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Article: The auto industry's impact on school districts.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
- Article from:
- District Administration
- Article date:
- March 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Professional Media Group LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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IN CAR MANUFACTURING AREAS, the financial troubles of the "big three" automakers--Ford, General Motors and Chrysler--are putting a bit of a strain on school districts.
At Van Buren Public Schools in Wayne County, Mich., just 25 minutes from downtown Detroit, officials are trying to make do with rising health care and state retirement costs, aged and failing technology, and an outward migration of students and families due to closed auto plants.
Linda Olson, the district's instruction and personnel director, says any state funding increases that have been received over the last several years have not been in balance with costs. "We've been known to delay ...