DPS Needs Money Now, New Leader Says

The new leader of Detroit Public Schools says there’s no plan B if state lawmakers don’t approve a plan for the district soon.

Judge Steven Rhodes, the DPS transition manager, says the district only has enough cash to pay its teachers to work until April 8th.

He says unless legislation to send DPS $50 million is approved before lawmakers go on break in two weeks, the district will go dark.

Rhodes says that shouldn’t be an option, noting that the cost to close down and then reopen the district would add to the school system’s debt.

The Michigan House and Senate are working on competing plans to restructure DPS and pay down its debt.