School District of the City of Pontiac

Last updated

The School District of the City of Pontiac (also known as the Pontiac School District) is a public school district in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan, serving Pontiac, most of Auburn Hills, Lake Angelus and Sylvan Lake, and small portions of Bloomfield Township, Orion Township, Waterford, and West Bloomfield. [1]

Contents

History

In the 1960s the student body increased and the school district used high salaries to recruit teachers as the automobile industry economy prospered. [2] [3]

A February 1970 court order from federal judge Damon J. Keith ordered racial integration effective fall 1970 to ameliorate de facto racial segregation. [4] According to the court order, no more than 40% of each school was to be African-American. The busing was to affect 10,000 students. In August 1971 several school buses were bombed with dynamite, and ten men were indicted in charges related to the incidents; one of them was an ex-Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon in the state. On October 25, 1971 the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an opposition to the court order, keeping it in effect. [5]

The busing order contributed to area racial tensions. That, along with an increase in unemployment, a loss of political support for school taxation due to an increase of the average age of the residents, financially harmed the district. As of 1981 20% of the area's residents were 65 and older, and a total of 58% of the community residents were at least 46 years of age; residents voted down tax millage proposals on eight occasions during the years 1979 to 1981. There was a 23% unemployment rate as of 1981. From 1972 to circa 1982 the enrollment declined from 21,028 to 17,216. In 1981 extracurricular activities were sharply reduced, and several athletes left the district due to the loss of athletic programs; they attended public schools in other school districts and private schools. [2]

In June 2013 the Michigan Education Association's health insurance division stated that it was owed $11 million in premiums from the Pontiac district, so it planned to end benefits for teachers of the district on July 31 of that year; according to a lawsuit settlement, taxpayers in the district were required to pay $7.8 million of it. Administrators, secretaries, and teachers had been paying over 20% of their health care premiums out of pocket. [6]

On Wednesday July 3, 2013 the state of Michigan conducted a preliminary review of the district, and the result was an indication of "probable financial stress". Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder stated that he was going to have a full review of the district conducted by a team appointed by him. [7]

The 2021 Board of Education consists of - Gill Garrett - President, Kenyada Bowman - Vice-President, William A. Carrington - Trustee, Caroll Y. Turpin - Trustee, Shaquana Davis-Smith-Treasurer, Michael McGuinness -Secretary and Kevin Groce - Trustee. Kelley Williams is the Superintendent.

Demographics

In 1971 the district had 24,000 students, with 32% of them being black. [5] In 1972-1973 there were 21,028. In the 1980-1981 school year the student body numbered 18,099. This declined to 17,216 students in 1982, with 27% of the students receiving welfare and a total of 37% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunches, a sign of poverty. A principal of an elementary school, Mattie McKinney, stated to the Associated Press that, in the agency's words, "The district's poverty is unusually striking this school year", and she directly stated that she had encountered more poverty in her students than she had previously. [2] The district enrollment was projected to further decrease after 1982. [2]

School uniform

All students are required to wear school uniforms. [8] The school board considered adding uniforms in 2009. [9]

Schools

Former schools

By December 2008 administrators were making plans to consolidate Pontiac Northern and Central high schools. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

Oakland County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a principal county of the Detroit metropolitan area, containing the bulk of Detroit's northern suburbs. Its seat of government is Pontiac, and its largest city is Troy. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 1,274,395, making it the second-most populous county in Michigan, and the largest county in the United States without a city of 100,000 residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburn Hills, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Auburn Hills is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Auburn Hills is located about 26 miles (42 km) north of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 24,360.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Birmingham is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit located along the Woodward Corridor (M-1). As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloomfield Hills, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit on the Woodward Corridor, Bloomfield Hills is located roughly 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of downtown Detroit, and is surrounded on most sides by Bloomfield Township. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 4,460.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keego Harbor, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Keego Harbor is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Keego Harbor is located roughly 27 miles (43.5 km) from downtown Detroit, and about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Pontiac. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 2,970. With a land area of 0.50 square miles (1.29 km2), Keego Harbor is the third-smallest city by land area in the state of Michigan, after Petersburg and Clarkston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Angelus, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Lake Angelus is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An affluent northern suburb of Detroit, Lake Angelus is located about 35 miles (56 km) north of downtown Detroit. With a population of 287 as of the 2020 census, Lake Angelus is the second-smallest city in Michigan, behind Omer; it also has one of the highest per capita incomes of any community in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

Orion Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 38,206 as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ortonville, Michigan</span> Village in Michigan, United States

