Staffing, Supply Issues at Some Detroit Public Schools

DETROIT - Dressed for success and excited to be in school, the students seem ready to be back in class.  However, for administrators, getting ready has been grueling.

"I've been up since 2:30 this morning with the anxiety of school opening because of all of the planning that we've done over the last several weeks and months," said DPS Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb.

He spent the day touring schools, many having been consolidated due to falling enrollment and budget issues.  There were still some schools without enough staff.  For example, the new Palmer Park Preparatory Academy was short eight teachers.

"We're making some heady progress," said Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson. "It's not the smooth transition that we needed or that we wanted, but it's not as bumpy as it could have been."

He says more certified teachers that have been laid off need to be called back.

At various schools, there were some issues with supplies such as books; Issues that Bobb says will be worked out.  He's hopeful more than 80,000 students will be enrolled this year in DPS.

"I don't know what our final numbers will be, but the schools are crowded and enrollment is up," Bobb said.