Detroit and Decay [city may abandon half its schools to pay union benefits]

WSJ ^ | JANUARY 15, 2011 | WSJ

[Brilliant]

Detroit was once America's fourth largest city, though today large sections of its inner core are abandoned to the elements, and monuments like Michigan Central Station are returning to dust. Another emblem of civic decline is a plan to desert nearly half of Detroit's public schools so that it can afford to fulfill its teachers union contract.

The school district is facing a $327 million deficit and has already closed 59 schools over the last two years to avoid paying maintenance, utility and operating costs. Under a worst-case scenario released this week by Robert Bobb, an emergency financial manager appointed by the state to resolve the Detroit education fisc, the district will close another 70 of its remaining 142 schools to save $31.3 million through 2013.

"Additional savings of approximately $12.4 million can be achieved from school closures if the District simply abandons the closed buildings," the proposal explains, purging costs like boarding up buildings, storage and security patrols.

Steven Wasko, a spokesman for Mr. Bobb, said that urban property sales have been difficult, in part because until recently the state board of education banned transactions with "competing educational institutions" like charter schools. Once buildings are deserted, even if the doors and windows are welded shut with protective metal covers, scavengers break in and dismantle them for copper wire, pipes and so on.

Under the emergency plan, consolidated high-school class sizes would increase to 62 by 2014, "consistent with what students would expect in large university settings." Yet under the terms of the Detroit Federation of Teachers contract, the district must pay bonuses for class enrollment over 35, thus imposing some $11.1 million in new costs through 2014...

[Art in Idaho]

Anything that government touches gets destroyed financially.

Sooner or later. The key campaign slogan of 2012 should be, "Government just doesn't work!". It really doesn't, except for Defense, fire, police and basic infrastructure. Even those areas would be more efficient if privatized. Defense too big, so will pass on that one, . . well, on second thought. . Can just shut down Commerce, Energy, Education, EPA, Agriculture. I may be naive, but What do they Do other than regulate and hand out grants? Besides, we just can't afford them anymore. . Better stop. : )

[Bon mots]