AG Cox: Bobb has my support

http://www.freep.com/article/2010042...has-my-support

Judge wrong to limit his power, AG says

BY CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY
FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said Monday that a court ruling taking academic control away from Robert Bobb wrongly limits his authority.

"Robert Bobb not only has my support and that of thousands of Michigan parents and students, but the support of state law," Cox said of DPS' emergency financial manager. "We will fight the status quo to ensure Mr. Bobb can get back to making the bold, sweeping changes that are necessary to fix our education system and give our children hope for the future."

Cox represents Bobb because he is an appointee of the state and plans to file an appeal in the wake of a Wayne County Circuit Court ruling Friday that took academic control away from Bobb. Judge Wendy Baxter interpreted Public Act 72, the law that allowed the governor to appoint Bobb to oversee DPS' finances, to say that emergency financial managers do not have academic control.

Meanwhile, some DPS parents are becoming increasingly frustrated by the ongoing dispute between the school board and Bobb, suggesting their children are being used as pawns in the power struggle.

"We're tired of being caught up in the politics. .... we just want our kids educated," said Tia Shepherd, whose six children attend DPS.

Parents were upset that Bobb canceled the extended afterschool program Monday, which allows for enrichment or an opportunity to make up failed classes. In a letter to principals, he said it needed to be done to comply with a Wayne County Circuit Court judge's ruling Friday that he have no role in academics. The program, which has 9,700 students in 102 schools, is part of Bobb's academic plan to boost student achievement.

DPS is to meet Thursday and vote to instruct Superintendent Teresa Gueyser to issue an order to allow the programs to continue. The board contends the program also is part of its academic plan, so continuing it should not be a problem.

In granting the board a preliminary injunction, Baxter's ruling said Bobb also must meet with the board to publicly discuss his financial plans.

The motions stem from a lawsuit the board filed against Bobb last year, claiming that he is overstepping his authority by making academic policies and violating state law by not consulting with the board on financial matters.

Contact CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY: 313-223-4537 or cpratt@freepress.com