One of Michigan’s most controversial public figures had his last day as emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools this week. To replace him is another state-appointed manager: Judge Steven Rhodes, the man who oversaw Detroit’s historic bankruptcy case.
This change in leadership may not be surprising after months of widespread “sickouts,” teacher protests involving calling in sick to protest the horrific school conditions. Rhodes faces a public school system — one that could run out of money completely by April — crumbling in financial ruin and a community that doesn’t really want someone from the state in charge of fixing it.