National
Judge Clears Way for Perpetual Emergency Management of Detroit Public School
Judge Joyce Draganchuk
Special to the NNPA from The Michigan Citizen
DETROIT — On Oct. 1, Ingham County Judge Joyce Draganchuk ruled against the Detroit Public School Board’s vote to remove Emergency Manger Jack Martin. Judge Draganchuk told board members that emergency management can remain in effect beyond a manager’s 18-month contractual term, if the governor decides to appoint a new manager.
Jack Martin was appointed in July 2013 after Roy Roberts who was appointed in March of last year resigned.
The elected Board voted unanimously Sept. 29 to end receivership and for removal of the emergency manger, per the EM law, PA 436.
The court ruled that the 18-month term applies not to the condition of emergency management, but to the individual emergency manager.
Governments can be perpetually subjected to dictatorship under emergency management, says Atty. Herb Sanders.
“Every 17 months a new EM can be appointed,” he said. “It makes the 18-month clause null and void.”
