Michigan Senate OKs $700 Million Overhaul Of Detroit Public Schools
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - The Michigan Senate has approved a $700 million restructuring plan to divide Detroit's financially and academically ailing school district in two and put in place a mechanism to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in operating debt.
"They passed all six bills that are part of the Detroit Public Schools reform legislation by bipartisan votes," WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reported Tuesday.
The main bill was approved 21-16 by the Republican-controlled chamber, nearly 11 months after Gov. Rick Snyder first proposed splitting the 46,000-student district that has been under state financial management for seven years.
Students would attend a new district that could obtain $200 million in state funds for transition costs. A new school board would be elected in August, a board of state appointees would have oversight of finances and an education commission of mayoral appointees would be empowered to determine if some schools open or close.
It also allows oversight by a number of committees to make sure that the state money going into the city will not be misspent.
Among those none too pleased with the deal is State Senator Coleman Young, Jr., (D-Detroit).
"My concern with this legislation is that there is no academic reform, or no academic support in this whatsoever," Young said. "Sixty-six percent of the children in Detroit Public Schools are not proficient in reading...66 percent. Forty-seven percent of the city is functionally illiterate. Of the city!"
Young expressed particular displeasure that the bills will leave the state-run Educational Achievement Authority (EAA) in place until next year.
"We should be trying to destroy this and salt the grounds of the earth so that the Education Achievement Authority never rears its ugly head again!" he said. "This what I'm talking about; this is what gets me upset, is that you have obvious stuff that has affected the children, that's raping, and robbing and pillaging and maiming the kids — and we can't get an agreement on that."
The legislation next goes to the House for consideration.
"This is a major step forward," Skubick said, adding that it's a victory for Gov. Snyder. "This was what the Snyder administration was hoping for — to get this long-term solution through at least one house before spring break."
Skubick said that the Senate is expected on Wednesday to consider an emergency appropriation of about $50 million to keep Detroit schools open past April 8.
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