Detroit Voters Back Unprecedented $1.5 Billion Bond Issue

By Peter Schmidt

Detroit voters overwhelmingly approved an unprecedented $1.5 billion school-construction bond issue last week, astounding some local leaders who had refused to support it.

Proposal S, the largest bond issue ever passed by one of the nation's school districts, cruised like a Cadillac to victory with 60 percent of the vote.

The bond issue, which will be spent on school construction and new technology, won even without the backing of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, Mayor Dennis Archer, and other civic and business leaders. Supporters relied instead on...