DPS AIMS for CHANGE!

DPS Superintendent Dr. Connie Calloway PODCAST: http://podcast.wwj.com/wwj/798850.mp3


Posted: Wednesday, 12 December 2007 9:00AM

Calloway Trying To Change Climate, Culture In DPS

Detroit (WWJ) -- Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Connie Calloway used her first community meeting to outline her plans to improve the district.

During the two-and-a-half hour meeting at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Calloway said she is working to change the climate, culture and conditions in the district. Changing those three things and expectations will lead to results, Calloway said.

At the same time Calloway lamented the fact that money from this year's budget is being used to pay for past problems.

During the forum, sponsored by the Michigan Chronicle, Calloway outlined two goals for the year include coming up with what she called "language for achievement" and governance--or getting the administration, school board and unions to work better together.

When asked during a question and answer session about the school board, Calloway said her hands are tied, she's often surprised at meetings and "we have too many agendas."

Calloway said right now she is spending too much time handling day-to-day issues and preparing for or attending meetings. Her best days she said were when she's in the schools. Her most challenging day was her first school board meeting.

Other thoughts from the meeting which was attended by about 300 people including school and city leaders, teachers and parents:

Parental involvement--Calloway said parents need to know they are a priority. "I've never seen so many engaged parents," Calloway said. She said parents are not a bother but she is working to get them more involved. She also said a task force is looking into how the community, including parents, can get involved to keep schools safer.

School safety-- Calloway said the district is taking a hard look at removing those students who act up and are deterrents to learning in classrooms. She mentioned working with the police department, but didn't go into details.

Teachers-- Calloway said the district is "hiring, hiring, hiring" and looking for highly qualified teachers. But while she said some teachers don't want to deal with "urban, minority children" she said the district has many qualified teachers.

Student achievement--Calloway said the district is setting up a new computer system that allows teachers to how each students is doing in each subject. Teachers are being trained on the system now. She said much of the instruction is focused on the MEAP test and where students are passing and failing.