Jan. 3, 2012: The Highland Park School District Financial Review Team issues its report to Gov. Rick Snyder, confirms that a financial emergency exists, and recommends the governor appoint an emergency manger.[55]
Jan. 12, 2012: Snyder agrees with the review team’s assessment, and determines that a financial emergency exists in the district.[56]
Jan. 12, 2012: Michigan Department of Education announces it will advance $188,000 in state aid so the district could make payroll.[57]
Jan. 27, 2012: Gov. Snyder appoints Highland Park’s first emergency manager, Jack Martin.[58]
Feb. 8, 2012: Michigan Department of Education advances $261,000 in state aid so the district could make payroll.[59]
Feb. 15, 2012: An Ingham County judge rules that the review team violated open meetings law by not meeting in public.[60]
Feb. 22, 2012: Financial review team reconvenes, and allows public comment.[61]
Feb. 23, 2012: Financial review team resubmits its report to Gov. Rick Snyder. Snyder re-determines that a financial emergency exists in the Highland Park school district.[62]
March 2, 2012: Gov. Snyder reappoints Jack Martin as emergency manager.[63]
May 10, 2012: Joyce Parker appointed as emergency manager, succeeding Jack Martin.[64]
June 8, 2012: Parker issues her first order as emergency manager, laying off most of the employees of the school district.[65]
June 18, 2012: Parker announces a plan to convert the district to a system of public charter schools and create the Highland Park Public School Academy System.[66]
June 18, 2012: Parker issues order to request applications from charter school operators to run the district’s schools.[67]
July 12, 2012: The American Civil Liberties Union files a lawsuit against the district, emergency manager, the State of Michigan, the State Board of Education, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Leona Group, alleging that students have been denied their “right to read.”[68]
July 27, 2012: Parker announces that the district will contract with The Leona Group to run Highland Park schools.[69]
Sept. 4, 2012: First day of school for the new Highland Park Renaissance Academy schools.