Wait! Wait! As a Charter it will not be a public school? Is that how it works in Michigan? In my state Charters are public schools.

I, too, question its status. As a retired teacher, I wanted to see Catherine Ferguson Academy remain a public school. I do not support the concept of Charter Schools in any case.

The "no longer a part of Detroit Public School system" quirk is due to the fact that the charter will be overseen by a county-wide agency (Wayne RESA) which is what Michigan calls an "intermediate school district." ISD's in Michigan routinely operate special schools and provide other educational services that are done better or more efficiently on a county-wide basis. For example, I live just north of Detroit and my son is a student in a Macomb ISD school for disabled kids that could not exist if it only had a single local district to draw from. This is relevant in the case of CFA because Detroit proper has lost population precipitously, while the rest of Wayne County has not, and there are certainly girls in non-Detroit Wayne school districts who would be CFA candidates.

Well, the privatization has begun. They are putting out the word: It's better take a cut in pay/benefits than lose your job. Is that a healthy employer-employee bargaining chip?

I do say that it is overall good in this case, but if we are going to privatize as a goal for public schools, uh-uh.

PRIVATIZATION!!! IS WRONG!!! So I do believe.

A Charter school is by ideology is a for profit service, as is it is no longer for the people when it is not a public service. When Charter schools become public schools, that means the local governments are paying more money for these CONtracts.

They're trying to sell us the Idea of Charter schools, like "It's going to be O.K!" The local governments could just choose to run they're organizations to perform just as well, but they don't? They choose to allow a profit base system to absorb tax revenues for providing the same services our public schools could just as easily offer our children.

Education is not given the dedication it needs in this country. Public schools go underfunded every year. Overcrowded, understaffed and untamed. The foods gross! At least where I went. Why not invest in the future tax payers?

Just another way rich people can exploit tax revenues. It's like, an endless stream of revenue; that just keep on shrinking!

I think so too, Michael. I think they use this situation as well, we are so sorry to do this to Catherine Ferguson Academy, close the doors.

But wait! We can get this private company to run it... short term fix...

What do we know about this company and we all know when some company "buys" some other entity, there's a period of examine closely, smile at employees and later they reshape it "their way"?

I have been through that in the private sector, partially regulated, mostly deregulated. Compliance has more to do with meeting "their numbers" and making money is all that matters, the product is to be sold as is, no suggestions, top down. THIS is how you must perform OUR laws, not the public laws.

I wish them well because I know it is better than closing the doors and sending the students "away".

We must recognize this is the pattern, make the public and workers happy to get the consolation prize.

We all know this academy is now a for profit organization that will sooner than later have a selective enrollment process. What dose this mean for the local Teacher's union? We see form the privatization of jails and other correctional facilities, the privatization doesn't have to mean better. What is does mean is that it will cost tax payers more! Given whats going on in southern states with public school,s and what they're putting in or taking out of books the rest of the nation's public school children will use: I can't say I'm optimistic.

My optimism stems from the hope that voters will wake up and see this is the way of "privatization" and hatin' the government. I couldn't agree more though, if we continue down this Republican and Libertarian road.

That was two years ago. Maybe they have learned their lesson. I hope.

Hopefully, Evans Solutions will not repeat the discrimination referenced in the 2009 report from the EEOC.

But hearing that the Academy will remain open is good news. And I also hope that they continue the same type of program that is currently so effective.

The power of the Media is often criticized. But in this case, Rachel and company have used that power to protect and recognize a scarce and vital resource.

Thank you for caring enough about the future of these young women to recognize their value to themselves, their young families and to their communities.

KUDO's to the whole staff of TRMS! Very well done.

Results of the EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit:

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/9-20-10a.cfm

RESS RELEASE
9-20-10

Evans Solutions To Pay $47,500 To Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

Operator of Alternative School Discharged Social Worker With Breast Cancer Because It Regarded Her as Disabled, Federal Agency Charged

DETROIT – A Detroit-based operator of a for-profit alternative school will pay $47,500 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that Evans Solutions, Inc. unlawfully discharged a school social worker diagnosed with breast cancer because it regarded her as disabled, even though she had a solid work record with the company.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit (Case No. 2:09-cv-13016 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan), Doris Bennett was a capable school social worker hired for the 2006-2007 school year. In April 2007, she informed her employer that she had been diagnosed with stage-zero breast cancer. In response, Bennett’s supervisor prepared an e-mail for Evans’ chief of staff which gave details about Bennett’s breast cancer and recommended that another school social worker be hired for the following academic year. Defendant let her go at the end of the 2006-2007 school year, the only school social worker who was not retained.

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

As part of the consent decree resolving the suit (entered by Judge Avern Cohn), Evans Solutions will pay $47,500 to Bennett. Evans also agreed to train all of its management personnel annually on the ADA and the other laws enforced by the EEOC.

“We are pleased with the relief provided by the consent decree,” said Dale Price, the EEOC attorney who handled the case. “It provides meaningful relief to Ms. Bennett and protections for the employees of Evans Solutions. It also reminds employers that they cannot make employment decisions based on fears and stereotypes about people with cancer.”

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing the nation’s laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site atwww.eeoc.gov.

I agree! Rachel you're wonderful. Thank you. Thank you for this wonderful story, and for your part in real planning to school. I can't think of anybody better who deserve a chance and pregnant girls and their babies.

As a retired union teacher. I understand the comments that oppose the charter schools versus a public school that hires union teachers. Nevertheless keeping the school open is more important than whether or not a charter school is appropriate. Let's applaud them and watch what happens.

Thank you Rachel for your feature on good news!

I think we need to take good news where a commons and encourage the charter school to do the right thingwho deserves a chance

Yes, this is great news - I'm totally shocked. As a MI resident there doesn't seem to be many truly good and amazing things happening here. I am so happy for everyone at CFA!

Thanks TMJ for the link, I posted a "congrats and keep it up" text on the site. Such great news.