Loads of Detroiters protested the plan to close 23 Detroit public schools at a school board meeting Thursday night in Detroit. Most complained that worthwhile schools are being improperly targeted for closure.
 
The man behind the plan, emergency financial manager Robert Bobb, did not attend the meeting. Bobb has proposed closing the 23 schools and lay off 600 teachers to help close a $306 million deficit. Bobb’s plan also includes $200 million in upgrades for the schools that thousands where children would be transfered.

The Free Press’ Rochelle Riley, who supports Bobb’s plan, writes that the 23 schools have the capacity to hold 19,275 students but now only hold 7,095. For example, Barbour middle school has 310 students in a building designed to hold 1,951.

Even though residents voiced their protests to the school board, the body is powerless to stop Bobb, who was appointed by the state. Its Department of Education has approved Bobb’s plan on April 7.