Highland Park Schools Get $4M To Finish Year
LANSING – In the midst of a battle over control of the Highland Park School District, Gov. Rick Snyder today signed emergency legislation that lets students finish the school year -- despite the district's financial crisis.
Highland Park schools currently face an $11.3 budget deficit while student enrollment continues to plummet, down 58 percent over the past five years. The controversial emergency manager law was invoked to let a state-appointed manager take over, but that manager was removed by a judge while an open meetings act violation is investigated.
It was unclear without the manager if the schools would have the funds to pay employees as soon as Friday.
And now they can.
House Bill 4445 includes $4 million to be used as $4,000 per-pupil stipends that follow students currently enrolled in Highland Park schools. Money from the Distressed District Student Transition grants can go to another school district or a charter school that accepts Highland Park students, or if the student remains in Highland Park schools, the money must go to the operating entity that is brought in to run the school. The money will not be used for the Highland Park district itself.
"This temporary measure keeps Highland Park children in the classroom, where they deserve and need to be," Snyder said in a statement. "While this action does not solve the school district's financial and management situation, it does put the immediate needs of students and their families first by minimizing disruptions for the rest of this school year.
"There is still much work to do but this collaborative effort shows that we can rise to any challenge and find appropriate solutions. "
Despite repeated state advances and bailouts, including a $4 million hardship loan last summer and two advancements of state aid payments in the past month, it is expected that the school district will not be able to meet today's payroll.
Snyder pledged that officials will conduct a public meeting to keep local residents informed. Details of the open forum will be announced.
A detailed analysis of H.B. 4445 is at www.legislature.mi.gov.
