House Minority Leader: Dems Won’t Support Proposed DPS Legislation
Without charter oversight, teacher certifications, House Democrats won’t support DPS legislation, minority leader says.
Michigan’s House could vote today on a $617 million funding package for Detroit Public Schools that includes $467 million to pay off the district’s debt and $150 million to start a new debt-free district.
But State House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) says he and other Democrats won’t support the measure without the inclusion of some kind of oversight for if, where and when charter schools open in the city.
“This is a mechanism that’s critically important to bring some rhyme or reason to what schools open in the city of Detroit,” he says. “Without this kind of mechanism that would reign in the unfettered proliferation of charter schools, most of which are underperforming, there’s really no way to bring long-term stability to the Detroit public school district.”
Greimel spoke with WDET’s Pat Batcheller during Morning Edition.
House Democrats also object to the House Republicans’ proposal to eliminate the requirement that teachers in the Detroit district be certified.
“They seem to think it’s OK for sub-par teachers to teach Detroit public school children but of course not children elsewhere in the state,” Greimel says. “We’re very much against that. We know that in Detroit, as much or more than anywhere else in the state, we need highly qualified teachers in the classroom.”
If the House passes a version of the bill that differs from the Senate’s, it would return to the Senate where the differences between the chambers’ version would need to be addressed.
To hear Pat’s full interview with Rep. Greimel, click on the audio link above.
