School Pride Episode 1.04 Don't Shut Us Down!

Detroit's Communication & Media Arts (C.M.A.) High School is in a bind: even though their students excel, their facilities are completely falling apart. Kavon and Torri show us that when you enter C.M.A., all you see is a crumbling facade.

Broken windows, rusted-over drinking fountains, cracked ceiling tiles, and toilets in need of repair: these are just some of the signs of a school in major distress. To ward off the rain, teachers have tried patching up broken windows with cardboard.

Although academically speaking, C.M.A. is one of Detroit's best schools, it will most likely be shut down. In its decrepit state, it's just too much of a liability.

Principal Donya Odom says C.M.A. is in a fight for its life. And with a 97% attendance rate and a 97% graduation rate, it's just not right. The staff and student body should not be forced to relocate.

This sounds like a job for the School Pride team! In seven days, they'll turn C.M.A around so it won't be slated for demolition ever again!

Kavon tells Whitley that the C.M.A. teachers are like his family members. They've always supported his dream of being the first person in his family to go to college.

A veteran of the Detroit school system, Dr. Ward shows Jacob C.M.A.'s unused library. Because there's no money to keep the library open, C.M.A.'s kids once again have to go without.

It's time for the School Pride team to delegate tasks. Susie will create a media lab; Whitley wants to work with the teachers; Jacob aims to revamp the library; and Tom decides to fix the exterior.

It's Day 2 and volunteers show up in droves! Whitley calls up her corporate friends at OnStar to help out. They paint, dust and help in any way they can!

Susie chats with Torri as they renovate a classroom. When Torri heard C.M.A. might have to close down, she knew she had to spring into action. Meanwhile, Tom and Kavon bond as they paint the exterior of the school.

Principal Donya Odom tells Jacob that she feels for her students because they're not getting the support they need. Jacob vows to get to the bottom of the school-funding issue.

Susie meets Torri's favorite teacher Mr. Fentin, who doesn't understand why a promising, successful school like C.M.A. risks closure. It just doesn't make sense.

Whitley joins English teacher Mr. Sharpe and his students as they repaint his classroom. To help Whitley feel more at home, Mr. Sharpe shows her how to do the C.M.A. Handshake.

Jacob confronts Robert Bobb, the Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools. Why would Mr. Bobb close down a successful school when teachers, students, and community members have fought so hard to protect it? Mr. Bobb claims that C.M.A. is on the "cut list" because it's unsafe for students to be in a crumbling building.

Math teacher Mrs. Bayles tells Whitley that she can't even keep her classroom dry during rainy weather. Whitley sees that even simple fixes would greatly improve Mrs. Bayles' room.

Tom picks out three TVs for C.M.A.'s campus! Thanks to Walmart, they're free!

In order to congratulate the kids, Tom sends them to Michigan International Speedway for the NASCAR racing experience!

Jacob tells Donya that Mr. Bobb will be at C.M.A.'s unveiling. If Mr. Bobb sees the positive changes, he might take C.M.A. off the dreaded "cut list."

Kavon and Torri cut the ribbon while excited students cheer in the background!

C.M.A.'s new exterior is so beautiful, many of the teachers and students can't believe it's the same school!

The new library is stocked with books, top-of-the-line computers, and hip furniture!

Mrs. Bayles' classroom looks like a futuristic dream! No more having to worry about students getting soaked by the rain!

With Walmart's help, the student lounge has amazing new equipment. There's no way C.M.A. can be shut down with these awesome new computers!

Mr. Sharpe loves his new classroom, deeming it "wicked cool"! He especially loves the pictures of his kids on the wall.

C.M.A. can actually say that it's living up to its name - now that it has a Microsoft Multimedia Lab!

Mr. Bobb takes C.M.A. off the "cut list" forever!