DPS Emergency Manager Darnell Earley to vacate post at end of February

Governor to appoint transition leader before end of the month

By Wendell Bryant/Tell Us Detroit

LANSING, MI (Tell Us Det) - Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley notified Governor Rick Snyder of his intent to step down from his position, effective February 29, 2016.

“Darnell has done a very good job under some very difficult circumstances. I want to thank him for his professionalism and his service to the people of Michigan,” Snyder said.

Earley, formally the emergency manager of Flint, is the fourth state-appointed manager for DPS since 2009. And while his predecessors had made some steps toward better financial stability, he walked into the district saddled with a $170 million deficit.

“When I was appointed to this position, Gov. Snyder and I agreed that our goal was for me to be the last emergency manager appointed to DPS,” Earley said. He felt initiatives implemented over the past year were completed ahead of his18-month term as provided in the Public Act 436 of 2012.”

Snyder said he will appoint a transition leader before the end of the month in an effort to set in place his plan to restructure DPS's academics and finances. That plan is also a part of the legislation now under consideration.

Snyder said the the district still faces challenges with some of its buildings. The new school district would have the capital improvements budget necessary to maintain the schools as well as repair the well documented conditions of a few of them.

“I urge our legislature to move as fast as possible so we can give Detroit students and teachers the learning environment they deserve,” he said.