Ortonville is a village in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The village is within Brandon Township, although some development near the village lies within adjacent Oakland County, Groveland township and Lapeer County, Hadley township. The population was 1,291 as of the 2021 Census estimate. Ortonville lies on the northern edge of Metro Detroit and is approximately 41 miles north of Downtown Detroit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Pontiac is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located roughly 26 miles (41.8 km) northwest of downtown Detroit, Pontiac is part of the Detroit metropolitan area, and is variously described as a satellite city or suburb of Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 61,606.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvan Lake, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Sylvan Lake is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Sylvan Lake is located roughly 26 miles (41.8 km) from downtown Detroit, and borders Pontiac to the east. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 1,720. With a land area of 0.51 square miles (1.32 km2), Sylvan Lake is the fourth-smallest city by land area in the state after Clarkston, Petersburg, and neighboring Keego Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterford Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

Waterford Township is a charter township in the geographic center of Oakland County, Michigan, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

Bloomfield Township is a charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Bloomfield Township is located roughly 20 miles (32 km) northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 44,253.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Bloomfield Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

West Bloomfield Township is a charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northwestern suburb of Detroit, West Bloomfield is located roughly 27 miles (43.5 km) from downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 65,888.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarenceville School District</span> School district in Michigan

The Clarenceville School District is a public school district in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan, serving portions of Farmington Hills, Livonia, and Redford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Bloomfield High School</span> Public high school in West Bloomfield, Michigan

West Bloomfield High School is a public high school in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The school is the only public high school in the West Bloomfield School District. The School Enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year is about 1900. West Bloomfield High School was previously located in the Abbott Middle School building, which opened on January 31, 1955 with an enrollment of 406. From fall 1968 through spring 1971, the school was temporarily located at the site of the current West Bloomfield Middle School. The current building was built in 1971. West Bloomfield High School has begun to offer the Advanced Placement International Diploma to the classes of 2011 and beyond. In addition, it established additional Advanced Placement courses starting the 2010-2011 school year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland Community College</span> Public college in Oakland County, Michigan, US

Oakland Community College (OCC) is a public community college with five campuses in Oakland County, Michigan. Established in 1964, OCC is the largest community college in Michigan, with the state's third-largest undergraduate enrollment. Enrollment at the college for the Spring 2022 semester was 14,511. Oakland Community College has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1971. The college offers 57 Associate degrees and 41 different programs.

The Jackson Public School District (JPSD) or Jackson Public Schools (JPS) is a public school district serving the majority of Jackson, the state capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Mississippi. Established in 1888, it is the second largest and only urban school district in the state.

The West Bloomfield School District is a public school district in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan, serving portions of West Bloomfield and Sylvan Lake, all of Keego Harbor, and most of Orchard Lake Village.

Pontiac High School (PHS) is a public high school in Pontiac, Michigan. It was formed and reestablished in 2009 from the consolidation of Pontiac Central High School and Pontiac Northern High School. Pontiac High School occupies the former Pontiac Northern High School building. The name “Phoenix” is the name of Pontiac High School that has risen from the ashes.

The French School of Detroit is a French school with its administrative offices in West Maple Middle School, in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan in Metro Detroit; this facility has a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan mailing address.

References

  1. ↑ "Maps: School Districts: Pontiac City School District" (PDF). Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget . Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "MICHIGAN'S TROUBLES HIT HIGH SCHOOLS IN PONTIAC". The New York Times . January 14, 1982. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  3. ↑ Murray, Diana Dillaber. "Law being proposed could dissolve Pontiac schools, other struggling districts." Oakland Press . June 12, 2013. Retrieved on May 7, 2014. "Pontiac school district spreads from Pontiac into portions of seven surrounding communities including Auburn Hills, Sylvan Lake, Lake Angeles and townships of Bloomfield, Orion, Waterford and West Bloomfield."
  4. ↑ "U.S. Judge Orders Integration Of All Schools in Pontiac, Mich". The New York Times . February 18, 1970. Retrieved May 6, 2018. The decision is another in the few but controversial court efforts to integrate Northern schools where housing patterns rather than law are said to cause school segregation. Last week Los Angeles schools were ordered integrated.
  5. 1 2 Graham, Fred P. (October 27, 1971). "JUSTICES REBUFF PONTIAC ON BUSING". The New York Times . Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Unpaid premiums could cost employees health coverage at struggling Pontiac schools." MLive . June 25, 2013. Retrieved on May 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ AlHajal, Khalil. "Distressed Pontiac school district could be next Michigan community to be taken over by state." MLive . July 3, 2013. Retrieved on May 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "UNIFORM AND APPEARANCE POLICY Archived 2011-10-18 at the Wayback Machine ." School District of the City of Pontiac. Retrieved on October 9, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Oakland County news briefs." Detroit Free Press . June 24, 2009. A4 Metro. Retrieved on November 27, 2011.
  10. 1 2 DIANA DILLABER MURRAYOf The Oakland Press (December 17, 2008). "Pontiac Central to close?". The Oakland Press . Retrieved August 17, 2012. (Archive)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.