LANSING, Mich. (April 24, 2025) — Today, the Michigan Dept. of Education (MDE) announced that three school districts in the state are being awarded a total of $75 million in grant funds to support school consolidation and infrastructure projects. In response to Flint Community Schools being selected as one of the award recipients, Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) issued the following statement: 
“I couldn’t be more thrilled that MDE has chosen Flint Community School District to receive such a substantial award, creating more opportunities for our students to build bright and promising futures. Along with the district’s plans to consolidate schools, I’m particularly excited for the new high school they intend to construct in the heart of the city — slated to provide our young scholars with a top-notch education in a modern space designed to foster creativity, excellence and a sense of community pride. 
“I’m incredibly proud that my Senate Democratic colleagues and I were able to secure funds for these awards in previous state budgets and look forward to witnessing the impacts of this investment on our kids and community for decades to come.” 
With the $35.9 million it will receive, Flint plans to reduce the number of active school buildings from 11 to seven by closing four underutilized facilities and maximizing the use of the remaining schools. The district will also build a state-of-the-art high school to centralize secondary education and invest in significant upgrades for existing buildings. 
The funds for these grants come from a state fiscal year 2024 supplemental budget package that passed in conjunction with the fiscal year 2025 budget. 
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