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Board fires Oakland's school chief
It says he used money secretly and personally.
by Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press, February 1, 2003
For more articles visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
Oakland Schools Superintendent James Redmond was fired Friday
as the Board of Education revealed he paid more than $680,000
in secret buyouts and used staff development money for
personal flying lessons.
Board members -- before voting unanimously to end Redmond's
contract -- said he deliberately kept information from them,
took action without getting authorization and failed to
effectively use district staff.
They said Redmond, superintendent since 1995, "has lost the
faith, trust and confidence" of the board and staff.
Redmond, through his attorney Joseph Golden, said he plans to
sue the district for breach of contract. Redmond had nearly
four years left on a contract that paid him $174,585 this
year. He will not receive a severance package.
"We will challenge this in court," Golden said.
Redmond's firing comes on the heels of an investigation that
raised questions about the district's relationship with
companies that have close ties to Redmond, lax billing
practices and the use of special education money to help fund
a new $29.5-million building and a technology project.
The investigation was done by the Whall Group, an Auburn Hills
forensic accounting firm hired by the board in June to look
into questions raised by district employees.
The Michigan Attorney General's Office is reviewing the Whall
Group report.
"The board action was certainly warranted," Deputy
Superintendent Dan Austin said, pointing to the Whall Group
findings and the new information the board revealed Friday.
"The resolution speaks for itself."
Austin, whose role in the district grew after the release of
the Whall Group report, likely will be named interim
superintendent at the board's Feb. 11 meeting.
Board Trustee Janet Thomas read a 7-page resolution that
included the board's reasons for the firing.
The board said it found:
Redmond deliberately, and "for his own purposes and pleasure,"
arranged the resignations and retirements of 15 top-level
employees since 1996 and paid buyouts ranging from $3,443 to
$139,564. The board was unaware of the buyouts.
Redmond used $450 in money earmarked for professional
development to take flying lessons.
Employees who learned about the lessons Friday were surprised.
"It's shocking to the staff, it's shocking to the board, it's
shocking to anyone who cares about this organization," said
district spokeswoman Shelley Yorke Rose.
Without providing full details, the board cited 12 reasons for
firing Redmond, including his failure to substantiate his
claim that he had a legal opinion to justify the district's
relationship with the MINDS Institute, an education technology
company. Redmond is chairman of the company's board of
education.
Oakland Schools Board President Helen Prutow, who had been a
staunch advocate for bringing Redmond to Oakland County, was
teary.
"This is extremely difficult," Prutow said. She said the board
will investigate how the buyouts happened without the board
knowing.
Golden said the board fired Redmond because of "unfair
pressure that has been created."
Some pressure came from the West Bloomfield Board of
Education, which voted Monday to urge Redmond's termination.
Janet Jopke, superintendent of the Troy School District, said,
"Our expectation as educators is that we act with a high level
of integrity, and so this is a difficult time for all of us."
Alex Bailey, superintendent of the Oak Park School District
and a long-time Redmond supporter, said he believes Redmond
still has much to offer.
"He's done so much for schools, especially for highly needy
youngsters," Bailey said. "I'm surprised to hear the
findings."
Redmond was not in the board room when the vote was taken. He
left the building 20 minutes before the board adjourned a 3
1/2-hour closed meeting.
Contact LORI HIGGINS at 248-591-5625 or
higgins@freepress.com.
Staff writers Matt Helms and Marsha Low contributed to this
report.
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