Senate Leader May Seek AG Opinion On Closing Detroit Schools

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A top Republican lawmaker says he's considering "all options" to challenge Gov. Rick Snyder's determination that no low-performing Detroit public schools can be closed by the state for three years.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said Tuesday one option is asking Attorney General Bill Schuette for a legal opinion.

Snyder's office said last week he interprets the law creating a new, debt-free Detroit school district this summer to mean the State School Reform Office can't close any district school until 2019.

Meekhof says the law is "pretty clear" and he's "confused" by Snyder's analysis.

Meekhof told reporters that passing clarifying legislation isn't a "great option" because many majority Republicans "have fatigue on Detroit issues."

Attorney general opinions are legally binding on state agencies and officers unless reversed by a court.