WDET News
- Monica Conyers: Schools and State at Fault for DPS
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Dec 9, 2008General
The Detroit City Council President says there’s plenty of blame to spread around concerning the appointment of an emergency financial manager for the Detroit Public Schools.
Council President Monica Conyers says the state didn’t properly put the Detroit Public Schools on the right foot following a four year state takeover that started in 1999.
“And then I think the school board needs to be responsible too. You have a new person coming in here and why didn’t you tell her about all the different funds there are and monies that need to be spend and what was going on and allow her to do the things that she needed to do.”
Conyers says that new person is current superintendent Connie Calloway. On Monday, state schools superintendent Mike Flannigan said he’d ask the Governor to appoint a financial manager. He says the move is not a state takeover because the local school board and superintendent will continue to handle all educational matters. Flannigan says he made the decision because the Detroit Public Schools has a $400 million deficit and no concrete plan to resolve it.
The Detroit Board of Education has until next week to request a hearing to contest that a financial emergency exists.