Update: Jewell-Sherman To Pocket $30K For Consulting RPS While At New Harvard Job
We mentioned that Jewell-Sherman agreed to consult with RPS to ensure a smooth “transition” for the next superintendent. News reports did not clarify if she would double dip but we figured she would. Confirmation came today on “Richmond’s Morning News With Jimmy Barrett on WRVA-AM/1140. The city school board’s only reformer, 9th ward member Keith West, who is constantly out voted 8-1 (though he was on the winning side recently when the board finally authorized Richmond’s first charter school, the Patrick Henry Initiative, two weeks ago), told Barrett that Jewell-Sherman will make $30,000 for six months of her consulting or, as West pointed out, about as much as many of his constituents make in a year. West was the only member to vote against the package.
The Richmond City Public Schools have a litany of problems, as West documents here. One would think they could put that money to a much better use rather than to further line Ms. Jewell-Sherman’s purse with taxpayer cash. But that’s our eduacracy for you. Nice work if you can get it. Or, in this case, not work.
Can we blame Ms. Jewell-Sherman for taking the consulting job for $30,000 when the fault really lies with the Richmond City Public Schools for offering it to her. In a sad way, she almost deserves this “bonus” consulting job for the extra torment inflicted on her thanks to our wonderful Mayor.