Michigan school board member says quiet part out loud
Why would public schools be afraid of competition?
In Lansing, Michigan, a contentious debate is underway regarding the potential repeal of the 2017 Educational Instruction Access Act, which prevents school districts from imposing deed restrictions that block the use of their former buildings by other educational institutions.
I left my high paying mainstream media job to fight the narrative and the bias. I am independent now. Support my journalism by becoming a paid subscriber for only $5 a month. You can quit at anytime.
This legislation came into the spotlight following a dispute in Detroit, where school officials attempted to prevent a charter school from occupying a building they had previously sold.
The Detroit Achievement Academy, a burgeoning charter school in need of expansion, identified an ideal location in a historic, albeit rundown, elementary school previously owned by the Detroit school district. However, a deed restriction imposed by the district on the sale of the building to a private developer barred its use as a school, highlighting the district's strategy to hinder the growth of competing educational models such as charter schools.
Click here to learn more from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Critics argue that such restrictions do not serve the interests of Detroit's children and families, and the 2017 law was enacted to ensure educational options remain open. The law's repeal is currently being considered, with House Bill 5025 at the center of discussions. The bill's proponents, including its sponsor Rep. Noah Arbit and several local officials, have faced criticism for lacking substantial arguments for the repeal, instead focusing on the preservation of historic school buildings.
The debate has also touched on broader issues such as the management of vacant school properties in the face of declining enrollments and the potential for repurposing these buildings for community use. Opponents of the bill argue that removing the restrictions does not hinder districts from managing their properties effectively, suggesting that the real issue lies in navigating the complex web of regulations for repurposing buildings.
As the Michigan Legislature continues to deliberate on the bill, the fate of the Educational Instruction Access Act hangs in the balance, with implications for the future of educational infrastructure and community development in the state.