Michigan Senate OKs $48.7 million in aid for Detroit schools

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Lawmakers in Michigan's Senate today voted to extend $48.7 million in emergency aid to keep Detroit's ailing school district open for the rest of the academic year and avoid the prospect of payless paydays for staff.

The Republican-led chamber approved the spending on a 29-7 vote. The GOP-controlled House was expected to vote in the afternoon after negotiators reached an agreement on oversight of the Detroit Public Schools' money.

Today was the deadline for lawmakers to act before their spring break. The district's state-appointed manager has said without the aid, it would be unable to pay employees for work they do after April 8, four days before legislators return to Lansing.

The $48.7 million is a stopgap measure while Republican Gov. Rick Snyder presses legislators to enact a larger restructuring plan to split the district and pay off $515 million in operating debt over a decade.

The 46,000-student district has been under state financial management for seven years and is burdened with declining enrollment and low morale that has led to teacher "sick-outs" in recent months.