PUT THE BRAKES ON IN-PERSON
SUMMER SCHOOL FOR DETROIT
STUDENTS.
>> Kim: THIS AFTERNOON, JUDGE
TARNOW RULED THAT ALL SUMMER
SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST BE TESTED
FOR COVID-19 IN THE NEXT TWO
DAYS BEFORE CLASSES CAN
CONTINUE.
>> Devin: THE LAWSUIT WAS
FILED BY THE GROUP BY ANY
MEN’S NECESSARY.
630 STUDENTS NEED TO BE TESTED
AND NOT MUCH TIME TO GET THAT
DONE.
>> Paula: AND THIS IS A HEAVY
LIFT.
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER,
MY PARTNER AND I HAD TO GET
TESTED YESTERDAY.
WE WERE IN DETROIT AND GOT THE
TEN-MINUTE QUICK TEST.
TEN-MINUTE QUICK TEST.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT 10-15
MINUTES PER STUDENT TIMES
600-PLUS STUDENTS IN THE NEXT
TWO DAYS, THIS IS A LOT!
TWO DAYS, THIS IS A LOT!
AND IT COULD AFFECT IN-PERSON
LEARNING IN THE FALL AS WELL.
THE PROTESTS OF TEACHERS AND
PARENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE
PARENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE
ACTIVIST GROUP BAM, BY ANY
MEANS NECESSARY, HAVE BEEN A
THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE
DISTRICT.
FOR 6 DAYS, THEY’VE ATTEMPTED
TO STOP BUSES TAKING CHILDREN
TO SUMMER SCHOOL.
>> THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE AT THE CENTER OF WHAT IS
ESSENTIALLY A NATIONAL TEST TO
GET PEOPLE USED TO THE IDEA OF
SCHOOLS OPENING, TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS IF SCHOOLS OPEN WITH
THIS PANDEMIC RAGING, AND
THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE
LONG-TERM EFFECTS ARE.
>> I’M JUST ANGRY AT THE FACT
>> I’M JUST ANGRY AT THE FACT
WE’RE HAVING TO STAND FOR
THIS.
>> Paula: THE THORN BECAME A
KNIFE CUT AND A REAL POTENTIAL
THREAT FOR THE ABILITY OF
DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY DISTRICT TO OPEN
COMMUNITY DISTRICT TO OPEN
IN-PERSON LEARNING COME AUGUST
31st.
AS A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER HEARING IN FRONT OF
SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE ARTHUR
TARNOW TURNED INTO WHAT COULD
BE NEAR MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.
>> EVERY STUDENT BE TESTED TO
SEE IF THEY HAVE THE VIRUS
WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
I THINK WE’RE GONNA HAVE A
CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT IS
TAKING PLACE.
I THINK WE’RE GOING TO KNOW
I THINK WE’RE GOING TO KNOW
WHERE AND HOW AND MUCH THE
VIER IS IN THE SUMMER SCHOOL
PROGRAM.
>> Paula: THERE ARE A FEW MORE
THAN 600 STUDENTS IN IN-PERSON
THAN 600 STUDENTS IN IN-PERSON
SUMMER SCHOOL, THE JUDGE
INDICATED THIS WILL LIKELY GO
INDICATED THIS WILL LIKELY GO
BEYOND SUMMER SCHOOL, AND THEY
MAY HAVE TO HAVE TESTS FOR
ALL.
>> WE THINK IT’S A VICTORY FOR
THE STUDENTS OF DETROIT, THE
THE STUDENTS OF DETROIT, THE
FAMILY, THE TEACHERS, THE
SCHOOL WORKERS, BECAUSE THIS
WILL SAY EXACTLY WHAT’S
HAPPENING AT THAT SUMMER
SCHOOL.
>> Paula: NOW, OF COURSE,
WE’LL ALL REMEMBER THAT
DR. NIKOLAI VITTI HAS BEEN
STEADFAST IN SAYING HE WANTS
PARENTS IN DETROIT TO HAVE
CHOICES.
ABOUT 5% WANT TO SEND THEIR
KIDS FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.
50% WANT REMOTE LEARNING.
WE’VE GOT TO KEEP THE KIDS
UNDER THE TENT TO GET ANY
FUNDING AT ALL.
I’VE BEEN CHECKING MY PHONE
AND WAITING FOR A RESPONSE
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT’S
OFFICE.
I HEAR ONE IS FORTHCOMING.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT YET.
BUT DO UNDERSTAND THIS IS
SERIOUS AND IT HAS SERIOUS
RAMIFICATIONS BECAUSE SCHOOL
IS SUPPOSED TO START AUGUST
31st, DEVIN AND KIMBERLY.
>> Devin: I WAS TALKING WITH
SOMEBODY YESTERDAY FROM
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
THEY INTEND TO TEST EVERY
STUDENT AS THEY ARRIVE AT
SCHOOL.
AND THAT WAS MY THOUGHT, OKAY,
THAT’S ONE PLAN.
THAT’S ONE PLAN.
BUT MULTIPLY THAT TIMES SCHOOL
AFTER SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL,
IT’S A MONUMENTAL LOGISTICAL
LIFT!
>> Paula: AND DO YOU TEST
>> Paula: AND DO YOU TEST
EVERY DAY OR EVERY WEEK OR
EVERY MONTH?
HOW DO YOU COLLECT THE DATA.
BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THE BOARD ATTORNEY
THE THINGS THE BOARD ATTORNEY
BROUGHT UP IS, HEY, THERE IS
NOVI, INKSTER, AND THEY’VE GOT
NOVI, INKSTER, AND THEY’VE GOT
IN-PERSON LEARNING AND THEY
