A plan to save money by turning over more than three dozen Detroit public schools to charter school operators was among several topics discussed during a town hall meeting attended by parents, district officials and a teachers' union representative.

The Detroit News reports that teachers' union vice president Mark O'Keefe said Saturday that handing over 41 academically poor schools to charters would do more harm than good.

Financial manager Robert Bobb made that proposal this month as a way to save up to $99 million and help shrink a $327 million legacy budget deficit.

O'Keefe says closing schools will force more students to leave, further reducing the amount the district receives in state per-pupil funding.

Detroit resident Melody Harden told school officials its time all sides start working together.