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Thursday, September 28, 2006
Detroit Public Schools Superintendent William F. Coleman III today issued the following note of appreciation regarding community support for Count Day:
“I am deeply touched by the unflinching support shown by members of the community for the Detroit Public Schools. Support started pouring in last week immediately after we announced that we may have fallen way below our enrollment projections.
I am grateful to the numerous businesses who donated prizes that were awarded to students at many of our schools. Over the last several days I received countless calls from public officials and members of the community who wanted to know how they could help. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick decreed that all DPS students would ride city buses today for free. He also set an excellent example by enrolling one of his children in the Detroit Public Schools. The media helped us trumpet the message to all parents and guardians to bring their children back home to DPS.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our principals, whom we affectionately dub our frontline generals. They helped tie all of the pieces together by holding enrollment fairs on Saturdays, having extended hours for registration in the evenings and developing a variety of student-centered activities to generate excitement among our students about being in school.
I thank them all equally.
Above all, I am thankful to our customers who have stayed with us through some very difficult times and to those who have made a decision to enroll their children in a first-class public school district. I assure you that you will not be disappointed.
The outpouring of support was another strong reminder of the greatness and richness of spirit of the people of this city.
Preliminary data from Monday, September 25, show our latest enrollment figures at over 110,000. While it’s still too early to know what our final numbers will be for this year, anecdotal evidence suggests that today’s attendance was strong and enrollment is climbing. For example, at Sampson, an elementary school on the city’s west side, nearly 40 new children have registered in the last two days. In the last few days, large numbers of Detroiters have responded to our invitation to give our schools a second look. Thank you for coming home to DPS.”
