95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

16 Michigan districts to come under treasury oversight

Sixteen Michigan school districts operating with deficits for more than five years are expected to come under oversight of the state Treasury Department under a new law.

State Superintendent Brian Whiston listed the districts Thursday in a quarterly update to lawmakers.

Five districts - Detroit, Highland Park, Muskegon Heights, Benton Harbor and Pontiac - already are operating under a state-appointed emergency manager or consent agreement.

The other 11 districts will have to submit an enhanced deficit elimination plan to the state treasurer.

They include Bridgeport-Spaulding, Clintondale, Flint, Hazel Park, Lincoln, Mackinaw City, Mt. Clemens, New Haven, Southgate, Vanderbilt and Westwood.

Whiston says he hopes the oversight function eventually is returned to the Education Department but for now, "it's most important to do what's right for the kids in the district."