Retired U.S. bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes said yesterday that he will not run the Detroit Public Schools, the Detroit Free Press reported today. “I am in discussions with the governor’s office about what role I can play in helping to execute the governor’s plan,” Rhodes said. “I can tell you with complete confidence that that will not include me being any kind of superintendent for the school district because that is not a job I am at all qualified to do. And the governor’s office accepts that." Rhodes, who oversaw the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy, spoke after a news report claiming that a decision had been made for him to be the emergency manager. Rhodes' comments came as lawmakers continue to debate legislation that would transform the landscape of education in the city. There are a few key sticking points between what legislators are debating and what local leaders want, including whether a Detroit Education Commission should oversee the opening and closing of all public schools, including charter schools, in the city. Gov. Rick Snyder's spokesman, Dave Murray, said no decisions had been made regarding an emergency manager for DPS.
