Teachers union sues DPS, asks judge to remove EM
Shawn D. Lewis,
The Detroit News 4:23 p.m. EST January 28, 2016
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Livestream(Photo: Detroit News)
Detroit — The Detroit Federation of Teachers announced Thursday that it has
filed a lawsuit against Detroit Public Schools and Emergency Manager Darnell
Earley.
The union has also asked that the deteriorating school buildings be fixed and
that Earley be removed, said Ann Mitchell, DFT administrator, during a press
conference Thursday.
The suit was filed on behalf of not only the DFT, but its affiliated state and
national unions and several parents, two of whom attended an afternoon press
conference at the American Federation of Teachers building in Detroit.
The lawsuit stems from ongoing frustration over the conditions of school
buildings. The teachers’ union argues dangerous environments cause serious and
irreparable harm to the health safety and welfare of students.
They’re seeking the repair of building code violations, a capital plan for
school facilities, restoration of local control over DPS and the immediate
removal
of Earley.
Interim DFT President Ivy Bailey said that while the conditions of the school
buildings have shocked the nation, they haven’t shocked Earley and DPS into
taking action.
Meanwhile, a series of sickouts this school year has closed dozens of schools
and drawn attention to health and safety problems inside some DPS buildings.
Mayor Mike Duggan has toured several schools and announced inspections of all
of the district’s buildings, a process that will last into April.
In response to the lawsuit, ousted elected DFT president Steve Conn said: "The
only way we can defeat (Gov. Rick) Snyder and Earley and win the schools
that Detroit students deserve is by continuing the sickouts and walkouts."
The DFT executive board removed Conn from office and expelled him from the
union in August after finding him guilty of internal misconduct charges. The
AFT will decide whether to overturn Conn’s expulsion and return him to office.
Source:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/01/28/dft-announcement/79468778/
