DETROIT — Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Roy Roberts swiftly wielded his newly found powers as the district's emergency manager Monday.

According to a letter issued to district employees and

Thursday, some of the more drastic actions include repealing ratified union contracts and firing Superintendent Dr. John Telford.

Telford, who took over as superintendent when voters repealed Public Act 4 in a November referendum, held his post for about about five months. He's being replaced by Karen Ridgeway as the superintendent of academics. She held that position up until the November emergency manager repeal.

Telford, who offered to perform the job for $1, intends to take legal action against Roberts,

Roberts on Thursday issued an executive order repealing the ratified contracts for all personnel who were employed in the district prior to the November emergency manager law repeal.

He also fired five employees brought on between November and today, the effective date of the new emergency manager law.

"There is a saying that has guided me throughout my life,'There is more opportunity ahead of us than behind us,'" Roberts wrote in the March 28-dated letter to the district staff. "With Public Act 436 having restored me as emergency manager of the district as of 12:01 a.m. today, I want to reassure everyone that I remain committed to the two goals I was given when I first began this journey: fixing a broken system so that Detroit's children can be provided with the best education possible, and eliminating the crippling deficit that has for too long prevented much needed funds from going into the classroom."