Nancy Kaffer

Detroit Free Press Columnist

The Michigan Senate could vote on a package of Detroit Public Schools reform bills today, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Detroit Free Press, splitting the district in two, installing an elected school board before year's end, and creating a new oversight commission.

The new Senate bills come just a week after the House of Representatives approved an emergency $48.7-million allocation for DPS, necessary to stop the schools from running out of cash next month. The state House has introduced its own DPS legislation; its provisions include lowering standards for teacher certification and other changes largely viewed as aimed at breaking the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

The deal on the table in the Senate, according to the source and to draft copies of the bills obtained by the Free Press, conforms to Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed DPS restructuring, splitting the district into two entities. The old district, with DPS' current elected board in charge, would exist solely to collect the district's operating millage and pay down its debt. The new district would receive the state's per-pupil allowance, and educate students.

Even after decades of declining enrollment, DPS is the state's largest district, with some 47,000 students. The district has been under state oversight for most of this century; under a succession of state-appointed emergency managers, the district's financial and academic positions have worsened. Former U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes was appointed by Snyder last month to lead the district.

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The Senate deal would include a $715-million allotment, $515-million earmarked for district debt, and $200 million for startup costs for the new district. When the state treasurer certifies DPS' debt paid, the old district would be dissolved.

Other provisions of the Senate deal include:

- The rapid installation of an elected school board. In the latest version of draft legislation, elections for the seven-member school would be held in August and serve staggered terms. The school board would hire the new district's superintendent; currently serving DPS board members would be ineligible for those seats.

- The new district will be under the financial oversight of the same Financial Review Commission that's currently overseeing City of Detroit finances. The commission must approve the new district's chief financial officer.

- The creation of a seven-member Detroit Education Commission, all seven members to be appointed by Detroit's mayor. Two members must have five years' administrative or board experience at a charter school, and one must be a Detroit charter school parent. Two members must have five years' administrative experience in a Detroit public school, and one must be a parent with a child in a Detroit public school. One member will be independent with expertise in public school accountability systems and school improvement, according to the draft legislation. The commission's initial charge is for five years, but can be renewed if the district hasn't made sufficient progress. The commission will coordinate school openings and closures, and develop accountability standards for both traditional public and charter schools.

- The controversial Educational Achievement Authority, the state reform district, will continue to exist through June 2017.

The bills have been introduced days before the Legislature is scheduled to start a two-week recess this Friday.

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