Michigan schools could be forced to consolidate many of their services into county-wide systems.
That’s if state lawmakers decide to go along with a plan released Monday by state Superintendent Mike Flanagan.
The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher has more.
Flanagan wants services like transportation, food, and staff training to be handled at the county or regional level.
“And local districts, they can spend time on student achievement issues and not worry about all that other stuff,” he says.
He says the plan could save districts across the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
The plan comes a week after Governor Rick Snyder signed bills that would let the state dissolve Buena Vista and Inkster schools. Those districts are among many that have seen declining enrollment and chronic budget problems.
State lawmakers say they’ll take Flanagan’s proposal under serious consideration. A state House panel is set to discuss school consolidation issues later this month.