Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Jack Martin, a former chief financial officer for the U.S. Department of Education, to be emergency manager of the Highland Park School District.
Martin is also a member of the review team examining whether a fiscal emergency exists in Detroit.
He started his new job Monday and met with school administrators, the school board and parents.
Snyder last week officially declared the suburban Detroit school district to be in a state of fiscal emergency. Detroit Public Schools is the only other school district to be under state control.
Martin is a certified public accountant and founder of Martin, Arrington, Desai & Meyers PC. He was also CFO for the Education Department from 2002 through 2005.
“Jack Martin has more than four decades of experience in both the public and private sectors, and has earned tremendous respect throughout his career,” Snyder said in a statement.
“Given his understanding of the critical importance of education and his background as a CPA, I’m confident Mr. Martin is well-suited for this post, and will work quickly and efficiently to address the financial emergency faced by Highland Park schools,” the governor said.
The Highland Park Board of Education is appealing the state’s decision to appoint an emergency manager.
