Published: July 18, 2008 09:56 am         

Schools likely will get more state aid

LANSING -- Michigan's K-12 public schools would get between $56 and $112 more per pupil next budget year and grants would be available to start smaller high schools under a proposal approved Thursday by the state Senate.

The per-pupil increases of less than 2 percent won't cover inflation and likely won't prevent more cuts in some school budgets next academic year. It's a sign Michigan's state government continues to struggle to make ends meet, in part because of a sluggish economy.

"In the context of the times, this is pretty much what folks expected," said Tom White, executive director of the Michigan School Business Officials.

The school aid budget passed the Senate by a 31-4 vote. The House could vote on the proposal as early as next week.