City, education officials to talk safety at event

Detroit city and education officials will host a media event Monday to address “safety and health-related issues at ... school buildings.”

Slated to appear are Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; Steven Rhodes, Detroit Public Schools Community District transition manager; and interim Superintendent Alycia Meriweather.

A news release issued Sunday night read: “With the start of the new school year one week away, city and DPSCD leaders want to report to the community the work that has been done — and that which remains to be done — to make all public schools safe for students and teachers.”

The event will be held 12:15 p.m. at Bates Academy, 19701 Wyoming, in Detroit.

A $617 million rescue plan approved in June by state lawmakers split the Detroit district in two. The new, debt-free Detroit Public Schools Community District is will open with about 46,000 students in 97 schools, while the debt of the former Detroit Public Schools is to be paid off with a combination of state aid and collections from the district's 18-mill non-homestead levy, which is collected on businesses and second homes. The state will provide about $467 million to help repay the old debt.

JLynch@detroitnews.com

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