Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to detail plans for Detroit schools

Gov. Rick Snyder joined The Now Detroit to talk about his idea to bring Syrian and other Middle Eastern refugees to Michigan.

The new district would be responsible for operations, while current district would be charged with eliminating a budget deficit.

The new district will be governed by a seven-member board, initially appointed by the Governor and Detroit’s mayor.

He said the overhaul is needed to improve the outcome for the city’s children and relieve the district’s debt load, which he called “crushing”.

“This is a critically important issue because we’re talking about the lives of thousands and thousands of children”, Snyder said. “In math and science, 94 to 95 percent are not proficient, and in reading, two-thirds are not proficient”.

The plan mirrors a few details of the proposal Snyder first announced in April, including his desire to split DPS into two entities as a way to deal with the district’s operating debt, which is expected to be at $515 million next June.

A property tax levy earmarked for the district’s outstanding bonds would continue to pay off that debt, said spokeswoman Sara Wurfel.

The legislative package includes creating a new traditional public school district.

Michigan would replace the school system’s tax revenue dedicated to the deficit elimination with state funding going to the new school operating entity.

The Detroit Financial Review Commission, which was created as part of the city’s bankruptcy exit plan, would oversee the finances of both school entities until the deficit is erased.

Under the plan, Darnell Earley, who became the fourth emergency manager of DPS since 2009 in January, would remain in place until his 18-month term ends in mid-2016 to supervise the financial matters of the “old” DPS. That person would have the power to open and close academically failing schools operated by DPS, charter schools and the Education Achievement Authority, the state’s district for the lowest performing schools. A Detroit Education Commission – with three gubernatorial appointees and two mayoral appointees – would hire a chief education officer to craft accountability, facilities and enrollment plans.