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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Ex-member of DPS reform board testifies | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com


Ex-member of DPS reform board testifies Detroit Free Press Freep.com:

"A former member of the city's reform school board testified today that the body had a few reports about the progress of the $1.5-billion bond program but no authority over the spending."

Reginald Turner, who left the Detroit Public Schools reform board in 2003 to join the state school board, also told school officials that he had concerns about the district's move from its former headquarters that it owned outright to the Fisher Building.

The transaction cost the district $24 million for five floors of the Fisher in addition to $17 million in construction costs and $2 million a year in leasing costs.

Turner testified this morning at the third investigative hearing into real estate transactions that occurred during the state takeover using funds from the $1.5-billion bond voters approved in 1994.

Turner said a school official assured him at the time of the transaction - 2002 - that the move to the Fisher Building would result in "significant savings."