The Plymouth educational center is closing

Central Michigan University, the authorizing agency which granted a charter to the Plymouth educational center to provide educational services recently informed The board of directors for the school that it decided not to reauthorize the charter to the school. Immediately the board of directors for the school reached out to other universities who expressed an interest in authorizing the school for a charter, but they were prevented by Central Michigan University which sited an agreement among the charter schools funding sources that they would honor the decision not to reauthorize a school among themselves. This left our school and the unfortunate position of not being able to be financially solvent. The board of directors for our school voted Tuesday to dissolve the nonprofit corporation that governs the school, the Plymouth educational center.

The Plymouth educational center is the outgrowth of a daycare center which was founded in 1960 at 514 Garfield St., the former location of our church. Evelyn white, a member the church, served as the first director of the Plymouth daycare center.

In 1976, at the urging of parents in the preschool, a kindergarten and soon after first grade, we’re located in a gas station located on Canfield between Beubien and and St. Antoine. The first principal of the Plymouth Day School, was Mrs. Cora Collins, also a church member. Shortly after the establishment of the Plymouth Day School, I became the unpaid administrator of the school. I was the associate minister of the church at the time. The school continued to flourish and expanded to a fifth grade. From this school, several of the students succeeded academically and received Ivy League college education.

In 1995, the Plymouth Educational Center received a charter from Central Michigan University. Doctor Vivian Ross was the first executive director of this school which included both the K through 8 and a high school. The school is historic because it is the first church based, church sponsored charter school in the state of Michigan. Also, it is unique and historic because it is the first charter school to be built from the ground up in Michigan for the sole purpose of being a school.

The school primarily served students from the Charles Diggs Apartments, Medical Center Courts Apartments, and the Brewster Housing Development, all low to moderate and income housing in Detroit. The families served by the school are in many cases families that are economically challenged. With the closing of the school, these families and their children will  lose a much needed alternative for education.

I am disappointed and saddened with the closing of the school.   I solicit your prayers for the staff, the administration, and most of all the students.

Reverend Dr. Nicholas Hood III