It validating to know that others feel the same way that many of us do and are working, just like us, to expose these corrupt leaders that destroy, forget, and abuse our children. See below:
| Children paying price for corrupt school leaders
Karl Ziomek Former River Rouge school Supt. Benjamin Benford II had an interesting way of reminding employees about dates close to his heart: He pressured them into giving him gifts.Now that’s management style. Whether it was his birthday, Christmas or Bosses Day, Rouge employees anted up to make sure that the guy whose name adorned the district’s brand-new athletic stadium was kept fat and satisfied. Last week, Benford pleaded guilty to extortion in federal court. However, as part of a plea bargain, he’ll likely avoid the maximum sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine by cooperating with federal officials in the upcoming prosecution of his longtime friend, Joseph Hudson. Hudson is a shady character who has bounced around the Downriver area for decades by doing all types of jobs, seldom without controversy. Both Benford and Hudson were originally charged with bilking the district out of some $160,000 worth of audio-visual equipment that was allegedly ordered and paid for, but never delivered. This story is a great made-for-TV flick waiting to be filmed. During Benford’s time as boss hog, he not only forced school employees to buy gifts to keep in his good graces, but also employed his son on the district payroll. The only problem was that young Ben was away at college while he was receiving a paycheck. Oh, and it gets better. Despite the fact that Supt. Benford was under contract, he was inexplicably being paid a salary tens of thousands of dollars per year over the contracted amount. How could that happen? Easy, by Rouge school standards. A flimsy paper trail led to a memo signed by school board Trustee James Hightower. Of course, the Board of Education itself did not OK the pay increase and, supposedly, knew nothing about it. Later, Hightower was arrested on cocaine charges — and, as unbelievable as it may sound, he still is on the board. According to interviews with school employees, while Benford lived the big life, his buddy Hudson had the run of the place. Hence, allegedly Hudson was able to bill the district for the audio-visual equipment that never showed up. Because Hudson was the superintendent’s pal, people were supposed to look the other way. This, of course, is all taking place in a school district where many children can’t afford winter coats and texts sometimes don’t exist or are seldom updated. None of this probably ever would have come to light without the help of George Ward, a former Wayne County assistant prosecutor. The Rouge school board, unable to fathom some of its own financial numbers, had Ward do an audit of the district. By the time he was done, so were the careers of several administrators. The sad thing, in hindsight, is the blind trust that many taxpayers put in people like Benford and “the system.” Confronted with the financial fraud and a general mess, the superintendent’s best retort was that many of the things mentioned were common practice, and that he himself didn’t know many of the district’s administrative guidelines. No kidding! But even as Benford and other administrators were being shown the door, residents would flock to board meetings to defend them. As ridiculous charge after ridiculous charge would be leveled, residents would cry out, “That’s just the way business is done in Rouge.” Well, now that Benford’s business is truly done inside the Rouge district, the best legacy he can leave is one of an efficient snitch. The more he cooperates with the feds in nailing his pal, Joey, the more he’ll save his own skin. At the end of the day, the snakes will devour each other. That, too, is the way business is often accomplished when dealing with lowlifes like these. (Karl Ziomek is the managing editor of The News-Herald, a Heritage Newspaper). |
U GOT NERVE! 