Detroit district has $700 million plan to overhaul school facilities

The Detroit district has proposed a $700 million initiative to rebuild, renovate, reopen and expand many of its schools. 

The plan calls for the district to spend $281 million to rebuild five schools, $296 million to renovate buildings, and $128 million to reopen seven previously closed schools, expand pre-K, build five additions at existing schools, and demolish or sell some vacant buildings, reports Chalkbeat Detroit. 

The district would rebuild: Cody High School, Paul Robeson/Malcolm X Academy, Pershing High School, Carstens @Golightly, and Phoenix, a building that closed in 2016.

The district would close Ann Arbor Trail, Sampson Webber and Clark. Seven buildings that are vacant or underutilized will be reactivated and house expanded pre-kindergarten programs. 

Charles Wright Academy, Communication and Media Arts High School, John R. King Academy, Western International High School, and Southeastern Career Technical Center would receive additions. 

The schools included in the district's closing list: Post, Biddle, Poe, Van Zile, Carrie/Law, and Foch. It also includes one of the two buildings that house Greenfield Union.

The district is considering building an athletic complex in the city that would be a public-private partnership. The complex would include indoor and outdoor facilities for football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, track, and lacrosse. The district says the facility could be a revenue generator because it would enable the district to host major tournaments.

Funding for the plan would come from the district's Covid relief funds.