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Monday, July 18, 2005
Guyton Elementary, a high performing elementary school on the city’s southeast side that had been scheduled to close as a result of low enrollment, will stay open for the 2005-06 school year.
William F. Coleman III, CEO of the Detroit Public Schools, said he was persuaded to keep Guyton open in part because of the unprecedented show of support for the school. The supporters, a group of parents, elected officials, businesses, churches, neighborhood associations and community groups, had mounted an aggressive campaign that included a comprehensive plan for attracting students to the school.
Coleman also offered other reasons that influenced his decision:
• Guyton is located in one of the few pockets of the city that is actually experiencing significant growth.
• Guyton’s MEAP scores have been soaring for the last three years in every category. Indeed, they exceed the state average in several areas. Coleman said Guyton could serve as a viable alternative for students at the three charter schools in that neighborhood, all of which are underperforming.
• When the District announced plans to close Guyton earlier this year, supporters quickly coalesced into an alliance with a singular mission to save the school. They gave detailed presentations at school board meetings with elaborate charts. The supporters also presented a marketing plan for drawing more students that will be paid for exclusively by funds raised by them.
Guyton ended the 2004-05 school year with 278 students. The number is considerably less than the school’s capacity of 500. To stay open, Guyton must have a minimum enrollment of 350 students by Count Day, September 28, 2005. But the first 72 students the school enrolls over and above the 278 must be non DPS students, Coleman said. The school must also increase its enrollment by 50 students each year until it reaches capacity.
The school’s coalition of supporters will sign a pledge to meet these goals. The pledge is not legally binding. However, if the school community fails to meet these goals the District will close it at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
“If this effort succeeds, this could be a model for what can be done by parents and members of the community to keep schools from closing,” Coleman said. “I am very proud of these individuals for stepping forward. It shows the confidence they have in our system. It shows they believe what we’ve saying all along that many of our schools are hidden jewels. By working with us to keep Guyton alive, they are not only preserving a great academic tradition they are helping lay the groundwork for students around the city to come home to DPS.”
