Inkster Public Schools

Inkster Public Schools (IPS), officially School District of the City of Inkster, was a school district headquartered in Inkster, Michigan in Metro Detroit.[1] It served most of Inkster and a small portion of Westland.[2][3]

School District of the City of Inkster
defunct school district
tax-collecting unit
Inkster High School
Inkster High School
Official seal of School District of the City of Inkster
Seal
CountryUSA
StateMichigan
Intermediate School DistrictWAYNE RESA

History

For a several-year period ending in 2013, the district had declining enrollment. In the 2012–2013 school year the district lost over 500 students. As of 2013, the district had a $12 million deficit. To deal with the deficit, the district proposed converting Inkster High School into a charter school and only directly operating the K-8 schools.[4]

Closure

In June 2013 Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature approved Public Act 96 and 97 of 2013. The two bills were written specifically to close Inkster Public Schools and Buena Vista School District.[5] The laws gave Andy Dillon, the Michigan Treasurer, and Mike Flanagan, the State Superintendent of Education, the power to formally determine if the districts would remain open for the 2013–2014 school year. They told the districts that they had one final opportunity to remain open if they secured outside funding but neither received a financing agreement.[6] The deadline was July 22, 2013.[7] The Inkster District claims that a deficit reduction plan was filed with the state and Comerica Bank would have made a loan contingent on approval of the plan. The plan was only rejected based on the official "lacks confidence that the District can implement" it.[8]

Therefore, the Inkster Public Schools district was entirely dissolved.[9] The district had a $15 million deficit at the time of closure.[10]

The Wayne RESA Board of Education opted to make redistricting plans instead of allowing the state government to make the plans.[5] The remaining students were split up among the Taylor School District, Romulus Community School District, Wayne-Westland Community Schools and Westwood Community School District. Areas were given to the new districts by quadrants. Students north of Michigan Avenue and west of Middlebelt were rezoned to Wayne-Westland. Students north of Michigan Avenue and east of Middlebelt were rezoned to Westwood. Students south of Michigan Avenue and west of Middlebelt were rezoned to Romulus. Students south of Michigan and east of Middlebelt were rezoned to Taylor. The district will remain intact for taxing purposes as long as the existing debt is being paid off.[11] Almost all Inkster district employees lost their jobs. Wayne RESA obtained the Inkster school district records.[5]

State representative David Knezek of Dearborn Heights asked Attorney General of Michigan Bill Schuette for a formal opinion on whether or not the closure of the Inkster district was legal or if it was in violation of the Michigan Constitution or other state laws.[6]

Demographics

In 2013, prior to closure, two of three teachers had taught in the district for fewer than five years. 83% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch.[10]

Schools

The following schools were open prior to the district dissolving:

Secondary schools
  • Inkster High School (Inkster) - In 2013 the school had 940 students[4]
  • Inkster 9th Grade Academy (Inkster, formerly Fellrath Middle School)
  • Inkster Vocational Academy (Inkster)
  • Blanchette Middle School (Inkster)
Elementary schools
Defunct schools

The following schools had already been shuttered prior to the district dissolving:

  • Brake Elementary School (Inkster) - Formerly the John D. Hearn, S.R. Public Academy and Thomas Gist Academy North, this school is now destroyed.
  • Carver Elementary School (Inkster) - Razed and replaced by the Baylor-Woodson/Meek-Milton school building.
  • Douglas Elementary School (Inkster) - Razed and replaced by Haddon Estates.
  • Frazier Elementary School (Westland) - Now the Thomas Gist Academy South.
  • Lincoln Elementary School (Inkster) - Currently abandoned.
  • Parkwood Elementary School (Inkster) - Razed.
  • Woodson Elementary School (Inkster)

References
  1. Home page (Archive). Inkster Public Schools. Retrieved on April 11, 2015. "29115 Carlysle, Inkster MI 48141"
  2. "NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR INKSTER RESIDENTS" (Map). Wayne RESA. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  3. "Street Jurisdiction Map" (Archive) City of Westland. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  4. Higgins, Lori. "Inkster district could convert high school into a charter school." Detroit Free Press. January 30, 2013. Retrieved on February 12, 2013.
  5. "Dissolution of Inkster Public Schools Frequently Asked Questions." (Archive) Wayne County RESA Board of Education. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
  6. Smith, Brian. "Inkster-area state representative seeking review of law that dissolved school district." Mlive. October 10, 2013. Updated on October 11, 2013. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
  7. Higgins, Lori. "State gives Inkster, Buena Vista schools until Monday to avoid being dissolved." Detroit Free Press. July 18, 2013. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
  8. Banovic, Julie. (July 22, 2013) Inkster and Buena Vista schools to be dissolved after failing to make funding deadline. Wxyz.com. Accessed on November 3, 2013.
  9. "Dissolution of Inkster Public Schools." (Archive) Wayne County RESA Board of Education. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
  10. French, Ron. "Poor students are more likely to get Michigan’s least experienced teachers Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine." Bridge Magazine. The Center for Michigan. October 14, 2013. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
  11. Smith, Brian. "Inkster schools first to be dissolved; students split across 4 districts." Mlive. July 26, 2013. Retrieved on November 2, 2013.
  12. Home page (Archive). Baylor-Woodson Elementary School. January 20, 2012. Retrieved on April 12, 2015. "28865 Carlysle, Inkster MI 48141"
  13. Home page (Archive). Burger Baylor School. Retrieved on April 10, 2015. "Burger Baylor School 28865 Carlysle Inkster, MI 48141"

Further reading
  • School district map - By J. Shively, Michigan Department of Information Technology Center for Geographic Information. March 2008.
  • "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Wayne County, MI". 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. - Index map, with Inkster Public Schools indicated on page 1
  • "Inkster, Buena Vista schools get deadline to obtain loans, stay open." Detroit Free Press. July 18, 2013.
  • "Inkster Memo." (Archive) Westwood School District.
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