Highland Park Schools may get EM decision today

Gov. Rick Snyder expects to make a decision today on whether to name an emergency manager for the troubled Highland Park Schools, a spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday.

"The governor did indicate (Thursday night) that he thought the decision would be likely in the next 24 hours — he wanted to make sure he had time to review the report closely but also make a decision as quickly as possible because of the urgency of the situation," Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said in a statement about 5:40 p.m. Thursday.

Before making his decision, Snyder is reviewing a state Department of Treasury memo that agrees with the governor that a financial emergency exists in the district. Terry Stanton, a department spokesman, said Deputy Treasurer Roger Fraser sent an eight-page report to the governor on Wednesday and a copy went to the school district Thursday.

"Pursuant to PA 4, the next step in the process is for the governor to either reaffirm or revoke his finding of a financial emergency in the district," Stanton said in an email.

Last week, the governor wrote to parents and residents in the district, telling them it's in jeopardy of closing next month without immediate action.

In his letter, Snyder said he is concerned about the welfare of students because the district is in a financial crisis and was unable to make payroll until the state advanced it $188,000 recently.

On Monday, both Highland Park Schools, which is fighting a state takeover, and an independent review team, which recommended an emergency manager for the district, filed individual reports to state treasury officials supporting their positions.

On Jan. 2, a review team recommended an emergency manager take over the district's finances. Snyder declared a financial emergency Jan. 13, the same day the state advanced money for the district's payroll.

The district's deficit has increased from $6.6 million to $11.3 million over the past fiscal year.