Darnell Earley, emergency manager of Detroit’s public schools resigned.
Most recently, he was emergency manager of Flint when the water source was switched from safe to polluted.
The Detroit Federation of Teachers issued the following statement:
“Detroit Federation of Teachers on Resignation of Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley
DETROIT—A statement from Ivy Bailey, interim president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, on Darnell Earley’s decision to step down as emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools.
“Emergency Manager Darnell Earley has abdicated his role and responsibilities as overseer of the Detroit Public Schools. As emergency manager, Earley has shown a willful and deliberate indifference to our schools’ increasingly unsafe and unhealthy conditions, and a blatant disrespect for the teachers, school employees, parents and students of our city.
“His departure, which the Detroit Federation of Teachers, parents and the community have called for, is a step in the right direction. For nearly seven years, DPS has been controlled by four state-appointed emergency managers. They have created both a fiscal and a moral crisis, running up a $515 million debt, running down the physical conditions of our schools, and forcing educators to bear the brunt of the problems with fewer resources and more benefit cuts.
“Earley’s resignation presents a perfect opportunity for state officials in Lansing to pay off the debt their appointed managers have created and return the Detroit Public Schools to local control. Appointing another emergency manager won’t fix Detroit’s education crisis. Now is the time for DPS to have an elected school board that answers to the people of this great city.”
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Diane Ravitch's blog 
Well, that’s a start. Now if he would just turn himself in to the police….
Dienne,
Wishful thinking. No one in his right mind turns himself in to the police. The District Attorney’s office determines if there is enough evidence that the person has committed a crime, then they will go to the Grand Jury and get approval to prosecute. Then the DA’s office goes and arrests the individual and prosecutes him or her. Finally the court decides where the person is guilty or innocent.
This blog does not have the authority to prosecute people just because they do not like him/her. Thank goodness for democracy and the laws that are part of this democracy.
I do not have the right information and the right to bring people to justice just like everyone else like me including you. We have to let the judiciary deal with that.
Keep defending a killer, Raj. People have died because of this man (and his boss) and many thousand more have been sickened and face potential brain damage. Maybe that’s okay with you, but it’s not okay with most (human) people.
I am not defending anyone. What is happening is not OK with me. Get off your high horse. I am just pointing out how the system in this democracy works.
But Raj, that’s the point. The system *isn’t* working. The system is supposed to be that when there is evidence that a crime has occurred, whether a crime of negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct, the alleged wrong-doer is supposed to be arrested, indicted, investigated and prosecuted. None of that has happened with Snyder, Earley or anyone else involved. People have died, been terribly sickened, faced the possibility of brain damage and yet no one has been held accountable. These people have no recourse. What’s your solution, Raj? Just more Obama-style “look forward, not backward” crap?
Dienne,
Same point exactly. If everyone who does not necessarily have all the information wants it his/her way, it will be impossible to make this country work. For every one of you who thinks the Emergency Manager and the Governor should be prosecuted, there may be others who do not think so. We cannot poll the population to decide who to prosecute. We do have in place a structure to handle criminal activity as best we can. You claim it does not work. I think it does in a fashion, it may not be perfect. Do you have a solution to make it perfect?
Should the people you accuse not be subject to the due process? Just because he is a Governor he gets away with it is not a good statement. Remember we have an ex-Governor of Illinois in prison at this time. There are many politicians of all color and party affiliation in our prisons. As a matter of fact there are many in all walks of life in our prisons. There are many dishonest people in this country, but they are all not in prisons. No body is above the law.
I am not judging anyone, because I am not the judge and I accept the fact that I do not have all the information, other than what I read in the media (biased) and the blogs (highly biased).
I do believe that there are many honest hard working District Attorneys out there doing their duty according to the law. If we as a nation loose faith in our system, the country will not progress.
We need a real investigation into Flint, not the sham cronies Snyder anointed. I agree with prosecution after indictment. The problem is, the government officials are hiding behind sovereign immunity, public relations experts, and obfuscation. We need a full, independent investigation complete with subpoenas and potential for criminal charges.
Otherwise, we see teachers and other working Americans constantly bludgeoned with accountability, yet the concept selectively applied when people are hurt by those making the rules.
Raj,
I would advocate for you by saying that you should not submit yourself to any police or court system, but you should be mandated to relinquish yourself to a psychiatric hospital for educational, cognitive, and morality-based instability.
You suffer from clinical maladies known as simplicity, narcissism, stupidity, and emotional disconnection.
Maybe there’s a pill you can take or some kind of naturopathic remedy or cure you can start and keep up for a month. You clearly suffer from ED . . . . Educational Dysfunction.
Or you may have to have your brain surgically removed to save the rest of you.
Poor Raj.
Make sure you imbibe only clean, pure, fresh water, Raj. I would not want you to get any sicker than you already are . . . . .
Where did you learn your civics, Raj? Being arrested, getting indicted, investigated and prosecuted are all *part* of due process. Do you seriously not understand that? There can be no due process until the *process* is started, which starts with an arrest. How long do you think you’d be allowed to go running around free if you were suspected of knowingly poisoning 100,000 people?
BTW, Raj, you really are hilarious (but not in a funny sort of way). There is clear evidence of extreme wrongdoing by Snyder, Earley, et al, yet you don’t think they should be arrested, indicted, investigated and prosecuted. But you’re the first one here ranting about those damn teachers who can’t be fired because of tenure and all (even though, as it’s been explained many times, teacher “tenure” is just due process rights). Double standard there? Or just shilling for power?
