1 Recipient of the “$24,000 FordMotor Company High SchoolJournalism Scholarship”

• 1 Michigan SkillsUSA Recipient

• 1 President Obama InaugurationWinner

• 1 Detroit City Council TestimonialResolution

• 4 Spirit of Detroit Awards

• 1 Detroit NAACP “ACT-SO” YouthCouncil Winner

The Mass Media Program isaccepting applications for 10- and11th-graders for the 2009-2010school year.

Students who are interested in pur-suing a career in radio and televisionbroadcasting should contactGolightly Career and TechnicalCenter at (313) 822-8820 for moreinformation.

Before the UNION, the word was “NO”

No seniority

No job security

No representation

No grievance procedure

No prep periods

No standard work day

No uniform pay scale

No health care

No paid holidays

No paid sick days

No pensions

No prescription drugs

No family dental care

No family vision care

and NO way to win them with-out a strong UNION!

Courtesy of Metro Detroit LaborNews

THANK YOU DFT:Standing Strong in Time of Transition DFT/COPE Endorses Candidates

Detroit City CouncilAlvin Sims

Mohamed OkdieCharles PughDerrick Hale

Saunteel JenkinsBrenda Jones

Raphael JohnsonGary BrownJames Tate

Southfield City CouncilJanna K. Garrison

State SenateIrma Clark-Coleman

Vote August 4th

Principal Jan Goike, right, unveils the new but-terfly garden.

VOTE

VOTE

Building Rep Dinner a Huge SuccessT he power is in the people. And for the DFT, that means its 5,500

members and its 194 building representatives.

Keith Johnson, DFT president, commended the building reps June 5 fordoing the union’s most important work during a very difficult year.

“Certainly being a building rep can be a thankless job,” Johnson told thebuilding reps at the 25th Annual Building Rep Appreciation Dinner at theDoubleTree Hotel. “You have classes you have to teach too.

“The strength of this union does not lie with the people in its offices,”Johnson said. The strength and work of the union, he said, is done at the 194schools where building reps work.

The 2008-09 year was one of the more challenging, Johnson said, with

changes in the district’s leadership and the DFT’s leadership, attacks on theDetroit schools and Detroit teachers from the Capitol to the Detroit News.

One of those attacks came from Education Secretary Arne Duncan whosaid he was “losing sleep” about the state of Detroit’s schools and said ourschools are “a national disgrace” when he visited in May.

“For all his sleepless nights,” Johnson said, “The people who work inDPS, specifically the ones who work in DFT are not ashamed of the workwe do. It doesn’t mean we’re satisfied with the results.” Through all of theseattacks, Johnson told the teachers to remember their worth and their mis-sion.

“The ones that appreciate you the most are the ones you stand before everyday.”DFT President Keith Johnson Dinner Coordinator

Mershira OliverDave Scott of Deltal Dental Sharon Brock of BCBS

Heritage Optical President George Barnes and S. Renee Ross.

Co-Op Optical Representatives Sherold Riddles, Ethelle King andBen Edwards.

Samele Ambrose working sign-in table.

Dinner Planning Committee members are pictured above. Back row:Mark Grier, Danny Coleman, Curtis Dunlap. Front row: Mershira Oliver,Samele Ambrose, Sandra Ambrose, Keisha Allen and Glenda Booker.

Dancing With the Stars

Othniel McGriff and Jackie Ross Dorothy Burk and William Brown

Past Vice Presidents Marjorie McWilliams, John Butler and Lois Doniver

Bldg. Reps Corey Stokes and Vanessa Parnell

Building Rep Dinner a Huge Success Building Rep Dinner a Huge Success

Left to right standing: Shalonda Staples, Vanessa Rasheed, MarcusWalton, Edith Buckley and Jan Curry. Left to right seated: Mitzi Davis,Judith Harper, Evelyn Foreman and Lillie Gladney.

Barry Cannon, Johnny Mickles, Sandra Ambrose and DarylNewman.

Left to right standing: France Bowers, Robin Partmon,June Price, Donna Rowell. Left to right seated: KayNevels-Shavers, S. Renee Ross and Linda Thomas.

Left to right standing: Marva Fletcher, DesireeClinkscale. Left to right seated: Sandra Battle,Miranda Washington and Melaine Tillman.

Left to right standing: Mark Moroni, Janis Schoenherr, JillCaprathe, Rosemary Sholtz, Virginia Sellers, KurtisBrown. Left to right seated: Thea Hines, Josephine Raupp,Sherrie Tyler and Kathy Halliburton

Left to right standing: Joseph Hines, Edith Boatner, VanessaParnell, Markita Hall, Marcy Wells-Davis. Left to right seated:Yvette Willingham, Marion Frehsee, Susan Ramos.

Left to right standing: Alice Willis, Lenny Barnes and SheroldRiddles. Left to right seated: Ethelle King and Danielle Doniver.

Left to right standing: Margaret Redmond-Squires, JamesBritton, Marjorie McWilliams. Left to right seated: SandraHughes, Marshall Widick and Sidney Lee.

Left to right standing: William Brown, Peggy McConnell,Richele Oliver and Joe Quesnelle. Left to right seated: PatMcPherson, Imani Hines and Dorothy Burk.

Left to right standing: Erica MacDonagh, FrancesBorg, Doris Jordan-Smith. Seated: EmilyKimbrough.

Sandra Battle, Marva Fletcher, Desiree Clinkscale andKathy Halliburton.

Left to right standing: Michelle Puryear, WendyNewberry, Valda Adams and Victor Gibson. Left to rightseated: Doris Flaherty and Jennetta Clark.

Left to right standing: Jeanne Bunn, Joyce Spencer, BeckySzymaszek, Joi Anderson, Chris Abood and Bill Taulbee. Left toright seated: Mary Helen D’Angelo, Tracy Arneau, Rita Herrera andPrestine Massey.

Building Rep Dinner a Huge Success

Left to right standing: Toni Clover, Shirley Morrison,Yolanda Stewart, Marjorie Jones. Left to right seated:Anita Daly, Wanda Lundy-Colquit and Vilanda Prograis.

Left to right: David Fuqua, Carla Henry, SherrySamuel and Nona Harris.

Standing: Liz Dunn and GeorgeAdams. Seated: Jewel Gines andJohn Elliott.

Left to right standing: Beverly Wilkerson, Catherine Croft, IvyBailey and Gena Porter. Left to right seated: Kimberly Liddell-Love, Brenda Jones and Robin McDaniel.

Left to right standing: Brenda Snow, Diane Smith, Laveta Browne,Clyde Lewers and Patrick Falcusan. Left to right seated: JackieRoss, Debbie Pruitt, Sharon Guyton-Rogers and Mearon Lewers.

Left to right standing: Karin Whittler, Linda Wilson, EstellaBurnette, Lisa Downey, Barbara Downey. Left to right seated:Terrence Martin, Margaret Weertz and Mike Guyton.

Left to right standing: Corey Stokes, Felicia Langford, WandaHogg, Karen Reed, Gregory Phillips. Left to right seated: KimEwing-Travis, Lisa Scott, and Audrey Hamilton.