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About 2,600 DPS employees told to reapply for jobs

By AP

DETROIT – About 2,600 Detroit Public Schools employees have been told to reapply for their jobs - or risk losing them.

The district on Tuesday declared the positions vacant and said staff had until Friday to interview with their principals or request an interview. Employees from at least 40 affected schools who don't respond may be reassigned.

The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press report the schools are being "reconstituted" in response to a failure to meet state annual yearly progress standards.

Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson says the plan violates the union's contract.

Emergency financial manager Robert Bobb told WWJ-AM on Wednesday morning: "We are not blaming teachers at all. We are blaming a failing system ... We're all at fault."

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