(MPRN-Lansing) The state House is expected to vote Thursday on an emergency spending bill to keep Detroit Public Schools open through the school year.
The state’s largest school district could close its doors on April 8 without an immediate infusion of cash. But state lawmakers are not close to a compromise on a larger bailout package.
So they’re sending about $50 million to the district to bridge the gap.
“The intention is to say to the school children of Detroit, school’s open,”
said state Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville), who chairs the state House Appropriations Committee. The district’s total debt is more than $500 million – ten times the Legislature’s stopgap measure.
Proponents say the measure gives lawmakers some much-needed time to consider a larger, more comprehensive rescue package for DPS.
“The two weeks is a big breather for everybody,”
said state Rep. Harvey Santana (D-Detroit).
“Because I know, for myself, this has taken so much out of me emotionally, physically, spiritually. I mean, I’m just drained of the issue. And I live it every day.”
DPS Emergency Manager Steven Rhodes has told lawmakers that without state assistance, DPS won’t be able to pay teachers and staff after April 8.
“It was necessary and it’s immediate and we have to hurry up and deal with it because, again, I don’t think anybody wants to face the prospects of a payless payday,”
said Santana. The legislation also subjects DPS to a state financial oversight board.
