Detroit Schools will spend $700 million in federal COVID funds repairing old school facilities and building new ones, an effort aimed at providing $2.1 billion in infrastructure needs in Michigan’s largest school district.
The funds will allow the district to build five new schools that will replace existing buildings that require excessive repairs; Create additions in five buildings to address overcrowding or increase registration; The renovation of 64 buildings with a focus on roofs, external enclosures, heating, cooling and lighting.
The plan, approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday, also pushes for the phase-out of four buildings with extensive repair needs and the demolition of 12 buildings including schools due to be phased out and vacant buildings on school campuses.
The district had over 250,000 students and 200 school buildings. It now educates about 50,000 students in preschool through 12th grade and operates around 107 buildings.
The district suffered from exorbitant growing capital needs across its school buildings, which were largely neglected for nearly a decade under the state-run Emergency Management, which ended in 2016.
Vetti said the infrastructure investment is the largest since he became a supervisor in 2017.
“It’s a $700 million investment without taxing Detroit a penny,” said Vitti. “We’re just excited about doing it and doing it right. In the future, we have to get these projects done on time, on budget and with a great deal of quality to improve our reputation.”
The plan calls for $293 million to build new school buildings. $27 million to revitalize preschool school buildings and address overcrowding; $69 million for additions to existing school campuses; $290 million to renovate school buildings and $11 million to demolish schools.
Schools to be reconstructed include Cody High School, Paul Robson Malcolm X Academy, Pershing High School, Carstens at Golightly Career Technology Center, and Phoenix School, a closed school in southwest Detroit.
Additions will be made to Charles Wright’s School of Arts and Sciences, Communications and Media Arts High, John R. King Pre-K through Eighth Grade, Western International High School, and Southeast Professional Technology Center.
The district wants to reopen vacant buildings or revitalize parts of underutilized buildings in high-demand areas where capacity is insufficient. These schools include Vital Elementary Middle School. preschool centers at Fleming, Adult Ed West, and Hancock; and Northern High School as the location of the new central office in the district.
Building demolitions include Post, Biddle, Van Zile, Carrie/Law, Foch, and Phoenix.
The plans also call for the gradual closure of some schools and school programs including Ann Arbor Trail, JE Clark, Catherine Blackwell and Greenfield Union.
Vetti said he was concerned that based on recent inflation estimates, the current cost of projects could increase beyond the estimated 4.7% inflation rate.
“We’re not the only neighborhood that has that money,” Vitti said. “You see this huge demand for construction work.” “We will remain committed to new buildings, new wings and demolitions – some restoration work will be at risk.”
Public discussions about the new schools are expected to begin this fall. The district will hold public engagement sessions to obtain input on the designs and features of the new school buildings. Viti said work could begin the following spring.
In 2018, Livonia-based OHM Consultants estimated it would cost $500 million to address the area’s inoperable boilers, corroded plumbing fixtures, missing ceiling tiles in classrooms, exterior walls with cracks, ceiling leaks and a host of other problems.
By 2023, the price will rise to $1.4 billion, according to an assessment of the facilities conducted by the company.