New law puts Bobb in full control of DPS, judge agrees
A Wayne County Circuit Court judge on Friday effectively returned academic control of Detroit Public Schools to its emergency financial manager, conceding that a sweeping new law gives him that authority anyway. Judge Wendy Baxter granted DPS emergency financial manager Robert Bobb’s request for a stay of her prior decision, which had given control of academics to the Detroit school board in December. The school board had been battling Bobb over who should control academics, suing Bobb in August 2009. Board members accused Bobb of failing to consult them on financial matters and illegally assuming control over academic decisions, all of which rendered the board powerless. In her December decision, Baxter sided with the school board, barring Bobb from making academic decisions. On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill that gives all emergency financial managers of school districts the authority to make all financial and academic decisions, including the power to dismiss the school board. Within 60 days, per the new law, Bobb could change or terminate union contracts. Friday’s decision was directly tied to the new law, according to both sides. John Clark, the special assistant attorney general who represents Bobb, said he will ask the state appeals court next week to dismiss the case altogether. School board President Anthony Adams said “the legislation takes control out of the hands of local authorities and places the control in Lansing, which in many respects has exacerbated the financial condition of DPS.”
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