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DPS,
Roberts
continue
to push
for
greater
numbers
in the
classroom
and to
improve
learning
DETROIT
(Tell Us
Det) -
Detroit
Public
Schools
Emergency
Manager
Roy
Roberts
last
Friday
toured
three of
the nine
new
schools
or major
remodels
set to
open for
students
this
morning
on the
First
Day of
Teaching
and
Learning.
Parents
and
community
members
from
each
community
accompanied
Roberts
on the
tour of
two
renovated
high
schools
and a
brand
new
elementary
middle
school.
The
group
visited
Denby
High
School
on the
east
side,
and the
renovated
Western
International
High
School
and the
new
Amelia
Earhart
Elementary
Middle
School
in
Southwest
Detroit.
The
schools
were
built
and
modernized
through
the
district’s
$500.5
million,
three-year
construction
program
funded
by
voter-approved
Proposal
S
dollars.
Roy
Roberts,
Emergency
Financial
Manager
walks
with
Denby
Principal
Kenyetta
Wibourn
(center)
during a
tour of
the
schools’
renovated
classrooms,
auditorium
and
dining
area.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
One
perfect
example
is the
$16.5
million
renovation
of Denby
High
School
which
includes
construction
of a new
commons
area for
student
dining
and
other
activities.
One of
the
highlights
of this
project
was a
complete
restoration
of
Denby’s
Historic
Auditorium.
Each
chair
was
individually
removed
and hand
finished,
and the
proscenium
was hand
restored
with new
gold
leaf.
Other
improvements
include
new
stage
curtains,
a new
state-of-the-art
audio
visual
and
security
system,
new
lighting,
acoustic
panels,
and a
new
mechanical
system
that now
provides
this
large
space
with
climate
control.
Interior
of Denby
High
School’s
renovated
auditorium.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
A
portion
of the
existing
dining
area was
repurposed
to
provide
adequate
kitchen,
serving,
and
delivery
/
receiving
areas.
The
remaining
space
was
renovated
to
create a
new
multi-purpose
area
designed
for use
as a
senior
high
school
student
dining
room and
as
meeting
space
for
student
clubs
and
organizations.
The
media
center
was
repurposed
to
include
two
computer
labs, a
small
group
room,
and a
team
room.
The
upper
level of
the
center
allows
for
observation
of the
lower
level
while
also
providing
additional
remodeled
group
meeting
rooms.
Classrooms
were
also
modernized
and
upgrades
were
made to
the
lighting
and
electrical
systems.
Exterior
upgrades
include
new
roof, a
new
parking
layout,
and new
decorative
fencing
at the
front of
the
building.
The
design
build
team is
O’Brien
Edwards
/
Turner,
a 50
percent
Detroit-headquartered
joint
venture.
The
architect
is
Kraemer
Design
Group.
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