Will Muskegon Heights schools be forced to close? | News

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WZZM) -- The acting superintendent of Muskegon Heights Public Schools says it's possible the district may run out of money by March and be forced to close sometime after that.

Dave Sipka is the superintendent of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District and acting leader of the Muskegon Heights district. This week, he told leaders of surrounding districts they may be asked to take in displaced Muskegon Heights students if there is a shutdown.

It's a development other superintendents, facing their own financial issues, hope does not happen.

"We would like to see the Heights maintain its viability as a district and be able to keep its doors open for the children of the Heights," says Bob Szymoniak, superintendent of Fruitport Public Schools. "I think it's very important for that community and for those children that the Heights stays open if at all they can."

Szymoniak says before Muskegon Heights could close, city residents would have to vote dissolve the district.

Last month, the Muskegon Heights school board asked the state to appoint an emergency manager to take over the district, which is facing a deficit of up to $12 million.  The district has also failed to reach an agreement with teachers and other employees on pay cuts, which the board says are necessary to keep the district alive.

The state has begun a review process that could lead to Gov. Snyder appointing someone to run the district.