Detroit school principal pleads guilty in kickback scam

Abandoned Detroit school

Remember--when you pay your property taxes most of that money is "for the kids."

From the Detroit News:

The first of 14 defendants charged in a $1 million bribery and kickback scheme at Detroit Public Schools has pleaded guilty to a felony charge in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

Clara Smith, former principal at Thirkell Elementary, appeared Thursday morning before U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts and entered into a plea agreement for her role in the scheme, which deprived DPS students of more than $2.7 million in resources.

Smith, who had a 45-year career at DPS and had been principal at the school from 2008 to earlier this month, admitted to Roberts that she took kickbacks and bribes from school supplies vendor Norman Shy.

In return, she repeatedly submitted fraudulent purchase orders to DPS that claimed Shy delivered goods when he had not.

Yep, for the kids.

Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's handpicked choice to run Chicago Public Schools, used to work at DPS. She pleaded guilty last year for her role in a Chicago kickback scheme.

Related posts:

(Photos) Detroit's Abandoned Caroline Crosman Alternative High School

(Photos) Detroit's scavenged Harry B. Hutchins School