Detroit School Closures

Attorney General Bill Schuette in a formal opinion on Wednesday announced the newly created Detroit District can be closed by the School Reform/Redesign Office as early as this year.

Mr. Schuette’s opinion followed a conflicting opinion between the administration and the legislature. The Miller Canfield law firm released a memo stating the new district has not existed for three years, therefore the schools ranked lowest for three years cannot be closed until 2019. Governor Rick Snyder concurred with this memo, however House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) and Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) disagreed and believed the law was clear, that schools in the district that consistently fail should be closed.

In the confusion, Mr. Cotter and Mr. Meekhof requested the Attorney General issue an opinion, which is binding unless overturned by the courts. Mr. Schuette did so and commented that the Miller Canfield argument misread the text, structure and purposes of the package of bills passed by the Legislature.

It is speculation to say whether schools will be closed this year, but the Attorney General’s opinion will be reviewed.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, September 30, 2016 9:39 AM
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