The 15 hours spent on the House floor on Wednesday into early Thursday, debating the best option for Michigan’s largest school district, was a fraction of the time it took for Detroit Public Schools to get to its present state and how long until it’s financially stable. This didn’t happen overnight, nor will it be resolved as quickly.

Much like the ripple from throwing a stone into a calm northern Michigan pond, the effects on the House’s DPS vote could have spread further from Detroit’s boundaries. That was what most concerned me.

Michigan has a constitutional obligation to educate our children, but I would not vote for any legislation that took a nickel from educating the students in the 106th District. There had to be no effect on the School Aid Fund or elimination of programs through the General Fund.

That’s one of the positives from early Thursday – the kids and teachers in western Cheboygan County, southern Iosco County and every school in-between will not be negatively affected.

One of the not-so-positives is the state is dedicating over $500 million to a mismanaged and poorly performing school district, clearing old bills and setting up a new debt-free system. It sets a dangerous precedent that I hope the state does not see outside of Detroit, as it discourages districts to be fiscally responsible if a big check from the Legislature is a possibility.

That’s why I appreciate so many of the administrators and teachers of northeastern Michigan, making the hard decisions on the district’s spreadsheet when financially necessary and dedicating themselves in the classroom.

Detroit is in a unique circumstance by losing half of its students and the per-pupil funding that comes with it over the past decade and allowing many factors to influence classroom performance. Our vote Thursday staved off a much more expensive possibility – paying over $3 billion with the bankruptcy of DPS.

The fact is the bankruptcy option would have absolutely affected statewide School Aid funding and I wasn’t interested in having an Alpena High School chemistry class using outdated equipment, expanding with 10 more students than in today’s classroom and led by a teacher making 15 percent less than last year.

That’s not dedication to educating our children. And it’s not part of my own commitment to looking out for northeastern Michigan families.

There may be frustration around your dinner table with Thursday’s vote, wondering why the state is again stepping up to bail out for poor management. That’s understood and believe me, it will be debated in my home as well.

Simply put, this was best option for Michigan’s students.

Rep. Peter Pettalia, R-Presque Isle, is a third-term lawmaker representing the House’s 106th District. Rep. Pettalia can be reached toll-free at 877-737