The Detroit school district is weighing spending $79.4 million of surplus funds to chip away at long-needed infrastructure improvements.
The plan, presented to the Detroit Public Schools Community District board’s finance and academic committees, includes demolishing 11 vacant buildings, boarding up another 11 vacant properties, building an athletic complex, repaving 36 parking lots, and improving fencing at 28 schools. The money, which comes in part from increased revenue in recent fiscal years, would also be used to replace the roof at one school and build two new health hubs, among other expenditures.
“I think it’s a major, major investment in our kids, and we can afford it — the time is right,” said Board Member Iris Taylor during last week’s Finance Committee meeting. The finance academic committees approved the proposal this month. The full board must vote to amend this year’s budget for the plans to take action…