DETROIT – More than $3,000 of every Detroit Public Schools (DPS) student's $7,100 grant -- nearly 40 percent -- goes to debt repayment.
If that burden is removed, those funds could be used to address many of the complaints these teachers have. It's all spelled out in the new DPS bailout package, which was introduced in the state Capitol on Thursday.
There is some surprise in it: The state of Michigan will allow the elected board to return sooner than expected.
"It's a positive development. We've always been for an elected board," said Ivy Bailey, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) union.
However, union leaders are withholding support because the new district will start with an appointed board first. Rank-and-file members are skeptical Lansing will deliver anything they promise.
"You cannot tell me our elected school board could have done worse than the state. So I'll wait and see what happens, but I'm very circumspect," said William Weir, a teacher at Schultz Academy.
Cassandra Davis, a DPS speech pathologist, is concerned about conditions at the school buildings and teacher pay.
"So for a year our conditions remain the same? There's nothing being done to the schools, for our salaries?" she said.
Detroit House and Senate Democrats have serious reservations because of what the bailout bill doesn't say about the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) funding.
"It doesn't say where we're going to get it, how we're going to get it," said Rep. Brian Banks, of the House Black Caucus. "They could come up with a millage. We want to make sure there are safeguards so the state takes care of the debt and does not put it on the backs of the people."
The state's financial contribution will need the support of out-state lawmakers. Teacher sick-outs within DPS make getting it more difficult.
"It does, because we're trying to up educational opportunities for the kids, and by the kids not being in class, that doesn't help," said Sen. Geoff Hansen (R-Hart).
Hansen authored the bills. He said funding sources will be finalized in coming months but he hopes they won't dip into the school aid fund -- as in "robbing Peter to pay Paul."
As for the EAA, Gov. Rick Snyder created it and must determine its future. However, this package seems to lay a foundation for its dissolution.
The DFT is still meeting. We don't know if there is a strike vote, but leadership promises to speak with us when concluded.