Detroit schools board OKs reorganization touted to save $1M

Detroit Public Schools will save nearly $1 million annually on a reorganization plan approved by the school board Wednesday.

Superintendent Connie Calloway proposed the reorganization, saying the district was required to reduce central office staff as part of its state-mandated Deficit Elimination Plan. The district's budget is $1.2 billion. The expected salary savings amounted to $939,391.

Calloway's plan included collapsing several positions and redefining roles.

For example, the deputy superintendent for instruction and associate superintendent for curriculum and professional development became one position. The general counsel position and the deputy general counsel/acting director of risk management also became one job, Calloway said.

She created one new job -- the director of accountability.

"What we really had to do is look at what moves this district forward and not protect positions or people," Calloway said. "What we saw was a lot of duplication."

The reorganization plan was approved 7-3. Board members Paula Johnson, Jonathan Kinloch and Marie Thornton opposed. Kinloch and Johnson said they didn't have enough information on the reorganization to approve it. Tyrone Winfrey was absent.

"The last time we voted on a reorganization, we required much more information than we have now," Kinloch said.

Calloway said she worked with the board members and staffers over several weeks to prepare and share the information. A draft of the reorganization was also distributed to board members at their retreat this month, she said.

"If we do what we've always done with whom we've always done it, we're going to get what we've always gotten," Calloway said, prompting audience applause.

You can reach Jennifer Mrozowski at (313) 222-2269 or jmrozowski@detnews.com">jmrozowski@detnews.com.