If Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan to bail out Detroit public schools goes forward, Clarkston Community Schools would lose $400,000 a year, about $50 from every student.
“Thats not fair to our students,? said Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock. ‘We keep talking to legislators to voice our concerns.?
The 10-year state plan would pay off Detroit Public Schools’ debt, and replace the emergency Education Achievement Authority with a traditional public school district, Detroit Community Schools.
The Education Achievement Authority, which was created in 2011, is under investigation for public corruption by the FBI.
Rock objects to taking money from Clarkston and other schools to pay for Detroit’s debt. When local school budgets are cut, the districts must cut teachers, programs and increase class size, he said.
‘It involves pension liabilities,? he said. ‘The situation must be watched very carefully,?
DPS pension funds exceed $100 million and accumulated $100,000 a day in interest and late fee penalties.
Local residents are worried Detroit is just the first school district the state will have to bail out.
‘Unfortunately it’s not just Detroit that’s in a financial crisis; check out the debt Flint Community Schools owes – $10 million plus extra dollars misappropriated in one fiscal year , discovered by the auditors put in place by the same EM under Snyder,” said Kim Petrie on the Clarkston News Facebook page.
” And Saginaw.And Pontiac ? it’s coming, whether to cover Detroit’s debt or another’s.?
‘I think it’s sad what has happened to the schools in Detroit but it’s equally as sad what will happen to ours, we have already lost some good aides that our children grew to love because of hours being cut ? what will be next,? asked Heather Young.