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Detroit Public Schools mourning deaths of 3 parents, 2 employees due to coronavirus

Posted at 4:26 PM, Mar 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-31 21:06:13-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — The coronavirus is taking a deadly toll within the Detroit Public Schools Community District. The head of DPSCD is taking to social media to express sadness after learning of the passing of three parents and two employees of the district.

On his official Twitter page on Monday, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti posted, “We learned that we lost two DPSCD employees today from two separate schools... three parents from three different schools. One of the hardest days yet. All to this awful virus. My heart is in pain for their families and our district and school families.”

According to the district website, staffers who died worked at Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy, and Bunch Prep Academy. Parents who died were from Bates Academy, Chrysler Elementary and Schulze Academy.

Additional sympathy is also being shared after the COVID-19 related death of legendary retired Mumford basketball coach Dwight Jones.

A long time friend, Steve Fishman, tells 7 Action News, “Dwight Jones was a teacher, a coach and a mentor to countless young men and women at Mumford High School. He was the type of guy who even after kids graduated, if they had problems or just wanted to come back and talk he was always available. His loss is a tremendous tragedy in the Mumford community.”

According to the district website, from March 14 to Monday, more than 20 staffers have tested positive for coronavirus. So far, the district is not releasing names of parents or employees who’ve died.

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