Detroit’s elected school board will have short-lived authority over some key decisions.
A Wayne County judge ruled Wednesday that the district’s emergency financial manager had exceeded his authority on some issues.
Judge Annette Berry said Roy Roberts must consult with the school board on school closings, security, and some other issues.
Roberts is supposed to share authority with the school board. He oversees finances, while the board supervises academics.
But the two are hard to separate, and both sides have brought court cases over how that should work in practice
Detroit school board President Lamar Lemmons says the ruling granting board members a partial injunction proves Roberts overstepped his authority.
"He’s used the fact that he’s had financial authority to, if you will, bully the staff into cooperating with him,” Lemmons said. “And for all intents and purposes, ignoring the board and its designated superintendent.”
The arrangement will be short-lived, though. A new emergency manager law kicks into effect on March 28th, once again giving Roberts broad powers over the whole district.
Lemmons says the board plans a court challenge to the new law.
