Detroit Store Tries To Draw Kids To School With New Shoes

By Christy Strawser
CBS Detroit Managing Editor
DETROIT (CBS Detroit)  Got kicks? Every Detroit student who shows up on the cash-crucial Student Count Day will be able to answer "yes" thanks to a donation from Bob's Classic Kicks in midtown.

BCK, 4717 Woodward, made an arrangement with the school district to give away a free pair of black leather Nikes to every student who comes to class on Oct. 3, the day when students are counted and their numbers used as the basis for per-pupil funding from the state and federal government.

The more bodies in class, the more money schools have all year.

"Well, first off, we decided since we've been in the community for eight years, we wanted to give back to the community, so why not do what we do best -- which is shoes," explained Christian Dorsey, manager at BCK.

The school district will hand out vouchers to every child in every grade, which could add up to 14,000 to 17,000 pair of shoes.

"We know this is a great cause for the community, it's something that needs to be done," Dorsey said, adding he's not worried about the cost of all those shoes because "it's about educating our kids."

Detroit schools have been plagued with failing test scores, jumbled finances, violence and plummeting student population. The district's emergency manager Roy Roberts unveiled a plan this spring to eliminate the district's deficit in five years, reduce crime in the schools, improve test scores and start a new culture of success in the district.

Anyone who wants to donate to the shoe effort should email bobsclassickicks@yahoo.com.