Few D.C. officials have balked at the higher salaries for public school teachers offered under the new union contract, but a handful are still griping about the nearly $65 million in private donations footing a chunk of the bill.
The latest complaint has arrived from Robert Vinson Brannum, a reliable antagonist to Mayor Adrian Fenty and schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Brannum contended before the District’s Office of Campaign Finance that Rhee violated the law by agreeing to some of the funders’ requirement that she remain on the job for their donation to take effect. By doing that, Brannum said, Rhee unlawfully used her position to ensure that she kept her position.
The agency agreed with Brannum’s concern and said that a full investigation is warranted.
Rhee said by e-mail that she did not request the leadership clause, and that it is standard in the private foundations’ funding commitments.
