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Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Thursday, Oct. 29, joined Robert Bobb, Detroit Public Schools’ Emergency Financial Manager, in announcing that Bobb will stay a second year at DPS.
Gov. Granholm called Bobb “fearless” in his approach and also said that Bobb's “zero tolerance approach is exactly what the doctor ordered for Detroit Public Schools.”
Bobb said there’s more work to do, and that he intends to finish what he started.
“Having completed negotiations with Governor Jennifer Granholm, I am very pleased to say, Detroit, that “I’m In!,’” Bobb said. “The words of my grandmother come to mind at this point, especially when she said that one should finish what they start.”
Bobb said when he started work here 241 days ago, the deficit was stated as $136 million.
Within months after arriving, Bobb and his team placed the accurate deficit number at $306 million. The legacy deficit as he moves forward, today stands at $259 million. But Bobb said fixing the finances is just one part of the massive job he is tackling.
“We learn more with each passing day that we have not only a financial emergency, but an academic emergency as well,” he said. “We also have a reading emergency. And as facts become clearer, just as we early on restated the financial deficit, we gain new insights into the many emergencies that must be addressed before our work is complete.”
Bobb went on to say: “We have a reading emergency. We have an attendance emergency. We have an attendance emergency for both adults and children. And in some cases, we have a parenting emergency. We continue to confront ways to respond to what has too often been an emergency of safety and security.”
Bobb said he also wants to stay to oversee the work proposed on fixing school buildings badly in need of repair.
“We know that we have an emergency in terms of many of our facilities, and as such are asking Detroit voters to decide whether they want to accept more than $500 million in Federal stimulus funds that President Obama has made available,” he said. “We know that issues of oversight have been among those most strongly articulated by Detroit citizens. And, the consistency that this extended appointment will bring will enable us to put in place the levels of oversight that taxpayers are rightly demanding before they consider approving these sales of bonds.”
Detroit Public Schools will hold unprecedented public investigative hearings beginning Thursday, Oct. 22 to probe decision-making into questionable real estate transactions.
Detroit Public Schools’ ongoing departmental audits and other financial reviews over the past six months mean millions of dollars in cost savings, including in the areas of healthcare, transportation and overdue vendor payments.
Detroit Public Schools’ Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb on Tuesday said he has received reports from principals that enrollment is exceeding projections at some schools.
“This is Detroit’s moment,” Bobb said at a press conference at Western International High School. “It is Detroit’s educational community’s moment. And, it is without question Detroit Public Schools’ Moment. And in this moment, and coming out from this time of crisis, we have done big things.”
Bobb spoke of a transformed DPS that includes new leadership, new staff members, restructured schools, high school redesigns, national school turnaround partners, public safety transformations, $148 million in academic stimulus funding, $34 million in summer construction work completed and a service-oriented and streamlined central office.
“It’s a great day in Detroit Public Schools and great things are happening in DPS!” he said. “It appears, at least anecdotally, that some great things are happening with enrollment as well. I want to stress that these are anecdotal stories, and the real numbers are not yet in, but based on reports I have received from principals over the last 72 hours, there are some extraordinary things happening with our enrollments.”
Bobb said the district will know more about district-wide enrollment as the week goes on, but he is encouraged by some preliminary examples:
To assist parents, Bobb said the district will maintain a hotline during this first week of school--313-240-4DPS—to address questions and concerns.
After waiting more than seven years for the school district to have a leader in which they had confidence, a group of prominent Detroit attorneys launched today a revived Detroit Public Schools Foundation to support the city’s school children.
Project includes 18 new and renovated schools, creates thousands of jobs
The Detroit Public Schools on Tuesday unveiled a $500.5 million capital improvement program to rebuild or completely renovate 18 schools as part of the district’s mission to create Centers of Excellence in every school in every neighborhood.
The project, to be completed in 36 months, would take advantage of historic stimulus bond financing under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.
