Judge Rhodes: Out of Retirement, Into the Schools
Judge Steven Rhodes: There is no Plan B for DPS
Retired Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, who oversaw Detroit’s case, is now the “transition manager” for Detroit Public Schools. Appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, Rhodes has the power of an emergency manager, but says he doesn’t want to be viewed that way.
“I agreed to this assignment because the governor asked me to do it,” Rhodes says. “And [for the city to rebound] the schools have to succeed.”
He joins WDET’s Sandra Svoboda on Detroit Today, saying he wants the community to know what he wants to accomplish for the district including a return to local control by the end of the summer.
“We are a democracy and ultimately we have to rely on a democratic process,” Rhodes says.
He will also continue working to convince the Legislature to take action to fund the district’s $515 million debt. What would happen if lawmakers do NOT supply the money necessary to help the district?
“I don’t know, I don’t even want to contemplate that,” Rhodes says. “We are going to persuade the Legislature to give us the help we need so we can fulfill our moral and constitutional obligation to education our children.”
To hear the full conversation, click on the audio link above.
