Clark Durant is doing pretty well for an educator.
Durant, 63, founded and runs the Cornerstone Schools, a system of independent nonprofit schools in Detroit. He is running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, but has been trailing in polls.
According to the Fre Press' Todd Spangler, since 2004, Durant's direct compensation has averaged nearly $450,000 a year -- about 2 1/2 times the $174,000 a U.S. senator makes. His total compensation -- averaging more than $500,000 a year -- in some years has been more than the heads of prestigious metro Detroit schools, including Cranbrook, and charter networks elsewhere in the nation with far more students.
Durant's work at Cornerstone has won wide praise. He told Spangler he has no direct role in setting his salary. That job falls to the boards of the foundations he works for that support Cornerstone.
