DETROIT – Michigan's governor, the State Treasurer and the State Senate all agree Detroit Public Schools needs in excess of $700 million to pay off its debt and retool the district.
Earlier this year, the Senate passed a bipartisan DPS bailout that provided the needed funds. It went over to the House and got nowhere.
Last week, in the middle of the night, the House approved a $515 million package that nobody but the House thinks goes far enough. Part of the reason the Senate plan got nowhere was the two-day sick-out by the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
DFT members were concerned there wouldn’t be enough money through the summer months. It was perceived in Lansing as an illegal strike.
Now a bailout for the schools returns to the Michigan Senate. Right now, there are not sufficient votes to approve the $700 million in funds again.
The governor and state treasurer will try to change minds this week.
"It hurt the cause," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "I don’t think there’s any doubt about that in terms of creating concerns in people’s minds. That’s one of the issues and I think it’s good that two or three days have passed. Now let’s let everything settle down."