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Governor Rick Snyder says he will sign DPS bills

Posted at 5:57 PM, Jun 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-10 17:57:40-04

This week the state legislature passed bills that will give Detroit Public Schools more than $600 million to avoid bankruptcy and continue educating kids. 

The bills still need approval from the governor. He says consider them approved.

"This is one of those rare cases where I will tell you, I am going to sign this package," said Gov. Rick Snyder (R-Michigan).

Snyder says that doesn’t mean it is everything he hoped for.

For example, the bills don’t call for a Detroit Education Commission. It is something that was suggested be created to regulate if and where schools - district and public charter - open in the city. The goal was to make sure schools are successful and opened where they are needed.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has said without such a commission money will be wasted as charters and district schools operate without coordination, in competition.

"He clearly wanted to have the DEC and I was a supporter of that, but the legislation that passed accomplishes some huge goals that were outstanding for the last decade or so," said Snyder.

The governor says finding a plan to pay off the district’s approximately half a billion dollar debt is a huge accomplishment.  Plus there will be funding to help it restructure.

"There is going to be $150 million in new investment, and there is going to be a locally elected school board in place," said Snyder.

He could sign the bills as soon as next week.