Plan would close 45 Detroit schools

DETROIT, March 16 (UPI) -- Detroit should close 45 schools and seek $700 million in bonds for new and revamped facilities, the school system's emergency financial manager said.

"Our vision is for a smaller but smarter school district," Robert Bobb told an audience of about 800 Monday at his State of the School District address.

Bobb said he wants to close 45 schools this year, which would bring total school closures to 140 since 2005 -- more than half the district. Enrollment in the district is expected to drop from 85,000 this year to 56,503 by 2014.

Bobb's five-year plan also calls for building new athletic facilities, a new campus for special needs students and revamping a closed high school. The plans calls for a $700-million bond issue beyond the $500 million voters approved in November, The Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday.

Bobb said he aims to boost graduation rates from 58 percent to 98 percent and for all students to pass state standardized tests by 2015.

Bobb's plan was hailed as overdue by some parents and education experts and by others as overly ambitious and too disruptive, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.