DETROIT – More than 90 Detroit Public Schools will be open on Saturday for "DPS Open Doors Day," offering academic tours, immunizations, free sackpacks, free healthy meals and much more.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, parents and visitors can tour the schools and learn about academic programs. DPS officials said transportation shuttles will be provided.
Guests will get a sneak peek of the newly transformed school system they will experience this fall, including more Pre-Kindergarten classrooms, new community schools serving as hubs of their neighborhoods, more arts and music enrichment classes, a new Parent University, career academies and better customer service.
The changes are part of DPS' 5-year Strategic Plan, in which the district renewed its commitment to supporting all families and providing the highest quality public education available.
DPS says the district also renewed its commitment to supporting a regional workforce, which officials said will drive the city's economic rebirth through a brand new transformative Strategic Plan developed by 600 internal and external stakeholders.
Tours will be offered at the $6.67 million Diann Banks-Williamson Center, a new Special Education wing that will open Sept 3. DPS says the building is the last to be constructed as part of the district's $500.5 million bond issue passed in 2009.
Parents can board a free shuttle from seven of the district's eight Parent Resource Centers to take a tour of nearby schools.
DPS said parents, students and guests can sample healthy meals at noon. Refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. Free sackpacks and other giveaways will also be offered, first-come, first-served, according to DPS.
The following schools will offer free immunizations from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.:
- East English Village Preparatory Academy - 5020 Cadieux
- Garvey Academy - 2301 Van Dyke Street
- Gompers Elementary-Middle School - 14450 Burt Road
- Thurgood Marshall Elementary School - 15531 Linwood Street
- Western International High School (ages 10 to 21 only) - 1500 Scotten Street
All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive services, and DPS says to please bring health insurance card(s).