Principal Clara Flowers and Norman Shy.
Principal Clara Flowers and Norman Shy.
If they complain, they're likely to get very little sympathy.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Monday that the state will no longer contribute to the pensions of eight ex-Detroit principals convicted last year of accepting federal program bribery in a $2.7-million kickback scheme involving convicted vendor Norman Shy. In all, there were 12 principals and one school administrator involved in the scandal.
On Friday, a Wayne County Circuit Judge granted Schuette's motion for forfeiture involving the pensions.
Additionally, the principals will have to repay any state contributions to their pensions that were made during the time they were involved in taking bribes from the vendor, who charged the school district for non-existent supplies.
“The future of our state depends on the education of the next generation. School leaders have an inherent duty to provide and protect our students, not steal from them,” said Schuette said in a statement.
Pension issues for the remaining school officials have yet to be resolved.
Under Friday's court order, convicted principals will see these pension drops:
- Clara Flowers: Reduced $1,416 per month or $16,995 per year; repay state $27,037 in overpayments because of the forfeiture.
- Beverly Campbell: Cut by $3439 ar month or $41,276 per year; repay state $89,294.
- Stanley Johnson: Reduced $1,472 per month or $17,666 per year
- Ronald Alexander: Drops $1,067 per month or $12,806.64 annually; repay $38,139.
- Tia Von Moore-Patton: Cut $1,459 per month or $17,510 per year.
- Ronnie Sims: Drops $1,066 per month or $12,802 per year.
- Clara Smith: Reduced $1,822 per month or $21,869 a year; repay $33,924.
- Willye Pearsall: Drops $1,325 per month or $15,909 per year; reimburse $70,352.
A previous court order reduced pension for former Principal James Hearn by $1,560 per month or $18,731.40 per year.
In all, the state saves $156,837 annually from withholding contributions. It will get $258,748 in repayments.