Detroit Public Schools students, parents, Detroit Federation of Teachers representatives, DPS school board members and supporters will participate in DPS’ inaugural Back to School Parade and Rally on Thursday Aug. 27, starting downtown at Woodward and Hart Plaza at 11:30 am.
In keeping with recent public statements, Robert Bobb, Detroit Public Schools’ Emergency Financial Manager, plans to devote considerable time on evenings and weekends from now until the start of the school year to speak directly with parents about their children’s educational future.
An audit of Detroit Public Schools’ Office of Public Safety over a two-year period showed a lack of controls over cash management, excessive overtime by some Police and Security Officers and unused or wasted inventory. Meanwhile, an audit of healthcare workers showed 411 ineligible people on the rolls, including some who were deceased.
Detroit Public Schools today announced a $148.4 million reinvestment plan to transform the educational system that, when approved, would result in class size reductions in early grades, enhanced extended day programs, high priority school partnerships, Netbooks for nearly all DPS students in grades 6-12 as well as their teachers, “Double Dosing” of high school math and English Language Arts instruction, expanded professional development and increased supplemental learning materials.
Detroit, MI –Two Detroit Public Schools students got the surprise of a lifetime Monday when they learned Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb would like them to accompany him to see President Barack Obama speak at Macomb County Community College Tuesday.
The Emergency Financial Manager today announced an unprecedented redesign strategy that will allow four educational partners with a proven track record of raising student achievement to spearhead an historic transformation of 17 of the district’s lowest-performing high schools.
Detroit Public Schools FY2010 Budget, Presentation on June 29, 2009 at Cass Technical High School
By Dave Bing and Robert C. Bobb
An educational system that works for our children is the foundation for rebuilding a strong Detroit. Given the looming economic challenges faced by organizations and individuals alike throughout the region, citizens deserve to know that their governmental leaders are hard at work to find solutions. In the short period of time that our respective terms have overlapped, we have begun to do just that. Together, we are identifying economies of scale, opportunities for cooperative services and the elimination of unnecessary impediments to progress. School district and city leaders have held several meetings since the new administration took office to seriously and thoughtfully outline and respond to these opportunities.
Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb today made the following statement:
“In the course of my more than two dozen community forums and thousands of conversations, phone calls and email messages from Detroit’s parents over the course of my first 107 days in the district, it is clear that safety and security of our children, not only on campus but on the way to and from school is their major concern, in many cases surpassing even academics as the number one issue. ”
Public Safety Transformation Announcement
As a result of the historic professional development opportunity for principals, teachers, and staff, the last day of school for students has been moved from Thursday, June 11, 2009 to Friday, June 12, 2009. June 12, 2009 will be a half day of school for students but will be a full day of school for principals and teachers. Principals and teachers are expected to proceed with the records day on June 12,2009 during the second half of the school day. We appreciate your support as we seek to maximize student attendance on June 12th.
Memorandum from Robert C. Bobb Re: Last Day of School Date Change
Washington, D.C. – Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb and Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson today met with American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten at AFT Headquarters. Also attending the meeting were DPS Chief Academic and Accountability Auditor Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Michigan AFT President David Hecker, and additional AFT representatives.
This afternoon Detroit Public Schools learned, through a letter from Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Flanagan, of the Department’s approval of our request to reallocate $52 million within the Title I program to Emergency Student Achievement Summer School Academies, for programs and initiatives that have been designed to be feasible and Title I-eligible programs which will have the greatest impact between now and the end of the fiscal year. I would like to thank Superintendent Flanagan and his staff for their prompt approval of this request.
I have asked the Acting Superintendent to call an immediate, all hands meeting with everyone involved in the summer school program to make sure that we maximize the opportunities for DPS students.
Since we announced our request for approval of this program, I have received excellent recommendations from DPS staff as to how the program can be most effective. I have also received information from specialized service providers as to how they can be involved. Overall, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive from all sectors of the community and district—parents, assistant principals, principals, and curriculum leaders. A great deal of feedback was also received during the 600+ individual meetings I held with DPS administrators during the recent contract nonrenewal process.
