The Inkster and Buena Vista school districts have until the close of business Monday to submit proof they can come up with enough money to open in September and stay open.
As Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta tells us, otherwise, the state will act to shut down the districts.
Parents, clergy, and school employees packed a hearing room to ask state officials to keep their schools open and to not send the students to other districts. A new law gives the state the power to dissolve small, struggling districts like Buena Vista and Inkster.
State Treasurer Andy Dillon agreed to wait until Monday to finalize a decision, but says he’s not confident the districts can secure the funding they need.
“Neither school district can open their doors for the kids,” he says. “They don’t have the resources. There’s no cash in the checking accounts.”
Inkster parent Linda Edwards said she doesn’t want her kids sent to another district where she’s not sure how they’d be treated.
“I’m not going to beg,” she said. “I’m not going to plead. I’m going to pray that you leave our doors open.”