Legislature close to approving $617M bailout for Detroit schools

Michigan lawmakers may be close to approving a $617 million bailout of the debt-ridden Detroit Public Schools.

Senators will discuss the plan privately Tuesday and then possibly vote.

The legislation won House approval last week. But it's not a bipartisan plan like one that passed the Senate earlier, so Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof likely needs to persuade more Republicans to support it.

The bills would split the district in two to retire $467 million in operating debt and provide $150 million for a new district. The current district, which has been state-managed for seven years, is in danger of running out of money this summer.

A school board, to be elected in November, would be given control again while a commission of state appointees would have financial oversight.