UPDATE from The Detroit News: The Detroit Public Schools Board of Education has filed suit Monday morning against the district's emergency financial manager. The board contends that Robert Bobb violated state law by failing to consult them on finances and infringing on their duties by making sweeping academic reforms. According to the suit, the board wants a judge to order Bobb to consult with them on financial matters and to cease his involvement in any academic decisions.
From The Detroit Free Press: The emergency financial manager for the Detroit Public Schools has nullified the school board's decision to promote the acting superintendent to fill the job permanently. The board voted to promote Teresa Gueyser to general superintendent. But in a letter to the school board, manager Robert Bobb did not approve funding for the position and said the board should start a national search.
SIDEBAR (Detroit Free Press): When state-appointee Robert Bobb gave a $972,000 no-bid consulting contract, it wasn't the first time he awarded a government job to people with whom he had business connections. Bobb, the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, hired Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management Inc., a subsidiary of the PFM Group, to fix the district's deficit problem earlier this year. He worked as a part-time senior managing consultant for PFM until March....AND: Robert Bobb, emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, is not the only education official with ties to a Philadelphia-based financial management group. State Superintendent Mike Flanagan sits on the Board of Trustees for PFM Funds.
