July 15, 2013
LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder announced that the current chief financial officer for the city of Detroit, Jack Martin, will replace Roy Roberts as the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools, effective today. Roberts is retiring from the position after more than two years of service.
"Detroiters and Michiganders alike are thankful for Roy's leadership, and we are deeply committed to continue improving the city's educational system," Snyder said. "The students, teachers, administrators and families of Detroit Public Schools have benefitted from Roy's work on fiscal stability and improving academic standards and school safety. There is still work to be done, and Jack Martin's problem-solving skills, expertise and strong management and leadership abilities will help continue the positive transformation of Detroit Public Schools."
A native Detroiter, DPS graduate and respected public servant, Martin brings critical expertise in finance and public education to the district. A practicing certified public accountant for more than 40 years, Martin has not only run his own accounting firm, but also served three U.S. presidents during that period. He served as chief financial officer/chief acquisition officer/chief procurement officer for the U.S. Department of Education and held a concurrent appointment as acting director of the U.S. Selective Service System under President George W. Bush. Martin also served Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton as chair of the Provider Reimbursement Review Board of the Department of Health and Human Services. Most recently, he held the position of chief financial officer for the city of Detroit. Prior to his work at the city, Martin served as emergency manager of Highland Park Schools. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
"This opportunity will allow me to continue offering leadership and making a positive impact in the Detroit community," Martin said. "Fixing education in Detroit is foundational to addressing the myriad of other critical issues facing our community - locally and statewide. The students of Detroit Public Schools will continue to be our No. 1 priority. Under Roy's leadership, this district and community have made tremendous progress, but there are a variety of goals and objectives that still need to be met."
"Serving as emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools has not only been the toughest job of my career, but it has also been by far the most rewarding," said outgoing Emergency Manager Roberts. "Every action I've taken over the last two years has been about the students and fixing the system so that every child in the city of Detroit can receive the quality education they deserve. We've made great progress, but there is still significant work that remains. I am confident that Jack Martin is the right person to lead Detroit Public Schools and maintain this positive trajectory."
After accepting the position in May 2011, Roberts was charged with finding solutions to numerous problems facing DPS, including a $327 million deficit, an unbalanced budget, and poor academic results. During his tenure, Roberts reduced the deficit by $251 million and produced consecutive balanced budgets with operating surpluses. DPS has also increased the graduation rate by 5 percent under Roberts' leadership, with five schools posting graduation rates of 90 percent or higher. The district's MEAP scores improved, too, gaining as much as 11 percent in reading and 6 percent in mathematics.
The governor said that Martin is well suited to continue this progress and ensure a financially stable and academically successful future. DPS will work to expand pre-K for all eligible 4-year-olds in Detroit, to improve school safety, to upgrade technology equipment, and to attract more students to the district.
For more information about DPS and its work and accomplishments, visit www.detroitk12.org.
For more information about the state's most recent emergency manager law, Public Act 436 of 2012, the Local Financial Stability and Choice Act, visit the Local Government Fiscal Health page on the Department of Treasury's web site at www.michigan.gov/treasury.
#####
