More than 40 Detroit schools to close in June

The emergency financial manager for Detroit public schools says 44 schools and a support building will close in June as the district addresses budget issues and declining enrollment.

Six more schools are slated to close in June 2011, and seven more will close a year later.

Robert Bobb publicly announced the closures Wednesday as part of a proposed five-year plan to reorganize and create a leaner district.

The closures are in addition to the shuttering of 29 schools before last fall.

Many current programs will be moved to other buildings. Bond money would be used to build new schools in targeted neighborhoods.

The nearly 88,000-student district faces a deficit of at least $219 million. Full-time enrollment is projected to drop to about 56,000 by 2015.