Doncha just love Raj speaking about democracy? Laughable. Raj, when the reformers circumvent democracy, you are the first cheerleader here applauding. How appalling you fall on democracy when someone states that Darnell Earley should be indicted for his crimes against the people of Flint.
Well, the incident has drawn the interest of the FBI. This means bad news for Snyder and his lapdogs.
The U.S. is experiencing the legacy of people exposed to lead poisoning and, we anticipate more in the future. We can hope that most of them have family, friends, or a community that will steer them to vote for politicians and policies that aid, both broader society and them. For those, who are impaired and, winging it alone or, among others similarly affected, they may vote against their own interests. It’s the price society pays for democracy.
Incidentally, any city with an opening for an appointed education position should worry. You know this zombie is going to rise again.
Yes. It will be interesting to see where he lands.
Maybe New London, CT is still looking for a Superintendent. I hear the school board there has impeccable taste in candidates.
Rahm Emanuel has probably already hired him.
Chiara – I am actually quite worried about that very possibility.
IMO, the article linked to in the posting accurately sums up the resignation letter of Darnell Earley:
“Republican Gov. Rick Snyder brought Earley in a year ago to restructure Detroit’s long-embattled school system, which has debts estimated to be in the $3.5 billion range. To judge by his statement of resignation, Earley is leaving his $225,000-a-year post early not because the work was too daunting—but because he did such a fantastic job that he can now rest on his laurels:”
The letter by Earley follows the colon and the writer of the article then adds: “Mission accomplished, really?”
All that remains is an appointment to the Broad Academy.
To the tune of “The Dance of the Lemons.”
😎
I wish the analysis of the Detroit Federation of Teachers would include
ruin it like a business
into the ground
ruin it like a business
then skip town
Bill Black, who prosecuted white collar criminality in the aftermath of the savings-and-loan scandals of the 1980’s calls it Control Fraud; a similar process is at work among the so-called education reformers, with Paul Vallas as the likely poster child.
Reblogged this on Politicians Are Poody Heads and commented:
Well, it is, indeed, a start. A small start.
Now, if Michigan Governor Rick Snyder would also resign, and if both Earley and Snyder would be indicted, that would be even better.
Although I’m not holding my breath for that.
He needs to go, but his crony Gov. Synder should go too. They both belong in jail!
For the buildings to be in the condition that they are in, the neglect of maintenance and renovation of the Detroit Public Schools took longer than 7 years of control by state appointed people. Who was responsible for the schools in the decades before 7 years ago? Shouldn’t any discussion of blame for current circumstances mention other significant factors such as corruption of a mayor which precipitated the bankruptcy of the entire city of Detroit? rather than only blaming the present leadership? or risk being dismissed as the opinions of 1 group looking to gain a benefit for itself in the chaos? Our children, our parents, our public schools, our democracy deserves the complete truth from all parties involved.
I agree to a certain extent but I think what tends to happen when we do the “everyone is responsible” thing is then no one is responsible.
I just think people have seen that play out over and over and it adds to the lack of trust and cynicism.
“Mistakes were made”.
When they take these jobs they should be aware that if a problem reaches a crisis point during their tenure it will be THEIR problem, because that’s how it works in every management job or leadership position.
It’s not “fair” but there was never any guarantee of “fairness”. Fairness to managers or leaders isn’t the top priority. It doesn’t matter.
Michigan cities have been driven into bankruptcy by the State taking away their power to levy local taxes. When I came to Michigan in the 60s most of these cities had quality education and other services because they had major industries, public utilities, and they always passed ample millages. But major industries and big corporations no longer pay the taxes they used to because they bribed and blackmailed their way into property tax abatements and other big tax breaks. That is how Michigan got where it is today.
Michigan used to have what we called Milliken Republicans who would probably be called Commies today by the Cons and Neo-Cons who run the party today.
And, yes, the Dems, bless their bleeding but all too naive and trusting liberal hearts, have conceded way too much of their traditional ground, but it has always been big biz greed that was pulling the strings and pushing the buttons on both D and R puppets.
Can anyone find how if he was paid to go away? Usually a fall guy needs payment for that.
Good riddance!
Good riddance! But punishment must fit this man’s crimes against innocent school children and citizens of Flint.
It’s no surprise. However, Snyder will just replace Earley with another crony.
Sadly, this current resignation will do nothing to bring back the health of all those Flint children (adults too) who will live with life-long illness as a result of his first job. And then … this will also not bring back the loss of a joyful learning experience in a safe environment that so many students in Detroit have lost (not to mention health issues arising from the filthy and unsafe schools). It is hard to rejoice, but easier to hope Early is on a much more honest trajectory where he is forced to pay for his crimes through prison time.This “man” deserves prison time where they serve him food made with Flint river water, have no heat in winter and allow mushrooms to grow from the mold on his cell wall!
From Flint, where residents were poisoned on Earley’s watch, comes this terrible post at ground zero. The scenes depicted here remind me of the aftermath of Katrina: no one is coming to help.
https://beverlymsw.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/no-words/
What took so long?
We just had a congressional hearing Wednesday morning. Flint emergency manager was called out and accused for this mess and no-show by the committee chair and members. Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) made it clear that he would call for US Marshall to nab Earley in future.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?404078-1/hearing-contaminated-drinking-water-flint-michigan