DPS Holds Public Hearing On Proposed Cuts To District

DETROIT (WWJ) - Teachers and parents are getting their first chance to speak out about a plan for cutbacks in the Detroit Public Schools.

Detroit Public Schools is holding its first public hearing Monday night on a proposed plan to cut the district's massive deficit.

Before the hearing, Emergency Manager Roy Roberts said he's sticking to the plan that calls for over 850 layoffs and a 10 percent cut in pay for school workers.

WWJ asked Roberts if he feared a strike: "Last time we had a strike we lost 30,000 students and I don't know how many teachers, everyone has to make their own decisions about what they want to do, I'm going to educate the young people in the city of Detroit," said  Roberts.

Roberts has also cut his own pay by 10 percent.

"We're talking about a crisis situation where we've got to make decisions and we've got to move, and I'm not going to waste any time because ... I'm not lingering any more, we've got to move ahead," said Roberts.