DETROIT – Detroit Public Schools community members gathered at a Board of Education meeting Wednesday morning for what they thought was an open conversation with district transition manager Judge Steven Rhodes about returning the district to local control. But it turned out to be a series of questions that weren’t immediately answered.
Rhodes said at the beginning of the meeting that, due to tight scheduling, he only had an hour. He also said he wanted to take as many questions as he could, but would publish answers to them on the district’s website in the next couple of days.
"We wanted more time, but at least he's finally coming and recognizing the board, because he's been here and we've been trying to meet with him since March 2. We finally get a chance to meet with him, and at least express some of our concerns," said at-large board member LaMar Lemmons.
For audience members, Rhodes quick exit didn't sit well with them.
“For me to make the sacrifice, to take the day off work, then he should have stayed,” parent Yolanda Peoples said.
It was the first time Rhodes met with the board.
“It appears to me that he was only concerned with the questions from the elected board,” Detroit resident Theo Broughton said.
Rhodes has said the district can't continue unless legislators pitch in to pay off the debt and include funding to allow resources to be directed back to classrooms.
Read: Tensions high as DPS transition manager lays out financial plan
With encouragement from Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, the state Senate has approved a plan to pay off the district's estimated $467 million debt and provide $200 million in transition funds for a new, separate district that would educate students and have its finances overseen by a commission of state appointees. The plan effectively commits Michigan to a decade of new spending until the old DPS debt is retired. The House version would pay off the debt and provide $33 million for transition costs.
The district has 46,000 students, and has been under a state appointed emergency manager since 2009. Robert Bobb, Roy Roberts and Darnell Earley all came before Rhodes.
Read: Detroit schools plagued by mismanagement, student losses
Read: District tells teacher union it's running out of cash June 30