A Drastic Step in Detroit

And we're not talking about another auto bailout.

From today's Detroit News.

About 2,600 Detroit Public Schools teachers and staff will have to reapply for their jobs by Friday or face losing their positions under a massive shakeup that has union leaders crying foul.

Forty-one schools will be "reconstituted" and all staff positions among them have been declared vacant, according to a human resources notice circulated at schools Tuesday.

Every teacher, counselor, aide, specialist and assistant at these schools must request an interview with their principals this week.

In view of the fact that spending per pupil in Detroit is in the 91st percentile but student performance is at the 3rd percentile, this would seem a logical if dramatic step, right? Not in everyone's eyes.

Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson called the action by Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb a travesty and a violation of the union's contract with the district. He vowed to meet with legal counsel today to determine the best course of action.

"Blatant disregard for the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will not be tolerated," Johnson said. "As much as they talk about 'the emphasis is on students,' there is nothing about this that is in the best interest of students. It's going to be chaotic and have an adverse effect on students' instruction, plain and simple."

After all, there has been nothing better for students in Detroit and around the country than a district's adherence to a collective bargaining agreement.