Judge keeps academic control in school board's hands

DETROIT (AP) -- A judge has ruled that some Detroit schools will remain in a new district for low-performing schools despite a ballot proposal challenging a state law that allowed the move. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge John Murphy told emergency manager Roy Roberts on Tuesday that the Detroit Board of Education regains academic control of remaining schools in the district pending the November election outcome on Michigan's emergency manager law. Until then, state-appointed managers of financially distressed cities and school districts have to operate under the law's predecessor, which gives them only financial oversight. Board members sought to reverse Roberts' movement of 15 schools into the Education Achievement Authority, claiming it falls under their academic control. Roberts said that would have been "chaotic" just before the Sept. 4 start of classes. Published: Thu, Aug 16, 2012