Detroit Closing Over 25% of Schools

Detroit, Michigan’s school district will shut more than a quarter of its 194 schools, and eliminate the jobs of more than 10% of its teachers.

Robert C. Bobb’s plan is meant to close a $303 million budget deficit. Bobb was appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm appointed last month to address the district’s rapidly growing deficit.

The plan calls for 23 schools to be permanently shut, with 7,500 students transferred to other schools.

An additional 30 to 40 schools will close next year, and 600 teachers will be laid off this year.

Bobb has asked the state for $200 million of Michigan’s $1.5 billion in federal stimulus money. He proposes spending $25 million on safety and security, and $81 million to repair and expand buildings. The money would create temporary construction jobs.

The district currently has 95,000 students, and 5,700 teachers. Fewer than 900,000 people now live in Detroit, compared with more than two million 50 years ago.