Brian Gornick - Staff Writer - News
Photo: detroitnews.com
Last week the Detroit Public Schools Community District announced a 700-million dollar plan to revitalize the public school system throughout the city.
The list of schools that would be affected under the revitalization plan include:
Central High School
Cody High School,
Denby High School
East English Village Preparatory Academy
Henry Ford High School
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School
Detroit College Preparatory Academy at Northwestern
Osborn High School
Pershing High School
Mumford High School
Southeastern High School of Science and Technology
Western International High School
Students, staff, and alumni of these schools are elated with the news of the revitalization project being approved. Many much-needed changes and improvements are finally being funded. For example, one of the schools in most need is Pershing High School, who has had Detroit residents graduating through its doors since the 1930’s.
Like most of the schools affected by the plan, Pershing High School has a multitude of problems, needing newly built and repainted walls as well as a new ceiling throughout the school. Pershing High School will also be getting a new HVAC system, as according to WXYZ Detroit, only 35% of Detroit Public Schools are currently outfitted with air conditioning, with the goal being 95% after the revitalization project is finished .
Pershing High School. Photo: flickr.com
In an interview with WXYZ Detroit, Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti spoke of the effects from the neglect in the school system that the schools have to deal with.
"There's a lot of students that should attend Pershing that don't attend Pershing because they aren't comfortable with the building environment,” said Vitti.
Vitti also stated that Pershing High School has the capacity for 600 students, however, the current student body sits at less than 400.
Pershing High School will be completely rebuilt under the revitalization plan, with all the renovations and buildings planned for completion over the next 5 years.