The pressure is on all of us who are focused on student achievement to make this program work on behalf of the children and to make certain that we are in full compliance with the rules and regulations governing these programs.
Robert C. Bobb
Emergency Financial Manager
Detroit, MI – On May 1, 2009, Robert C. Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools, signed a contract on behalf of the District to sell $169,000,000 of state aid notes to the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority (MMBA). The notes are being issued to assist the District in managing its cash flow needs for the next several months, and will allow the District to make payrolls, pay vendors and avoid the need for requesting further advances of state aid from the Michigan Department of Education. The District is scheduled to receive the proceeds of the notes on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. The notes will bear interest at the rate of 4.75% and will mature in January, 2010.
Read the full May 1 Finance Release
Detroit, MI – Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb has asked Barbara Byrd-Bennett to join his team as DPS Chief Academic and Accountability Auditor.
Barbara Byrd-Bennett has led three urban U.S. districts including overseeing a turnaround district within New York City Public Schools, received the 2001 Council of Great City Schools Urban Superintendent of the Year award, and co-chairs a national innovation fund. She served as CEO of the 77,000-student Cleveland, OH Municipal School District; was appointed by Rudy Crew as Supervising Superintendent of the Chancellor’s District, with an annual budget of $438 million and where she was responsible for direct oversight of the lowest performing schools in New York City; and was appointed by Ramon Cortines as Superintendent of the Crown Heights School District, Brooklyn, NY, where she is credited with reestablishing order and instructional focus during an “administrative takeover” of the district as well as with gains in reading and math and a sharp reduction in the number of students referred to special education. She has been an elementary, middle and high school teacher, principal, and director of curriculum and instruction and professional development.
Robert C. Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager, Detroit Public Schools, today introduced the new members of the DPS Finance Team.
Bobb announced the appointments of Ricardo A. Kisner, CPA as Chief Financial Officer, John E. Bell, Jr. as Inspector General, and Odell W. Bailey as Auditor General. Bobb noted the more than 93 years of collective experience that the three bring to their positions, and the community and Detroit ties they possess.
What: Robert Bobb, emergency financial manager, Detroit Public Schools will be interviewed by Bankole Thompson, senior editor of The Michigan Chronicle and WDET-FM. This will be Bobb’s first in-depth interview, and his first forum for the general public since taking the job, early this month, as emergency financial manager for the Detroit Public Schools. The event is free and open to the public.
When: Tuesday, April 28, 7 p.m.
Where: Wayne State University’s Community Arts Auditorium, 450 Reuther Mall at Cass Avenue, just north of the Walter P. Reuther Library. Paid parking is available in Structure No. 1 at Palmer and Cass, and Structure No. 5 at Anthony Wayne Drive and Kirby. ($3.50 in quarters and bills required at the automated gates. See parking.wayne.edu for a map of parking locations.)
Why: Per Robert Bobb, emergency financial manager of Detroit Public Schools: “It is imperative for our success that all constituents are provided the opportunity to be informed, and a true sense of transparency involves not only making all of our actions public but also instilling a sense that all credible feedback is thoroughly reviewed and acted upon. I plan to make this the first of a number of diverse community forums as part of our work. While our work is moving forward with a great deal of urgency, we must act laser-like, and in the context of the community’s overall vision of 21st century education for its school children.”
Members of the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions.
April 28 Advisory - Inspector General Investigations
Listen to the full April 28 WDET Town Hall meeting with Robert Bobb
On his first day in Detroit Public Schools, Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb visited staff, students and community members at Harding Elementary School.
The appointment of the Emergency Financial Manager is for a period ending February 28, 2011.
We would like to thank those vendors who have agreed to a 25 percent reduction in outstanding invoices which has saved our schools, to date…
