DPS parents protest Lansing bailout plan at state Capitol

LANSING (WJBK) - Detroit parents making their voices heard inside the state Senate today as lawmakers debate the latest plan to rescue the struggling school system.

The parents urged senators to reject the bailout bill approved by the state House. But there won't be a vote this week.

Some parents demonstrated outside and inside the state Capitol today urging lawmakers to reject the House GOP rescue package. 

They demonstrated on the capitol steps and they shouted from the senate balcony and were promptly told to be quiet. They demonstrators were in town to embrace the DPS rescue packaged adopted by the GOP controlled senate last March.

The leader of the demonstration denounces what the House Republicans did last week that delayed a locally elected Detroit school board until January, 2018.

"I think it's insane to have us wait any longer," said Wytrice Harris, a demonstrator. "We are capable of running the school district ourselves. We need local control."

Jonathan Clark, a father of seven children, said:  "They go to school with teachers that are short-staffed, under-resourced, they don't have books, and the conditions in the schools are horrible. These things would not be allowed in the suburbs. In Detroit it's accepted. It is like its okay."

That's why they send their children to a private school.

The Senate will not vote on a DPS rescue package this week. The main sponsor wants the emotions to die down.

"I think we need a couple of days to take a deep breath, get back into the mode, relax and make sure we are doing the right thing," said Sen. Geoff Hansen (R), DPS bill sponsor.

The Senate Democratic leader argues the Republicans and the GOP speaker of the house did the wrong thing.

"It was a pretty irresponsible plan, it was sort of knee jerk," said Sen. Jim Ananich, (D) Senate leader. "I think we have to not allow the speaker to hi-jack the government."

Gov. Rick Snyder huddled behind closed doors with the Republican legislative leaders.

"We have a long way to go," said Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R) Senate leader.