Lawmakers at the state Capitol have approved a proposal to make sure students from Highland Park schools are able to attend classes next week.
The school district is on the brink of immediate shutdown after the district’s state-appointed emergency manager was removed.
A circuit court judge ruled the district’s financial review team violated the Open Meetings Act and must begin its work over again.
Ari Adler is the spokesman for state House Speaker Jase Bolger. He said the emergency legislation is necessary to protect students.
“We’re trying to set this up so parents and students will have a choice; they will have some options of where they can continue their education for the school year. Speaker Bolger has drawn a clear line of distinction between the Highland Park district and the Highland Park students. We’re done trying to save the Highland Park school district, we don’t believe it can be saved, but we are trying to save the students,” said Adler.
Adler said a payless payday tomorrow appears to be a foregone conclusion for employees in the destitute district.
Republican leaders say they are not willing to forward more money to the district while the school board remains in control of its finances.
Democratic House Minority Leader Rick Hammel said the Republican plan to provide money for kids to attend other public or charter schools in the area will hurt the students of Highland Park.
Hammel thinks a local intermediate school district should be allowed to take over Highland Park schools until a more permanent solution is found.
"The number one thing is those kids stay in that school – that’s the number one thing for us," said Hammel. "Now, the devil’s in the details. And we have taken an opportunity to just fund Highland Park schools through a responsible source, and created law with lots of stuff that goes in there that doesn’t have anything to do with taking care of Highland Park.”
The Highland Park school board will meet tonight to decide its next move.
