What's next for DPS after Darnell Earley's resignation

The man at the center of Michigan's two biggest messes is stepping aside, for one of them.

Darnell Earley is stepping down from his role as Emergency Manager of the Detroit Public School system, a job he's had since January 2015. Earley announced that he would resign from the role at the end of February. Some teachers and parents say it's about time.

"It's unfortunate that he had to lose his job but we got to look out for our kids," said Kimberly Wallace, the mom to four DPS students.

A spokesman for Earley said that he would not be speaking about the decision. In a statement from Gov. Rick Snyder, who appointed Early, the Governor said he good a job under difficult circumstances.
A sentiment not echoed by Detroit Federation of Teachers administrator Ann Mitchell.

"Not true," said Mitchell.  "A central office is there to help run the schools, the schools have been in shambles. The conditions are deplorable, the lack of opportunities for the kids to learn has been missing."

Early was appointed to his role of Emergency Manager of DPS in January 2015 after doing the same job for the city of Flint, which is now under national scrutiny over its contaminated water system. While Earley was Flint's emergency manager, the city switched from Detroit's water system back to Flint's to cut costs.

High lead levels have since been detected in Flint resident's tap water.

The resignation comes just prior to announcing he would not testify before a House committee in Washington over his management in Flint. He was also named in a lawsuit by teachers and students over deplorable conditions in DPS schools.

Snyder is pushing for a legislative plan to take care of the debt of the public schools and allow the people of Detroit to choose an elected school board.

Earley's resignation is effective on February 29. Before then, the governor will appoint a transition leader to run the district's academics and finances.

Snyder will appoint a transitional leader before the end of the month to run the district's academics and finances.