Highland Park schools could close, Snyder tells parents

By Melanie D. Scott Free Press Staff Writer

   As Highland Park schools officials pleaded their case against an emergency manager to officials in Lansing on Friday, Gov. Rick Snyder sent a letter to the district’s parents informing them that without state intervention there would be no district by the end of next month.

   On Monday, parents of Highland Park students told district officials they received a letter from the governor informing them of the school district’s dire financial situation.

   In a letter dated Jan. 20, Snyder told parents finances for the district have reached a crisis stage and during the 2010-11 school year, the district was $3 million over budget.

   The letter also mentioned the state forwarded an emergency advance of $188,000 to the district on Jan. 13.

   “Recognizing the crisis, I authorized an independent financial review team to examine the district’s finances,” the letter stated. “Since the release of the findings of this review team, projections show that HPS is in jeopardy of closing next month without immediate action.”

   District officials said the letter sends a deceptive message and could be taken as a warning to parents to get out of the district.

   “If you were a parent this would be intended to scare you,” said Highland Park school board secretary Robert Davis. “This is unprecedented communication with the parents. Why wouldn’t you notify district officials?”

   Sara Wurfel, a spokeswoman for Snyder, said the letter was meant to address the anger, fear and frustrations of the district’s parents.

   “Given the severity and urgency of the situation, the governor wanted to get additional feedback from parents,” Wurfel said. “We are going to do everything we can to work with the Highland Park School District in the short term and the long term.”

   It was the first time the governor sent a letter to parents of a financially struggling district, Wurfel said. The letter was intended to create dialogue, she added.

   Some parents said the letter did cause them to panic.

   “When I called, they said the letter was not an attempt to start an uproar,” said Glenda McDonald, a former teacher and activist. “They can send in an emergency manager, but closing the district is not an option.”

   Snyder appointed a 10-member review team under Public Act 4, the Local Government and School District Fiscal Responsibility Act, in November to review the district’s finances. Earlier this month, the team recommended the appointment of an emergency manager.

   In its 11-page report, the review team found the district had a cumulative general fund deficit of more than $7.4 million. According to the district’s fiscal year 2011 audit, the cumulative general fund deficit increased by 51% to $11.2 million as of June 2011.

   The review team also found that the district has incurred an operating deficit in five of its last six fiscal years. The operatingdeficits have ranged from $597,733 in 2007 to more than $3.5 million during the 2010 fiscal year. The average operating deficit for the seven years was $2.3 million. The team’s report did not include a warning that the district could close.

   The district’s enrollment has also declined by 58% since 2006, dropping from 3,179 to 1,331 students in 2011. The current enrollment, according to the review team, is 969 students.

   District officials requested a hearing under Public Act 4, which was held on Friday in hopes of pointing out errors or possible omissions in the review team’s report. Officials had until the end of day Monday to submit any follow-up questions.

   Highland Park Superintendent Edith Hightower said she is waiting to hear what happens next.

   “We don’t know what they have planned,” she said.