Detroit Public Schools should have a plan in place shortly to address its budget deficit after agreeing late Wednesday to a consent decree with the state . The agreement approved Wednesday avoids, at least for now, appointment of a state financial manager to bring the district's budget back into balance. But the state could still appoint a manager if the district does not meet the terms of the agreement.

The school board approved the agreement 10-1, with board member Marie Thornton arguing the district would not be able to meet the requirements in the agreement.

The agreement gives the district until the end of the 2009-10 school year to bring its operating budget into balance and another year to resolve its prior accumulated deficit.

Sen. Hansen Clarke is pushing for a more substantial change to the district's operations. Clarke said the district needs to go further than financial restructuring to improve its operations.  He is calling on the state and the district to come up with further agreements on changes in instruction.

Source: Gongwer News Service, 11.6.08