Gov. Rick Snyder used the statutes of Public Act 4, otherwise known as Michigan's emergency financial manager law, to assign ex-Department of Education chief financial officer Jack Martin to take over operations for Highland Park Schools. Snyder announced Martin's appointment on Friday, according to the Detroit News.
Here are some of the key details regarding Martin and his appointment as an EFM, as well as the status of the Highland Park Schools.
* Martin is a certified public accountant and started his own firm, Martin, Arrington, Desei and Meyers in Detroit.
* Martin is serving as a member of the state review team examining Detroit's finances to determine whether an EFM should be appointed, according to the Detroit News.
* Martin was heavily considered to be the EFM for the Detroit Public Schools in 2009, before Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed Robert Bobb. Bobb served until May 2011, when Gov. Snyder replaced him with Roy Roberts.
* According to the Detroit Free Press, the state review team in charge of reviewing the finances of the Highland Park Schools recommended an EFM after noting that, not only had the district experienced an operating deficit during five of the last six years, but the most recent deficit had grown to an all-time high of $11.3 million.
* Highland Park Schools have lost 58 percent of their students in the last five years, from a peak of 3,179 students to a low in 2011 of 1,331.
* The official report submitted to the governor by the Michigan Department of Treasury estimates this year's enrollment is 969 students.
* A review team was sent to examine the financial situation of the Highland Park Schools in November. A state of "financial emergency" was declared after the conclusion of the team's review earlier this month.
* The findings of the review team were presented by Carol Wolenberg, deputy superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education. Among other considerations, she maintained that after logging various opinions and pieces of evidence that an EFM was necessary because the review team had no confidence the district's officials possessed the will or ability to abide by a consent agreement instead.
* A consent agreement would have meant a joint agreement between the district and the state. Highland Park officials would still have retained control over the operations of the district.
* Highland Park's school board voted 6-1 on Jan. 18 to appeal any decision by the state and the governor to appoint an EFM for the district, according to MLive.
* On Friday, the Detroit Free Press' report quoted board secretary Robert Davis as saying a legal challenge will be mounted to Martin's appointment.
Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in politics and public issues.
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