City of Grosse Pointe OKs Resolution Opposing Schools of Choice Mandate

All of the Grosse Pointes have now passed resolutions opposing the schools of choice mandate with the council giving their unanimous approval Monday. 

Their resolution, which is similar to those approved by the other four Grosse Pointe councils, will be sent to Lansing on Tuesday with the request for special attention to Gov. Rick Snyder. 

The bill calling for the mandate, Senate Bill 624, is included in . Schools of choice is a program that is currently optional for districts. For those that opt in, the district has control over how to implement it and to whom enrollment will be offered.

While the initial draft of the bill outlines that local districts will determine their own capacity, because it could be amended at any time during the legislative process. 

Before council approved the resolution Monday, board member Brendan Walsh spoke. He told the council that the local opposition being voiced through formal avenues, such as councils and schools boards, has impacted the creation of the bill.

Walsh said that while Snyder originally proposed the mandate with the hopes of having borderless schools, the draft does not have such requirements by leaving the capacity question up to the district—a detail he believes is the result of the public emphasis against the mandate.

Each of has passed it with the . The and many local officials are involved in the grassroots organization, Michigan Communities for Local Control, started by two Grosse Pointe mothers who oppose the mandate.

The group has garnered support throughout the state and continues its efforts to keep the public informed and up to date on the bill's movement through the state legislature. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Michigan Senate Education Committee is to hear testimony on the bill and several local representatives are planning to attend. The hearing is scheduled to begin at noon and all of the bills in the package are on the agenda. Schools of choice is the final item, according to the agenda for the Senate Education Committee hearing.