Top Senator Criticizes Detroit Schools Manager Over Contract
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A Republican leader is criticizing the Detroit school district's emergency manager after the approval of teacher pay increases.
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said Wednesday he's lost "all my confidence" in Steven Rhodes as the state-managed district returns to local control under a state bailout.
Meekhof says Rhodes found a "loophole" in the legislation and isn't "doing a good job for the taxpayers."
The Detroit Federation of Teachers last week ratified a contract with pay hikes, mostly one-time bonuses. It remains in effect through December and then through June unless the new school board objects.
Rhodes say teachers haven't gotten a raise in seven years and took a pay cut in 2013. He says it's a matter of "fairness," and a "modest" boost in salaries will help attract high-quality teachers.
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