DPS teachers say fight not over despite Earley resignation
Detroit teachers welcome the news of Emergency Manager Darnell Earley's resignation - but they say it's still not enough.
But teachers say they plan to continue their fight until they get everything the state took from DPS and more.
"We're celebrating but the struggle has to continue," said Steve Conn, former Detroit Federation of Teachers president, adding that Earley's resignation is a victory.
It is one that he, the teachers and students who have staged walkouts, sickouts and protests over the last month, is taking credit for.
"It is the movement we have been building that caused Darnell Earley to quit, to resign," said student activist Markeith Jones.
"After 15 years plus of emergency management, a month of mass actions by students and teachers got him out," said Nicole Conaway, a DPS teacher. "Now we need to keep growing that action."
"I guarantee you sickouts and walk pout by students and teachers will continue until we get everything back and more," Conn said.
Teachers continue to claim the conditions inside the schools are deplorable, class sizes too big and their pay is simply not enough.
Earley's term was supposed to end in June, but the controversial emergency manager blamed by the public for much of the mess at DPS and for his role in the Flint water crisis will be leaving the district on Feb. 29th.
Gov. Snyder plans to appoint Earley's replacement by the end of month.
"The end of emergency management, not a replacement, not Darnell Earley the second," Conn said. "We want full reimbursement our schools back and the EAA schools that were stolen from this district."
Darnell Earley's departure is said to make room for Snyder's new plan to restructure DPS and send the district $700 million in aid.
But that's apparently not going to stop those who have been protesting the state of the district and those in charge, in fact, Conn claims the fight is far from over.
"The only way to keep the changes being made, is to continue to fight," Conn said.
Earley's replacement will not be another emergency manager but instead a transitional manager.