Highland Park Schools in Danger of Shutting Down, Snyder Warns

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (WJBK) -- Kevin Daniel read the letter for the first time in front of our cameras. It was from Governor Rick Snyder and the news was not good.

"That affects everybody, the families, the community and the youth, most importantly," he said.

The letter details Highland Park's financial problems. Last year, that district was $3 million over budget. In January, the school district borrowed $188,000 from the state just to make payroll.

The governor now projects Highland Park Schools will shut down by next month without immediate action.

Daniel's 15-year-old son is moving in with him this weekend. He's supposed to start school on Monday.

"I have no idea what we're going to do," Daniel said. "I'm really hoping and having faith that this is going to work itself out."

"You already have children who are struggling to be in school because of the poverty or because of the challenges at home and other situations. Now, those kids that were just at the door of having some kind of breakthrough, maybe this will set them back," he added.

Every parent in the district got a letter, a move the board secretary, Robert Davis, calls premature. However, at least one parent says he appreciates the heads up.

"I was raised old school, and my old fogies tell me it's better to know than not to know," said Daniel.