Private backers boost Bobb’s income

DETROIT - Robert Bobb will receive an $81,000 raise in his second year as emergency financial manager of Detroit Public Schools, putting his income at $425,000, though most of the increase will come from private philanthropic organizations, according to The Detroit News.

The publicly funded portion of Bobb's salary will go from $260,000 to $280,000 under a one-year contract extension, while private supporters will add $145,000, up from $84,000 a year ago, The News reported. The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation is paying $56,000 of the supplement as an incentive to keep Bobb in Detroit, a spokeswoman told The News.

Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson told The News that Bobb's additional income sends a bad message to district employees, coming in the midst of layoffs and contract concessions.

Bobb has won praise for uncovering waste and fraud in the district and has the support of Gov. Jennifer Granholm, The News reported, but also has been criticized for closing 29 schools and for hiring outside contractors in no-bid arrangements. The Detroit Board of Education and Bobb currently are arguing over academic control of the district, The News reported.

The other organizations that agreed to supplement Bobb's income were not named, but a district spokesman told The News that none of them has a contractual relationship with Detroit Public Schools.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Detroit Schools' Bobb gets $81K raise," March 3, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Schools show interest in pilot merit pay program," Oct. 21, 2008